Debate contribution: Community and Voluntary Sector Funding

Debate contribution by Mr Alan Robinson on 30 September 2024.

MLA

Mr Alan Robinson

Party at the time

Democratic Unionist Party

Date

30 September 2024

Type

Debate contribution

Business

Opposition Business

Heading

Community and Voluntary Sector Funding

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 4564030

Read the official Assembly record

Text

Like others, I commend the incredible work of the community and voluntary sector in providing vital mental health services to some of the most vulnerable members of our society. Those organisations are certainly the lifeblood of the place that we call home. They offer support and care and give hope to those who often feel lost or unheard. Members in every corner of the Assembly have witnessed the impact that those organisations have. Whether it is a small charity offering support to the elderly or helping vulnerable children, a group providing counselling services to people in crisis or a community group helping people manage anxiety, depression or trauma, those groups stand at the forefront of our mental health care and fill the gaps in our health service with compassion, dedication and expertise. I stand not just to praise their work but to highlight that our community and voluntary sector faces an existential threat. The decision to cut community and voluntary sector organisations' core grant funding by 50% last year has placed many of them on the brink. It has led to staff being laid off and has forced those organisations to change the way in which they operate. The cut is not just a budget line but a lifeline that has been severed for countless individuals and families who depend on those services for their mental health and well-being. One children's charity called the decision to maintain the cut "short-sighted". Indeed, were the grant scheme to cease, it is predicted that 62% of those organisations would be at risk of collapse. Let us not forget that we are still recovering from the widespread mental health challenges that were exacerbated by the pandemic. Isolation, financial stress, grief and uncertainty have all taken a toll on our people. We are seeing the long-term effects of that crisis on mental health. The demand for services is higher than ever. Imagine what is happening now that half the funding for those essential services has disappeared. The results are not good. Waiting lists are growing, nervous staff are being let go, and people who are in desperate need of support are being left to fend for themselves. The pressure on our already overburdened health system is being added to. The voluntary sector is often the first point of contact for individuals who may be hesitant about approaching formal health services. It provides a safe space for them to share their struggles and an access hub without stigma or barriers. The health service simply cannot fill the void that will be left by the cuts. In fact, we are setting ourselves up for an even bigger crisis. Without timely intervention, many individuals will end up in emergency departments or, worse, in tragic situations that could have been prevented with early support. We all know that prevention is better and more cost-effective than cure. Surely it is far cheaper to fund community services than it is to deal with the long-term consequences of untreated mental health issues. We often hear the phrase "penny wise and pound foolish" in here. The evidence is clear that, for every pound invested in mental health services, we save multiples of that in future costs to our health system, our economy and our society. I agree with Children in Northern Ireland, the umbrella body for the children's sector, which has stated:

"Community and voluntary sector organisations are not mere add-ons; they are integral components of the support system"

and:

"alleviate the pressure on statutory services, tackle complex issues at their roots, and improve outcomes in crucial areas".

The questions that we must ask are simple. The Department of Health's budget is well north of £7 billion, with £122 million having been added in the June monitoring round. Are we so far gone that we cannot afford £1·8 million to reinstate community and voluntary sector core grant funding? I ask the Minister whether he has already submitted, or is going to submit, a bid to uplift that core grant funding. I look forward to his response and urge him to do everything in his power to reverse the cuts to core grant funding and to reinstate, please, the financial support that those vital organisations need in order to continue their good work.

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

Assessment

Not flagged

Jev’s structured answers

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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