Charities, community organisations and faith groups across Northern Ireland are at the front line of tackling our social, economic, and environmental problems. Despite facing significant challenges our sector has remained steadfast in supporting communities on the ground. Our unique value and expertise must be seen as an asset that can help our elected representatives successfully deliver on their missions and improve outcomes in communities.
Charities have never been more needed. However, while the demand for our services has increased, the financial support from the government has not kept pace. The new UK Government has a unique opportunity to address this disparity NICVA is calling for the following policies to be prioritised to support better outcomes for some of the most marginalised communities across Northern Ireland.
A New Fiscal Framework and Multi-Year Funding
There is an urgent need for a new fiscal framework for Northern Ireland that supports the NI Executive in stabilizing public spending, unlocking sustainable economic growth, and delivering regional balance.
The challenging budgetary position facing the NI Executive clearly shows the need for increased levels of funding. Government departments are being forced to demonstrate savings that will have a detrimental impact on equality of opportunity in Northern Ireland. (link to EQIAs)
The work of our sector is not discretionary spend it should be valued and seen as a core part of delivering better outcomes in NI. However, transformation cannot happen without the proper investment, the fiscal framework debate needs to be settled for sustainable change.
We call for a move to multi-year funding for public sector contracts. This will allow voluntary and community organizations to offer stable employment, retain staff, and manage their finances responsibly while delivering vital services.
Alleviating poverty
We recently joined over 200 charities calling for the Prime Minister to make tackling hardship a top priority from day one.
Our sector witnesses the devastating impact of poverty daily and we urge the UK Government to implement urgent measures to alleviate financial distress and support those most in need.
Addressing hardship must be at the forefront of the government's agenda to ensure a fair and just society for all.
Future of Shared Prosperity Funding (SPF)
The SPF has been instrumental in addressing economic inactivity in Northern Ireland, with much of this work being carried out by the voluntary and community sector.
With SPF due to end in March 2025 time is running out to secure the long-term future for this essential work. We urge the UK Government to act now to either extend the scheme or create a new one that will enable the sector to continue reducing economic inactivity in the long term.
Collaboration
The voluntary and community sector possesses invaluable skills and expertise that can inform policy and practice. Our strong relationships with communities make us an essential partner for the government. We urge our local MPs to formally recognise our sector as a key partner, working closely with us to advocate for its value and represent the voices of our sector and those we serve.
The voluntary and community sector is a crucial partner, playing a vital role alongside the government and private sector in tackling society’s biggest challenges.
This can only happen if the voluntary and community sector is recognised and invested in by government to unlock the huge opportunity that exists to address key priorities.
