By James Martin McCarthy
Copyright belfastlive
Alliance MP Sorcha Eastwood has warned that vital community services could be forced to close unless a tailored funding model is introduced for Northern Ireland . The Lagan Valley MP, alongside Alliance Communities spokesperson Sian Mulholland MLA and a number of party colleagues, met with 20 leading community and voluntary organisations at Stormont today to discuss the sector’s future. The roundtable focused on the looming transition from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund to the new Local Growth Fund in March 2026. Organisations including YouthAction NI, NICVA, Mencap, Action Mental Health and Disability Action raised concerns that the change could trigger closures and redundancies without urgent government intervention. Ms Eastwood said the groups represented were “the backbone of our communities” but faced a funding “cliff edge”. “These organisations are changing lives every day through mental health support, employment training and advocacy. Yet they’re facing a funding cliff edge,” she said. “While the Starmer government remains distracted by its party conference and tying itself in knots, people here cannot wait. I convened today’s meeting to ensure their voices are heard and to plan our next steps together to protect these critical services. We demand a bespoke Northern Ireland funding model and will keep pushing for urgent government action. “We’ve been here before with cliff edges around funding – it’s high time that the community and voluntary sector were valued and recognised for who they are – critical partners in delivering economic and social transformation, not simply an add-on or nice to have.” Ms Mulholland said the loss of any service would be “devastating”. “Our community and voluntary sector is there for people when no one else is,” she said. “ Alliance colleagues and I will continue to make the case to the UK Government for urgent contingency measures and a tailored NI model for the Local Growth Fund. In addition, we will also keep pushing the Executive to work together to deliver long-term, strategic investment in the Community and Voluntary sector.” For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our politics newsletter here.
