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| Version 10 | Version 11 |
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| European Social Fund: Groups face cuts to services despite £57m UK cash | European Social Fund: Groups face cuts to services despite £57m UK cash |
| (about 14 hours later) | |
| Money from the European Social Fund (ESF) stops on Friday as a result of Brexit | Money from the European Social Fund (ESF) stops on Friday as a result of Brexit |
| Charities and community groups across Northern Ireland have said they could be forced to close or cut services after EU funding stopped on Friday. | Charities and community groups across Northern Ireland have said they could be forced to close or cut services after EU funding stopped on Friday. |
| The European Social Fund (ESF), which provided about £40m a year for hundreds of community organisations, was halted as a result of Brexit. | The European Social Fund (ESF), which provided about £40m a year for hundreds of community organisations, was halted as a result of Brexit. |
| The UK government announced a £57m package to support groups facing a funding crisis on Friday morning. | The UK government announced a £57m package to support groups facing a funding crisis on Friday morning. |
| But many that applied for a share of the money have been rejected. | But many that applied for a share of the money have been rejected. |
| Under the UK government's Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) around 100 organisations covering 18 large projects will receive financial backing. | Under the UK government's Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) around 100 organisations covering 18 large projects will receive financial backing. |
| However the £57m funding is understood to be spread over two years, meaning some will lose out. | However the £57m funding is understood to be spread over two years, meaning some will lose out. |
| Ms Blayney says services have been "switched off overnight" | Ms Blayney says services have been "switched off overnight" |
| Ms Blayney says services have been "switched off overnight" | Ms Blayney says services have been "switched off overnight" |
| The Kilcooley Womens Centre in Ards and north Down, which offers women in vulnerable situations childcare, health and mental-health services, has been told £900,000 funding it received from the EU will not be replaced. | The Kilcooley Womens Centre in Ards and north Down, which offers women in vulnerable situations childcare, health and mental-health services, has been told £900,000 funding it received from the EU will not be replaced. |
| Alison Blayney, who runs the centre, said the news was "absolutely devastating". | Alison Blayney, who runs the centre, said the news was "absolutely devastating". |
| She said services for vulnerable women in the area had been "switched off overnight". | She said services for vulnerable women in the area had been "switched off overnight". |
| "They talk about levelling up - we've been levelled down today," she told BBC News NI's Evening Extra programme. | "They talk about levelling up - we've been levelled down today," she told BBC News NI's Evening Extra programme. |
| "This is not the picture that was painted for us back in 2016 - the promises of Brexit ring very hollow today. | "This is not the picture that was painted for us back in 2016 - the promises of Brexit ring very hollow today. |
| "We'll continue to do our best but it's a very bleak outlook." | "We'll continue to do our best but it's a very bleak outlook." |
| 'Westminster doesn't care' | 'Westminster doesn't care' |
| Patricia Lewsley-Mooney, chair of the Training for Women Network (TWN) in east Belfast, said the share of funding for women's services in Northern Ireland has effectively been cut from 8% to 3.7%. | Patricia Lewsley-Mooney, chair of the Training for Women Network (TWN) in east Belfast, said the share of funding for women's services in Northern Ireland has effectively been cut from 8% to 3.7%. |
| TWN stands to lose a quarter of its funding after Friday's announcement, she said. | TWN stands to lose a quarter of its funding after Friday's announcement, she said. |
| "This funding shows Westminster doesn't care about women in Northern Ireland. | "This funding shows Westminster doesn't care about women in Northern Ireland. |
| "The saddest thing is the loss of this money to the women who need it the most." | "The saddest thing is the loss of this money to the women who need it the most." |
| BBC News NI contacted Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris but he was not available for comment. | BBC News NI contacted Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris but he was not available for comment. |
| In a statement released earlier on Friday he said the UKSPF money will support the "vital work of community and voluntary organisations". | In a statement released earlier on Friday he said the UKSPF money will support the "vital work of community and voluntary organisations". |
| Allow Twitter content? | Allow Twitter content? |
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| The Women's Centre in Derry is another of the organisations affected. | The Women's Centre in Derry is another of the organisations affected. |
| In a tweet on Friday the centre, which promotes women's equality and access to education and employment, said: "We have had devastating news today that our ESF funding is not being replaced!" | In a tweet on Friday the centre, which promotes women's equality and access to education and employment, said: "We have had devastating news today that our ESF funding is not being replaced!" |
