Debate contribution: Voluntary and Community Sector Funding

Debate contribution by Mr Andy Allen MBE on 5 May 2026.

MLA: Mr Andy Allen MBE
Party at the time: Ulster Unionist Party
Date: 5 May 2026
Type: Debate contribution
Business: Private Members' Business
Heading: Voluntary and Community Sector Funding
Assembly identifier: Official Report component 5525081

Text

I too thank the SDLP for bringing the motion to the House. At the outset, I declare an interest as a charity trustee. That role, alongside my work as an MLA, has given me first-hand insight into the pressures facing the community and voluntary sector and the very real, often life-changing difference that it makes to people across Northern Ireland. For many people, the community and voluntary sector is the first place that they turn to when they need help. Those organisations are also to the fore in delivering support schemes and initiatives. They provide practical support, continuity, trust and understanding. They are rooted in the communities that they serve, and their local knowledge allows them to respond quickly and effectively when need arises. That is why their value goes well beyond what can easily be measured. However, when it is measured, as is often a requirement for funding, the impact is not only clear but compelling and provides a strong evidence base to inform and shape policy. Those organisations deliver strong value for money and contribute to economic outcomes by helping people move closer to work, easing pressures on public services. We have all, no doubt, seen how relatively small amounts of funding can make a significant difference when it is in the hands of people who understand local need and can respond quickly. That ability to act early and intervene before issues escalate is one of the sector's greatest strengths and, ultimately, saves both money and hardship in the longer term. That is why the current situation is so concerning. We are now seeing organisations having to scale back services, lose skilled staff and, in some cases, consider whether they can continue at all. That is not because the need has gone away. If anything, demand and the complexity of need has increased. The handling of the local growth fund has contributed to that uncertainty, as others have mentioned. We have raised that at every level. For example, my colleague Robin Swann MP arranged direct engagement with relevant UK Government Ministers. The current funding model does not reflect how those services are delivered on the ground, which has left many organisations struggling to maintain provision. A capital-heavy approach simply does not align with services that rely on people, skills and sustained engagement. Alongside that, there was a failure to put in place timely replacement funding when it became clear that previous arrangements would fall away. That created a gap that the sector has been warning about for some time, and we are now seeing the consequences of that delay. If we are serious about recognising the value of the community and voluntary sector, that recognition has to be reflected in decision-making at a local level and at Westminster. That means providing stability through multi-year funding. It also means ensuring that funding is designed around people and services, not rigid structures that fail to reflect how delivery works in practice, as we have seen with the approach taken to the local growth fund. Providing sufficient multi-year funding is a necessary step. It is about giving organisations the certainty that they need to plan, retain staff and continue delivering the support that so many people depend on. Too often, we see decisions and notifications coming at the last minute, creating unnecessary uncertainty, as was the case again recently with community and voluntary sector youth services. If we allow capacity to be lost, the consequences will be far-reaching: skills and experience will be lost; relationships in communities will be damaged; and services that have taken years to build will disappear. That is not something that we can easily or quickly rebuild. The community and voluntary sector plays a vital role in supporting people, strengthening communities and delivering services that make a real difference every day. We support the motion.

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

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