Northern Ireland's community and voluntary sector will lose hundreds of jobs after the UK Shared Prosperity Fund gets replaced by the Local Growth Fund. The change takes effect today, Wednesday, with revenue funding dropping 64% from £25 million to £9.2 million each year due to a 70/30 capital-revenue split.

The reduction puts 400 to 650 jobs in the voluntary sector under threat and leaves 11,000 people without support services. Belfast Works Connect, run by the Upper Springfield Development Trust, helps economically inactive people build life skills for employment, volunteering or training.

West Belfast MP Paul Maskey called the cut a sign that Westminster fails to grasp conditions in Northern Ireland. He noted disregard for community organisations despite opposition from local parties. Maskey predicted job losses, service reductions and harm to vulnerable groups. He urged local control over such decisions.

People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll labelled the move an attack on working-class areas. He pointed to the funding drop's timing with a £14,000 MLA pay rise. Carroll called for the Stormont Executive to intervene instead of relying on Westminster.

The Northern Ireland Executive met on Thursday, 26 March, to address the sector's plight. Ministers warned that the smaller fund worsens fiscal pressures and endangers services. They contacted the Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government Steve Reed but received inadequate responses.

In a statement, the Executive pressed for prompt resource allocation changes to the Local Growth Fund. Ministers expressed support for the sector and stressed the need for fair funding to aid vulnerable people and economic growth.