| "This impacts the services in Derry for women and we also lose six skilled amazing staff members today! Disgrace!" | "This impacts the services in Derry for women and we also lose six skilled amazing staff members today! Disgrace!" |
| Sophie Cocault says she has no idea if she will be going to work next week | Sophie Cocault says she has no idea if she will be going to work next week |
| A protest by staff and service users affected by the funding crisis took place in Belfast on Friday. | A protest by staff and service users affected by the funding crisis took place in Belfast on Friday. |
| Project worker Sophie Cocault, who was at the protest, said she has "no idea" if she will be going to work next week. | Project worker Sophie Cocault, who was at the protest, said she has "no idea" if she will be going to work next week. |
| Ms Cocault works for Full Service Community Network, which provide services to 25 schools in west Belfast. | Ms Cocault works for Full Service Community Network, which provide services to 25 schools in west Belfast. |
| "Our service is not a luxury," she told BBC News NI. | "Our service is not a luxury," she told BBC News NI. |
| "Our funding is integral to the community - we support children that really need our help." | "Our funding is integral to the community - we support children that really need our help." |
| "We are being shoved away - it's a disgrace for the children" | "We are being shoved away - it's a disgrace for the children" |
| Kathleen Lavery, a teacher at Holy Child Primary School in Belfast, said services were at "crisis point". | |
| "There are so many services affected by this cut - many people don't understand how many school services are funded this way," she said. | "There are so many services affected by this cut - many people don't understand how many school services are funded this way," she said. |
| "We are being shoved away. It's a disgrace for the children." | "We are being shoved away. It's a disgrace for the children." |
| Declan Doherty, chief executive of Derry Youth and Community Workshop, says 25 of his staff members could face redundancy | Declan Doherty, chief executive of Derry Youth and Community Workshop, says 25 of his staff members could face redundancy |
| BBC NI spoke to several organisations ahead of the funding announcement. | BBC NI spoke to several organisations ahead of the funding announcement. |
| Declan Doherty, chief executive of Derry Youth and Community Workshop, said he had "no hope whatsoever" the replacement funding would be enough to keep staff in work. | Declan Doherty, chief executive of Derry Youth and Community Workshop, said he had "no hope whatsoever" the replacement funding would be enough to keep staff in work. |
| He said 25 of his staff members would lose their jobs on Friday. | He said 25 of his staff members would lose their jobs on Friday. |
| Some of the organisations which stand to lose EU funding help people with learning difficulties to gain workplace skills | Some of the organisations which stand to lose EU funding help people with learning difficulties to gain workplace skills |
| Sarah Bowden runs the Greater Village Regeneration Trust in south Belfast. | Sarah Bowden runs the Greater Village Regeneration Trust in south Belfast. |
| The organisation works with young people with complex needs who are not in education, providing them with training, support and a pathway to employment. | The organisation works with young people with complex needs who are not in education, providing them with training, support and a pathway to employment. |
| "If you came and looked at the young people we worked with, the prospect of losing this service is shameful. | "If you came and looked at the young people we worked with, the prospect of losing this service is shameful. |
| "It's not just training, it's a safe space and a lifeline for these young people." | "It's not just training, it's a safe space and a lifeline for these young people." |
| Community groups 'will suffer if money lost' | Community groups 'will suffer if money lost' |
| Mencap NI jobs and services 'at risk' | Mencap NI jobs and services 'at risk' |
| 'Vulnerable people in deep water' over cuts | 'Vulnerable people in deep water' over cuts |
| 'Absolutely essential' | 'Absolutely essential' |
| Celine McStravick, chief executive of the Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action (Nicva), said the funding was "absolutely essential" to making Northern Ireland society work. | Celine McStravick, chief executive of the Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action (Nicva), said the funding was "absolutely essential" to making Northern Ireland society work. |
| She said that ESF was used by 67 members represented by the council and amounted to around 1,700 employees. | She said that ESF was used by 67 members represented by the council and amounted to around 1,700 employees. |
| "I have been inundated with emails, telephone calls and meetings with our members, who are angry," Ms McStravick added. "They are frustrated. They're feeling disrespected." | "I have been inundated with emails, telephone calls and meetings with our members, who are angry," Ms McStravick added. "They are frustrated. They're feeling disrespected." |
| Levelling Up Minister Dehenna Davison said the £57m announcement was an "important milestone ". | Levelling Up Minister Dehenna Davison said the £57m announcement was an "important milestone ". |
| "We are making the most of opportunities outside the European Union to deliver for people in Northern Ireland," she said. | "We are making the most of opportunities outside the European Union to deliver for people in Northern Ireland," she said. |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| NI Brexit | NI Brexit |
| European Union | European Union |
| Brexit | Brexit |