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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
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| European Social Fund: 'Gaps' remain as charities get £57m replacement cash | |
| (about 2 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 |
| The UK government has announced a £57m package to support Northern Ireland community groups facing a funding crisis due to a loss of EU money. | The UK government has announced a £57m package to support Northern Ireland community groups facing a funding crisis due to a loss of EU money. |
| The package will replace the European Social Fund (ESF), which stopped on Friday as a result of Brexit. | The package will replace the European Social Fund (ESF), which stopped on Friday as a result of Brexit. |
| It comes amid concerns for the future of many organisations which could still be forced to reduce services or close. | It comes amid concerns for the future of many organisations which could still be forced to reduce services or close. |
| BBC News NI understands that community groups will begin to receive funding decisions throughout Friday. | BBC News NI understands that community groups will begin to receive funding decisions throughout Friday. |
| The money from the UK government's Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) is more than the £42m over two years originally advertised to tackle economic inactivity. | The money from the UK government's Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) is more than the £42m over two years originally advertised to tackle economic inactivity. |
| Eighteen large projects which help support people into work will receive the financial backing. | |
| However, the new scheme is still expected to be oversubscribed. | However, the new scheme is still expected to be oversubscribed. |
| 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. | |
| 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. | |
| "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." | |
| "We are being shoved away - it's a disgrace for the children" | |
| Kathleen Lavery, a teacher at Holy Family 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. | |
| "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 |
| Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris said the money will support the "vital work of community and voluntary organisations". | Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris said the money will support the "vital work of community and voluntary organisations". |
| 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." |
| Barry McMenamin says Mencap will be functional without EU funding but only as a skeleton service | Barry McMenamin says Mencap will be functional without EU funding but only as a skeleton service |
| Barry McMenamin, regional operations manager for Mencap, said the ESF provided two-thirds of its annual funding of about £700,000. | Barry McMenamin, regional operations manager for Mencap, said the ESF provided two-thirds of its annual funding of about £700,000. |
| "We have applied for that funding [the UK Shared Prosperity Fund] but still have no indication if we are successful or not," he said. | "We have applied for that funding [the UK Shared Prosperity Fund] but still have no indication if we are successful or not," he said. |
| "Regardless if we are successful, it still means there will be a gap in funding." | "Regardless if we are successful, it still means there will be a gap in funding." |
| 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, they are frustrated, they're feeling disrespected." | "I have been inundated with emails, telephone calls and meetings with our members; who are angry, 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 |