Long term, sustainable investment needed for the Community and Voluntary sector

31 Mar 2023

Long term, sustainable investment, security and funding strategies are needed for the Community and Voluntary sector. This is the message from CEO of the Community Foundation, Róisín Wood, following the announcement of the Shared Prosperity funding today from the Department of Levelling Up.

Speaking today Róisín Wood said:

“The announcement of the Shared prosperity Funding today is a welcome life line for so many within the Community and Voluntary sector.

“Unfortunately, there are those who did not receive funding. What it means for these organisations is what we have heard over the past week, including reduced programming, staff redundancies and an impact to those who use these services.

“The fact that organisations, whether successful or not, had to wait until the 11th hour to find out about their futures, alongside the huge amount of uncertainty faced by staff and service users alike, is unacceptable and cannot be allowed to happen again.

“We simply cannot have a sector that lurches from crisis to crisis due to under investment and the lack of stable funding opportunities. Such an approach prevents forward planning, provides uncertainty for staff, leads to the loss of skills from the sector in terms of retention, and ultimately it is no way to help the most vulnerable in our society.

“What we need are forward thinking funding strategies and sustainable investments to protect the vital work carried out the by the community and voluntary sector. To continue to chip away at the sector will only lead to increased pressures elsewhere that will cost much more in the long term.”