Debate contribution: Core Grant Scheme

Debate contribution by Mr Philip McGuigan on 7 April 2025.

MLA

Mr Philip McGuigan

Party at the time

Sinn Féin

Date

7 April 2025

Type

Debate contribution

Business

Committee Business

Heading

Core Grant Scheme

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 4891220

Read the official Assembly record

Text

Go raibh maith agat, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle.

As outlined on the Department of Health's website, the core grant scheme is in place to support community and voluntary sector organisations and charities to cover their fixed costs, such as 25% of a permanent staff member's annual salary; training costs; rent; rates; electricity and gas; and equipment. Last July, the Minister announced that there would be a redesign to address unfairness in the scheme, which had funded the same organisations for over 20 years. The Minister outlined how the new scheme would be co-designed in partnership with the NI Council for Voluntary Action (NICVA) and that it would be relaunched in the autumn. In February, the Minister announced that the total funding pot for 2025-26 was £1·8 million, making it the third year running in which the same amount had been available. That calls into question a redesign process that does not consider demand, need, increasing waiting lists or the desire for more services to be provided in the community. The Minister advised that 25 organisations had been successful in the process, despite a total of 259 bids for funding having been received. When the funding announcement was made, Celine McStravick, the chief executive of NICVA, the organisation with which the Department co-designed the new process, said:

"The Department of Health cannot deliver its strategic objectives without a strong, sustainable voluntary and community sector. The current situation, where less than 6% of applicants received funding, reveals a serious misalignment between the Department's reliance on our sector and its investment in our capacity to deliver. We are calling for an immediate review of the Core Grant scheme to ensure it reflects the sector's vital role in health service delivery. This review should examine both the purpose and scale of funding needed to support a sustainable voluntary sector that can effectively partner with statutory services. Following this review, we urge the Minister to commit to a properly resourced three-year funding programme that recognises the sector's essential contribution to healthcare delivery"

in the North. Those comments outline the disconnect between the Department and the sector in the delivery of services in our communities. Across our constituencies, we see countless examples of charities, community groups and voluntary organisations stepping up to deliver essential services and offering care and support to the most vulnerable. Their work is not supplementary; it is indispensable. The contribution of the voluntary sector to health and social care cannot be overstated. Those organisations provide front-line services that go from elderly care and mental health support to disability assistance and palliative care. They bring expertise, flexibility and a deep understanding of local needs that often surpasses what statutory services alone can achieve. Furthermore, they foster a sense of belonging and community cohesion, ensuring that people do not feel abandoned or isolated. The COVID-19 pandemic was a stark reminder of how vital those organisations are. When public services were stretched to their limits, it was community-led initiatives that filled the gaps, delivering food parcels, offering mental health support and ensuring that vulnerable individuals were not left behind.

The resilience and adaptability of those groups was extraordinary, yet they continue to operate under significant financial and resource constraints. Investment in the community and voluntary sector is not just a moral obligation; it is economically sound. Studies show that every pound invested in voluntary health and care services generates significant social and financial returns by reducing the pressures on hospitals, GP surgeries and emergency services. Prevention and early intervention — key pillars of community-based care — ultimately reduce the burden on our already overstretched NHS staff.

The organisations cannot continue their invaluable work without proper support. We must ensure that they have sustainable funding, clear policy frameworks and the recognition they deserve within a broader healthcare strategy. I urge the Assembly to champion policies that provide stable financial backing, encourage cross-sector collaboration and reduce the bureaucratic barriers that hinder the vital work of volunteers. I note that, while the scheme does not directly fund service delivery, it provides the funding to put the structures in place that allow organisations and charities to bid for contracts and provide essential services to our communities. What additional services could be provided in our communities if there was additional core grant funding for those community and voluntary sector organisations and charities? It would be fair to say that, if the community and voluntary sector stopped providing health and social care services in our community, the health system would grind to a halt. I pay tribute to the many organisations and charities and the many thousands of workers and volunteers who make an active contribution to our health system and improve the health and social care outcomes for our communities. We thank you for your service and the care and support that you provide. Today, the Minister will outline the significant financial pressures on the Department and the Executive, and there is no denying that we are in a difficult financial position. However, while the Minister may say that we cannot afford to invest in the community and voluntary sector, the reality is that we must invest in the sector. While the Department is making short-term decisions about funding the sector, it will result in long-term funding pressures further down the track. We will continue to see waiting lists grow; we will continue to see increased pressures on our GP services, emergency departments (EDs), hospital services and domiciliary care services. The Minister has been clear with the Committee and in the media that he wants to see a shift left and to place services out of secondary care into our communities. We welcome that focus. However, the announcement of only £1·8 million for core grant funding in this financial year does not indicate a willingness to move services into the community. It indicates that the status quo will be maintained. From the applications to the fund, we can see that there is a significant demand for the funding. Some 259 applications were made, with bids totalling over £13 million. Again, what services could those organisations and charities have provided that would have relieved pressure on our creaking system? The Committee's motion urges the Minister of Health:

"to engage meaningfully with stakeholders to secure long-term, sustainable investment in voluntary and community health services; and calls on the Minister to urgently review the amount of funding allocated to ensure that the sector is adequately supported."

An important first step would be to restore funding to the previous amount of £3·6 million. There should also be a review of the programme that would include meaningful co-design of a new multi-year scheme that would allow organisations and charities not only to exist but to grow, innovate and meet the needs of the people in our communities. We must acknowledge that a thriving health and social care system is built not just on hospitals and clinics but on the dedication of volunteers and community groups. Their work strengthens our society, enriches lives and ensures that care reaches those who need it most. It is our duty to support them.

1,183 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

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Assessed 21 October 2026 at 12:20 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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