Brexit training fund problems leave Northern Ireland charities 'struggling'
A number of charities in Northern Ireland have said they face making layoffs due to problems with UK government funding.They say they now have to find money up front to pay for training work under the Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF).The UKSPF replaced the European Union's European Social Fund (ESF) in March 2023, which came to an end in Northern Ireland as a result of Brexit.The chief executive of East Belfast Mission, Rev Andrew Irvine, told BBC News NI that charities are "struggling" and the new funding arrangement "beggars belief".
The UKSPF provides funding to organisations in Northern Ireland for "levelling up" their communities and helping people find employment through training.East Belfast Mission is one of five groups which run the Belfast Works project.Belfast Works offers free training for jobs including barbering, classroom assistants, fitness instructors, catering, healthcare, and security guards.But Rev Irvine said that East Belfast Mission is expected to find £180,000 a quarter "out of nowhere" to fund the training and then "wait for the government to pay us". "If we can't do that then this community - in which 67% of those of working age are currently not in work - lose this service, and East Belfast Mission needs to make 17 people redundant and the partnership needs to make 96 people redundant," he added.He said that overall Belfast Works had more than 100 staff and worked with 400 people a month to help them get into work.Eight staff members have already been made redundant, he added.
'Free finance'
The UKSPF website said it would pay delivery organisations "in Northern Ireland in advance, on a six monthly cycle".But Rev Andrew Irvine said that was not happening and that charities were having to "give the government free finance"."They're saying we're not going to fund you until the end of each quarter, so for Belfast Works that means five local community organisations trying to finance the government to the tune of a million pounds a quarter," he said.
GEMS Northern Ireland is also part of Belfast Works, and trains people for a range of careers, as well as running classes in English and numeracy.It's chief executive, Susan Russam, told BBC News NI that they had 18 staff and had helped train thousands of people through the Belfast Works project."Our salary bill for Belfast Works Connect, which is due to be paid next week, is just short of £50,000," she said."We can find that in April, but we aren't going to be able to find that in May as well."I think that's a little bit unconscionable to expect a small charity like ours, who were already working supporting this project and making a real difference to communities and lives, to have to struggle to actually pay our wages."
Cashflow 'challenges'
In a statement, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) said it would "work closely with these UKSPF-funded projects to ensure that they continue to receive funding on schedule, so they can keep supporting the most vulnerable in society"."Our payment schedule remains the same as in previous years," MHCLG added.However an email from MHCLG, seen by BBC News NI, acknowledged "cashflow for your organisation and partners may present challenges."
Mohammad Alhamwi and Olena Karpenko are among students taking a customer service course at GEMS.Mohammad, who is originally from Syria, said the course was "really valuable"."I'm looking to develop myself as much as I can," he said."The UK is about having a good career, certificates, lots of skills."
Olena Karpenko came to Northern Ireland from Ukraine, where she was a teacher."For me, it's very important - new information, new experience, experienced teachers, supportive people," she said."I'm very happy to be here, it's helped me a lot."
