Debate contribution: Community and Voluntary Sector Funding

Debate contribution by Mr Robbie Butler on 30 September 2024.

MLA

Mr Robbie Butler

Party at the time

Ulster Unionist Party

Date

30 September 2024

Type

Debate contribution

Business

Opposition Business

Heading

Community and Voluntary Sector Funding

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 4564018

Read the official Assembly record

Text

Before I go into the main thrust of what I want to say, I want to speak to the Opposition across the Chamber to let them know why it was so important that we got to propose what I would call a significant, technical amendment to the motion. It is incumbent on us all to recognise the pressures that the Department of Health specifically finds itself under, and I think that we have done that in previous months and since last year. You realise that when you see the number of motions on the matter that have come to the Chamber, how often the Health Minister is here and how often he is called on to deliver better health outcomes, but, in reality, if we do not have the budget to meet that need, there is little that he and the Department can do. The voluntary and community sector is a key partner in the delivery of many of the core Health and Social Care (HSC) strategic aims. For instance, certain sectors, such as those for young people, mental health, vulnerable families and elderly care are greatly dependent on the work and commitment of the sector and its organisations. For many years, the Department of Health has provided financial assistance via a core grant scheme to help many local voluntary organisations meet some of their costs, which, in this instance, are their central administration costs. That was a very small investment when you look at the significant return that most, if not all, of those organisations made over time. Of course, the historical and existing scheme is far from perfect, as it gives the same organisations the same money year after year whilst excluding others from even applying. Mr Durkan spoke about Men's Action Network, for instance, which would have been barred from even applying, given the conditions of the existing scheme. Those have led to the scheme no longer being as efficient or targeted as it should be. There is a fundamental unfairness in that. Until that is addressed and there is some recognition of the evolving nature of community and voluntary groups and the services that they offer, the scheme will remain unfair. Again, pointing to some of Mr Durkan's comments, COVID has brought that into sharp focus. We learnt the value of our community and voluntary sector and the amount that they carry for us. It has been clear for some time that the scheme needs to be reformed. That is why my party and I very much welcomed the most recent consultation a number of years ago. I think that Robin Swann, as Minister, embarked on that. Unfortunately, however, instead of the process identifying the solutions, the application process and its eventual unsuccessful outcomes only heightened the uncertainty and frustration that many of the groups that will have contacted MLAs experience. Shortly after the previous attempt to rerun the scheme fell flat — in the absence of a functioning Assembly and in light of no agreed Budget and major funding challenges — the Department, in 2023-24, deemed it necessary to reduce the core grant funding by 50%. That was a hammer blow to the sector, which, we recognised, was both financial and psychological. Whilst there was then some hope following the restoration of the Executive, unfortunately the budgetary reality, along with the Assembly and the Executive's decision to pass a below-need Health budget, compounded the situation. I recall that the removal of all core grant funding was one of the options set out by the Department in the response to the 2024-25 Budget, but, thankfully, no doubt with some internal challenge, the Minister worked to avoid such a scenario, and we can be somewhat grateful for that. Even when the core grant scheme is fully funded at £3·6 million, it is still only a small fraction of the investment that is made by core-granted voluntary and community sector organisations. Whilst core-granted organisations alone may hold annual formal contracts to the tune of almost ten times the £3·6 million, there is no doubt that the sector provides value for money hand over fist in everything that it does. A pound invested in the community and voluntary sector often goes so much further than the same pound would do in the health and social care system. Every day, I see the innovation as well as the efficiency on display in the sector, but it needs clarity. That is why, whilst I welcome the retention of some of the funding this year, in reality we need a new scheme. I very much hope that the conversations that are happening currently, including the one today in the Chamber and those across the sector, lead to a successful outcome for everyone. Let us be in no doubt, however, that, if the Health Minister had the money to deliver, he would deliver the asks of the Chamber. I ask the House to reflect on the fact that those conversations need to be had in conjunction particularly with the Minister of Finance and Executive colleagues.

842 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

Not flagged

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Assessed 21 October 2026 at 11:12 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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