Robin Swann urges UK Government to prevent funding gap for Northern Ireland charities

South Antrim MP Robin Swann

South Antrim MP Robin Swann has called on the UK Government to urgently provide clarity on the future of charity funding in Northern Ireland, warning that uncertainty over the new Local Growth Fund risks leaving vital community programmes without support.

Mr Swann raised the issue with the Cabinet Office in the House of Commons, highlighting growing concern among charities and disability organisations who depend on UK Government funding to deliver essential services.

The former Health Minister said the lack of detail surrounding the successor to the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) could have serious consequences for groups supporting vulnerable people.

In response to an earlier question from Mr Swann, the Department for Housing, Communities and Local Government confirmed that the new Local Growth Fund will replace the UKSPF from March 2026, but stopped short of confirming when allocations or delivery plans would be announced.

Reacting to this, Mr Swann said:

“This lack of clarity is incredibly worrying, particularly given the warnings from disability and community organisations like Mencap who stress that a funding gap between the end of UKSPF and the start of the new Local Growth Fund could be hugely damaging.

“We are now only a few months away from the Shared Prosperity Fund coming to an end and yet there is still no clear plan for what comes next.”

He continued:

“Groups like Mencap are rightly warning that if there is even a short gap in funding, it could lead to the loss of experienced staff and the closure of programmes that help disabled people into meaningful employment. We now need clarity from the Government to ensure that this does not happen.”

Mr Swann welcomed assurances that funding levels for Northern Ireland would remain consistent but said that key details must be published urgently to provide certainty for those delivering services on the ground.

“The Minister’s assurance that funding for Northern Ireland will continue at the same level as before is welcome, but for the organisations relying on this funding, a much fuller picture of what this Fund will look like is needed,” he added.

“We need to know what the money will fund, how it will be distributed and how local organisations will be able to access it.”

Mr Swann confirmed he has written to Government Ministers seeking formal confirmation that there will be no gap between the end of the UKSPF and the start of the Local Growth Fund.

He has also called for guarantees that the focus on revenue funding to support people into employment will continue, and that Northern Ireland’s allocation and delivery arrangements will be published without further delay.

The South Antrim MP warned that without clear commitments, local charities and community groups could face a funding cliff-edge that would undermine years of progress in employment and inclusion initiatives.