NI Can’t Wait!

What is happening?

Northern Ireland is facing a severe and unnecessary funding cliff edge.

From April 2026, funding arrangements will change as the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) is replaced by the Local Growth Fund. As currently designed, this transition represents one of the most significant threats in a generation to economic inclusion and to the voluntary and community sector-led services that support people into, and sustained in, work across Northern Ireland.

• Funding to tackle economic inactivity will fall by 64%, from £25m to £9.2m per year, due to an imposed 70% capital / 30% revenue split that does not reflect Northern Ireland’s needs.
• The shift will undermine proven, people-centred services supporting those furthest from the labour market, including disabled people, carers, women, those with long-term health conditions and young people not in education, employment, or training.
• If unaddressed, the decision will remove support from over 11,000 people annually, put at least 400 skilled VCS jobs at risk, collapse trusted services across Northern Ireland, and increase pressure on key public services.

What do we need?

TIME IS RUNNING OUT– We call on both the UK Government and the Northern Ireland Executive to act immediately and decisively to:

1. Reverse the current allocation model, which is unsupported by evidence and misaligned with Northern Ireland’s needs.
2. Protect existing services throughout 2026/27, preventing irreversible damage to delivery infrastructure.
3. Commit to a genuinely co-designed, sustainable funding model, grounded in evidence and prioritising people-centred, revenue-based support.

How YOU Can Take Action

We need your help! By taking the 3 steps below, you can help us to protect those who need our support.

SIGN – SEAL – DELIVER