Money from the European Social Fund (ESF) stops on Friday as a result of Brexit
The UK government has announced a £57m package to support Northern Ireland community groups facing a funding crisis due to a loss of EU money.
The package will replace the European Social Fund (ESF), which stopped on Friday as a result of Brexit.
It comes amid concerns for the future of many organisations which could still be forced to reduce services or close.
Community groups have been receiving funding decisions throughout Friday.
The money from the UK government’s Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) is more than the £42m over two years originally advertised to tackle economic inactivity.
Eighteen large projects which help support people into work will receive the financial backing.
However, the new scheme is still expected to be oversubscribed, meaning some organisations will lose funding.
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter cookie policy and privacy policy before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
End of Twitter content, 1
The Women’s Centre in Derry is one of those affected.
In a tweet on Friday the centre, which promotes women’s equality and access to education and employment, said: “We have had devastating news today that our ESF funding is not being replaced!”
“This impacts the services in Derry for women and we also lose six skilled amazing staff members today! Disgrace!”
Sophie Cocault says she has no idea if she will be going to work next week
A protest by staff and service users affected by the funding crisis took place in Belfast on Friday.
Project worker Sophie Cocault, who was at the protest, said she has “no idea” if she will be going to work next week.
Ms Cocault works for Full Service Community Network, which provide services to 25 schools in west Belfast.
“Our service is not a luxury,” she told BBC News NI.
“Our funding is integral to the community – we support children that really need our help.”
“We are being shoved away – it’s a disgrace for the children”
Kathleen Lavery, a teacher at Holy Family Primary School in Belfast, said services were at “crisis point”.
“There are so many services affected by this cut – many people don’t understand how many school services are funded this way,” she said.
“We are being shoved away, it’s a disgrace for the children.”
Image source, Declan Doherty
Declan Doherty, chief executive of Derry Youth and Community Workshop, says 25 of his staff members could face redundancy
Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris said the money will support the “vital work of community and voluntary organisations”.
BBC NI spoke to several organisations ahead of the funding announcement.
Declan Doherty, chief executive of Derry Youth and Community Workshop, said he had “no hope whatsoever” the replacement funding would be enough to keep staff in work.
He said 25 of his staff members would lose their jobs on Friday.
Image source, Getty Images/Dean Mitchell
Some of the organisations which stand to lose EU funding help people with learning difficulties to gain workplace skills
Sarah Bowden runs the Greater Village Regeneration Trust in south Belfast.
The organisation works with young people with complex needs who are not in education, providing them with training, support and a pathway to employment.
“If you came and looked at the young people we worked with, the prospect of losing this service is shameful.
“It’s not just training, it’s a safe space and a lifeline for these young people.”
Image source, Barry McMenamin
Barry McMenamin says Mencap will be functional without EU funding but only as a skeleton service
Barry McMenamin, regional operations manager for Mencap, said the ESF provided two-thirds of its annual funding of about £700,000.
“We have applied for that funding [the UK Shared Prosperity Fund] but still have no indication if we are successful or not,” he said.
“Regardless if we are successful, it still means there will be a gap in funding.”
‘Absolutely essential’
Celine McStravick, chief executive of the Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action (NICVA), said the funding was “absolutely essential” to making Northern Ireland society work.
She said that ESF was used by 67 members represented by the council and amounted to around 1,700 employees.
“I have been inundated with emails, telephone calls and meetings with our members; who are angry, they are frustrated, they’re feeling disrespected.”
Levelling Up Minister Dehenna Davison said the £57m announcement was an “important milestone “.
“We are making the most of opportunities outside the European Union to deliver for people in Northern Ireland,” she said.
