An allocation of £1.8m in core grant funding is wholly inadequate to support the Northern Ireland voluntary sector’s contribution to health and social care, an umbrella body chief has warned.

Northern Ireland’s health minister, Mike Nesbitt, announced the Department of Health’s 2025/26 core grant funding scheme for the voluntary and community sector this week.

The scheme has seen “unprecedented demand”, with nearly 260 organisations applying.

Subject to final checks, the funding will be provided to just 25 community and voluntary sector organisations to support them with core operating costs, the department said.

The Department of Health confirmed a 50 per cent cut to the scheme last July.

The Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action has called for a comprehensive review of the scheme’s scope and purpose.

“The decision to maintain the 50 per cent cut to this vital funding stream, reducing it from £3.6m to £1.8m, undermines the sector’s ability to support the health system at a time of unprecedented pressure,” Nicva said.

“Without adequate core funding, this vital infrastructure is at risk.”

Celine McStravick, chief executive of Nicva, said the Department of Health could not deliver its strategic objectives without a strong, sustainable voluntary and community sector.

“The current situation, where less than 6 per cent of applicants received funding, reveals a serious misalignment between the department’s reliance on our sector and its investment in our capacity to deliver,” McStravick said.

“The current funding level of £1.8m is wholly inadequate to support this essential infrastructure.

“We are calling for an immediate review of the Core Grant scheme to ensure it reflects the sector’s vital role in health service delivery.”

Nicva has urged Nesbitt to commit to a properly resourced three-year funding programme that recognises the sector’s essential contribution to healthcare delivery in Northern Ireland, following the review.

The umbrella body also called for a long-term commitment to support voluntary sector infrastructure and clear criteria in grant allocation that recognise organisational impact and sustainability.

Nesbitt said: “While I regret that the indicative health budget allocation for 2025/26 does not permit me to offer funding to more of the 259 applicants, I am pleased to be able to announce that more than £1.8m in funding will be provided, subject to final checks with the 25 organisations, to support them with core costs in 2025/26.

“When I announced my plan to redesign the scheme in July 2024, I made it clear that my intention was to address the fundamental unfairness in the previous scheme, which has funded the same organisations for more than 20 years.

“I wanted the scheme to be open and transparent, and for as many organisations as possible to be able to bid for funding. 

“Naturally, introducing competition meant that there would be winners and losers, but those who have missed out this time will have a further opportunity later this year to bid for funding in 2026/27.”