Rev Irvine said the situation clashed with the government's aspiration to get people back to work."It absolutely flies in the face of the chancellor's position and it actually really, really irritates me when I see the chancellor saying we're going to reduce the welfare payments, but the solution is to get people into work - and then this, this is how they're going about getting people into work?," he said."If this idea is to get people out of poverty by getting them into work, then let's fund this properly and stop behaving like this with the delivery partners."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Glasgow Times
an hour ago
- Glasgow Times
Award-winning Aldi, Co-op, Asda, Sainsbury's and Tesco wines
From a £7 Portuguese red to a £22 vintage Champagne, UK supermarkets picked up dozens of top medals for their own-brand bottles, with wines from Aldi, Tesco, Sainsbury's, M&S, Co-op, Asda and Waitrose going head-to-head with fine wine producers from around the globe. In one of the most competitive judging seasons yet, wines from major UK grocers earned Gold, Silver and Bronze medals across every style, from English sparkling to Barolo, Rioja, and Sauternes – many at everyday prices. Top medal winners from the IWSC 2025 Pop these award-winners in your trolley this weekend Aldi Animus Douro Reserva 2022 – Silver (94 points), £6.99 A full-bodied Portuguese red, praised for its richness and structure. One of the best-value medallists of the year. Asda Extra Special Rioja Reserva 2019 – Silver (94 points), £8 Classic vanilla, spice, and red fruit Rioja profile, praised for structure and ageing potential. M&S Collection Picpoul de Pinet 2023 – Silver (91 points), £9 A crisp, coastal white from the Languedoc – ideal summer drinking. Sainsbury's Taste the Difference English Bacchus 2023 – Silver (92 points), £9.50 A fresh, zesty white made in England, earning high praise in a competitive aromatic white category. Tesco Finest Sauternes (37.5cl) – Gold (92 points), £12 A classic French dessert wine, offering luscious, honeyed fruit for under half the price of château equivalents. Sainsbury's Taste the Difference Barolo 2019 – Silver (90 points), £14 An accessible expression of Italy's king of wines, delivering dark cherry and rose petal notes. Co-op Les Pionniers Vintage Champagne 2013 – Gold (95 points), £22 The only supermarket Champagne to win Gold. A standout vintage with complex brioche and citrus notes. Sainsbury's Taste the Difference Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2022 – Gold (95 points), £16 A bold southern Rhône red made in partnership with top estates, described by judges as 'impressively elegant.' M&S Collection Saint Gall Premier Cru Champagne NV – Gold (95 points), £28 Elegant, chalky, and finely textured – made in partnership with a historic grower in Épernay. Waitrose No.1 English Sparkling Brut NV – Silver (91 points), £22.99 One of the UK's most awarded sparkling wines, holding its own against Champagne. David Kermode, IWSC judge and broadcaster, says: "These results are a wake-up call for anyone who still associates great wine with high prices. "The best supermarket own-label ranges are now being made by some of the most respected producers in the world and the blind tasting at IWSC proves just how well they perform." Christelle Guibert, CEO of the IWSC, added: "At the IWSC, every wine is judged blind by a panel of experts from across the globe. What makes this year especially exciting is the number of affordable supermarket wines standing out alongside premium bottles. It's proof that great winemaking doesn't have to come with a luxury price tag." Recommended reading: The International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC) is widely regarded as the gold standard for wine and spirit quality. With entries judged blind by Masters of Wine, sommeliers, buyers and producers, its rigorous methodology ensures medals are awarded purely on taste and quality – with judges never seeing the bottle or label, eliminating all bias or visual influence. Celebrated globally for its integrity and expertise, the IWSC remains one of the most respected and trusted competitions in the drinks industry.
Scotsman
an hour ago
- Scotsman
Spending Review 2025: what time is Reeves' announcement?
