16 charities who are members of the Coalition of Carers in Northern Ireland representing thousands of vulnerable people including children, carers, those with chronic diseases and disabilities have issued a joint statement in response to the recent DOH Core Grant Funding process:
Joint Press Statement from Members of the Coalition of Carers in Northern Ireland
Date: 20 Feb 2025
Organisations that represent thousands of vulnerable people in Northern Ireland including children, carers, those with chronic diseases and disabilities have issued a joint statement in response to the recent DOH Core Grant Funding process.
The joint letter has been signed by 16 charities who are members of the Coalition of Carers Northern Ireland and calls on the Health Minister Mike Nesbitt MLA for an urgent meeting and review of his department’s Core Grant Funding scheme.
Signatories from the Coalition of Carers include: Action for Children, Age NI, Angel Eyes NI, Brain Injury Matters, Carers NI, Cause, Huntington’s Disease Association NI, Macmillan, Mencap, MS Society, NIPSA, Parent Action, Parkinson’s UK NI, Stroke Association NI, Motor Neurone Disease Association and the Women’s Support Network.
The funding pot was reinstated this year at a reduced level after being completely removed as a process in 2023 when there were no Executive Ministers in place.
The letter expresses, bitter disappointment caused by the reduced funding which saw 259 groups apply for a slice of £1.8 million pot of Core Grant Funding. Only 25 groups were successful.
The joint statement reads: “We are bitterly disappointed by the Department of Health’s decision not to fund over 230 voluntary and community sector organisations who applied to the Core Grant Scheme for one year funding to cover 2025/2026.
“Charities and groups aligned to the Coalition of Carers in NI represent the most marginalised groups in society. These include carers of children with learning disabilities, carers of older people, carers of individuals with complex neurological conditions, cancer organisations and carers of those with acute mental health conditions. The omission of a wide range of carers’ organisations from the Core Grants fund will have a detrimental impact at a time when carers are already struggling to get the support they and their loved ones need.
“Coupled with the loss of Community Foundation NI carer funds, administered on behalf of DOH which end in March 2025, some organisations are facing a cliff edge.
“In our view, this lack of ongoing commitment to fund carers’ organisations is indicative of a lack of understanding regarding the work that our organisations do to support and advocate for the most vulnerable people in our society. Our views are reinforced by NICVA who similarly expressed their concerns that a one year funding programme does not provide the long-term sustainability the sector urgently needs.
“The decision to only allocate £1.8 million to the Core Grant Scheme was always going to threaten the sustainability of our organisations and damage the wider community and voluntary sector. We do not accept the Department of Health’s position that, due to budgetary pressures, they are unable to allocate appropriate investment in the community and voluntary sector, which generates considerable value in terms of early intervention, prevention and reducing pressure on statutory health and social care services.
“Reduced funding will mean that organisations will have to dramatically scale back support for vulnerable people. Some groups may also cease to exist.
“In the context of the overall budget for Health (£8.4 billion), and government spending more widely, the Core Grant Funding Scheme is a small investment of money that generates a huge return in helping to sustain the diversity and expertise of community and voluntary sector organisations in line with the Department’s strategic priorities. Without these groups, Government would be unable to properly support those in need and Northern Ireland’s vulnerable and marginalised communities will not be supported to have their voices heard. We call on the DOH and all MLAs to urgently respond to our concerns.
“We call on Health Minister for an urgent meeting and review of the Core Grant Funding scheme so that more support and appreciation of the sector can be brought forward both in financial terms but also in acknowledging and planning for the savings and value the sector brings to NI’s society, and especially those suffering from deep health inequalities.”
Ends
Notes to editors
Details about the Coalition of Carers organisations NI and previous programmes of work are here https://www.carersuk.org/reports/a-new-deal-for-unpaid-carers-in-northern-ireland/
NICVA press release https://www.nicva.org/article/department-of-health-core-grant-scheme-reveals-critical-gap-in-voluntary-sector-support
DOH press release on Core Funding here https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/news/ps18m-core-grant-funding-announced-community-voluntary-sector-health
DOH Core Grant Funding details here https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/articles/core-grant-funding-scheme-2025-26
To organise media interviews please get in touch with Áine Magee, Carers NI Public Affairs and Media Manager by email aine.magee@carersni.org or phone 07506219002