This drastic reduction in funding for Local Growth will strip away vital services for people furthest from the labour market - including young people, those with disabilities or returning to work after long‑term illness and those with caring responsibilities. These are precisely the groups most in need of targeted, sustained intervention and support.
Speaking on behalf of voluntary and community sector organisations across Northern Ireland who are currently delivering these programmes, Celine McStravick CEO, NICVA said:
“Today’s announcement from the Prime Minister highlights a growing disparity between the opportunities being created elsewhere in the UK and the shrinking support available for those most acutely in need across Northern Ireland. While England is benefitting from billions in new investment to tackle youth unemployment and expand apprenticeships, Northern Ireland is witnessing its core employability infrastructure being hollowed out.
“The 64% cut to employability support programmes through the introduction of the Local Growth Fund will remove lifelines for thousands of people each year who need tailored support to enter or re‑enter the workforce.
“With just 11 working days before these cuts take effect, vital community services are being dismantled and hundreds of the skilled staff who underpin these services face losing their jobs. As a result, those on the very edges of our labour market will be left without the help they need to build skills, secure work and contribute to our economy.”
Celine continued:
“Northern Ireland cannot afford to fall further behind. The UK Governments decision to allocate 70% of Local Growth Funding into capital projects rather than community- based support services that can directly support people into work, completely ignores local need.
NICVA continues to call on the UK Government to redress this proposed split.
Time is running out in Northern Ireland. The UK Government and Northern Ireland Executive must urgently work together to ensure funding for vital employability support services is secured. Without immediate action, the gap between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK will continue to widen with the prospect of fewer pathways into work, reduced employer engagement, and greatly diminished support for those who need it most, resulting in long‑term consequences for our labour market, our communities and our economic competitiveness.