Big pledges on housing, healthcare, and transport are expected, but questions remain over where cuts may fall 🚆 Sign up to the weekly Cost Of Living newsletter. Saving tips, deals and money hacks. Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Rachel Reeves unveils her 2025 spending review today, promising to prioritise 'working people' and drive Britain's economic renewal Big spending boosts are expected to include £30bn for the NHS, £4.5bn for schools, and £39bn for social housing Transport and energy upgrades should also feature heavily, including billions for public transport, nuclear power, and a £3 bus fare cap extension No tax hikes (on income tax, National Insurance, or VAT) are expected, but other departments may face cuts to balance the books Watch live around 12:30pm on Parliament TV, BBC News, Sky News or BBC Parliament Rachel Reeves will today (June 11) unveil her much-anticipated 2025 spending review, pledging to align government priorities with those of 'working people' and spearhead what she is calling 'Britain's renewal.' The Chancellor is expected to focus heavily on boosting core public services and infrastructure while juggling tough monetary constraints – all without raising income tax, National Insurance or VAT. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Reeves will outline day-to-day spending plans for the next three years and capital investment plans stretching into 2029. Here's what's expected to be announced, and how it might impact your money: (Photo: Peter Byrne -) | Getty Images Major spending increases Headline commitments expected to be or already announced include: £30 billion increase in NHS funding – a 2.8% real-terms rise, aimed at tackling record waiting lists and modernising healthcare. £4.5 billion extra for schools, enhancing classroom resources and teacher support. Defence spending rise to 2.5% of GDP, in line with NATO obligations and national security priorities. £39 billion over 10 years for affordable and social housing, nearly doubling annual housing investment to £4 billion by 2029/30. £15.6 billion for public transport in English city regions, supporting tram and bus upgrades outside the capital. £16.7 billion for nuclear energy, most of it going to build the new Sizewell C power plant in Suffolk. £445 million for Welsh rail upgrades, and an extension of the £3 bus fare cap until March 2027. One of the notable omissions in the spending review is the lack of major infrastructure funding for London, and no sign of a tourist levy – a key request from Mayor Sadiq Khan. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad While the Government promises reform of the Treasury's 'green book' rules – which decide how investment is distributed – the shift is designed to favour regions outside London and the South East. Will there be tax hikes? Despite the expanded spending commitments, Reeves has repeatedly stressed that Labour's 'fiscal rules' remain in place, and that there will be no increases to income tax, National Insurance, or VAT – raising the question of where future savings or revenues will come from. The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) has warned that real-terms increases to the NHS above 2.5% may mean squeezes elsewhere – particularly for departments like local government, justice, and the Home Office. Although some departments, such as policing, may receive inflation-beating settlements, others are likely to face tightening belts. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Additionally, the Government's recent U-turn on winter fuel payments – now extended to pensioners earning up to £35,000 – adds around £1.25 billion to public spending, reducing Reeves' fiscal headroom even further. What it means for you Better public services, particularly in health and education, may mean improvements in access and quality – though not immediately. More affordable housing could ease rental pressure and improve supply, especially for lower-income households. The extended bus fare cap and transport upgrades could mean cheaper and more reliable travel, particularly in city regions outside London. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad No major tax rises (yet) will be a relief for household budgets, though future tax tweaks or spending cuts in other areas remain a possibility. What time is the Spending Review? The Chancellor's speech is expected around 12:30 pm BST, shortly after Prime Minister's Questions, which start at noon in the House of Commons. Major broadcasters, including BBC News and Sky News, will carry live coverage.
Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Daily Mirror
Calls for major free bus travel change for older people across UK
A new petition is calling for the concession cards to be used throughout the UK A new online campaign is gaining traction, demanding a revamp of the concessionary bus travel scheme to allow pensioners to travel across the UK without charge. Currently, National Entitlement Cards are given to those over State Pension age in England and Wales, while people in Scotland can get their hands on one from 60 years old. Campaigner Hillary Shaw has voiced concerns that older people living on the cusp of UK regions are getting a raw deal, pointing out that since bus services run across Scotland, England and Wales, it would be 'easier and fairer' if the concession card covered the whole journey. Last year, whispers surfaced that existing UK Government laws might pave the way for concessionary bus pass holders to enjoy UK-wide travel in times to come. Back then, Guy Opperman, who was serving as Minister for Roads and Local Transport, made it clear there were no immediate intentions to "introduce such an arrangement", as reported by the Daily Record. The 'Negotiate UK-wide recognition of older person's bus passes' petition has been posted on the official UK Government's Petitions Parliament website and states: 'I think senior citizens living close to the English, Scottish and Welsh borders are disadvantaged in how many local bus services they can use. 'Bus services run across borders and I think it would be easier and fairer if the bus pass covered the whole journey, and return, on all of these services. I think it would be fairer for all if these passes could simply be used on any bus service in the UK. This could increase pensioner independence and travel opportunities, especially for those living in border areas." Once the petition reaches 10,000 signatures, the UK Government will be required to provide a written response, likely from the Department for Transport. At 100,000 signatures, it would be considered by the Petitions Committee for debate in Parliament - you can view it online here.
