28/01/2026
Executive Demands Urgent Reform of Local Growth Fund
The Northern Ireland Executive have issued a collective call for the UK Government to overhaul the Local Growth Fund.
The move comes following an Executive meeting where ministers addressed the "very grave situation" currently threatening the region's Community and Voluntary Sector.
The Executive has formally written to Steve Reed, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, requesting an immediate adjustment to the fund’s allocation. Leaders are specifically seeking a more favourable "Resource" (revenue) allocation to prevent the collapse of essential services.
While the June 2025 Spending Review set aside £45.5m per year over a three-year period for the Local Growth Fund, the Executive argues that the delivery details—which only emerged late last year—fell far short of promised partnership working.
Ministers have highlighted two primary concerns regarding the current setup:
• Reduced Quantum: The total funding amount is insufficient to drive meaningful local growth.
• Capital/Revenue Split: The current balance prioritises capital spend over revenue, which the Executive warns will be "devastating" for the delivery of people-led interventions.
A spokesperson for the Executive stated: "The Community and Voluntary Sector have spelt this out clearly. It will decimate vital services which deliver economic growth and increased productivity."
The Executive remains adamant that the Community and Voluntary Sector is an "integral part" of the local economy. They believe there is still a window of opportunity for the Minister to rectify the funding profile and have expressed a readiness to "engage constructively" to protect highly valued organisations and the economic growth they support.
"With one voice, we are urging the Minister to rectify the profile of the Local Growth Fund here with a more favourable Resource allocation immediately," the statement concluded.
The move comes following an Executive meeting where ministers addressed the "very grave situation" currently threatening the region's Community and Voluntary Sector.
The Executive has formally written to Steve Reed, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, requesting an immediate adjustment to the fund’s allocation. Leaders are specifically seeking a more favourable "Resource" (revenue) allocation to prevent the collapse of essential services.
While the June 2025 Spending Review set aside £45.5m per year over a three-year period for the Local Growth Fund, the Executive argues that the delivery details—which only emerged late last year—fell far short of promised partnership working.
Ministers have highlighted two primary concerns regarding the current setup:
• Capital/Revenue Split: The current balance prioritises capital spend over revenue, which the Executive warns will be "devastating" for the delivery of people-led interventions.
A spokesperson for the Executive stated: "The Community and Voluntary Sector have spelt this out clearly. It will decimate vital services which deliver economic growth and increased productivity."
The Executive remains adamant that the Community and Voluntary Sector is an "integral part" of the local economy. They believe there is still a window of opportunity for the Minister to rectify the funding profile and have expressed a readiness to "engage constructively" to protect highly valued organisations and the economic growth they support.
"With one voice, we are urging the Minister to rectify the profile of the Local Growth Fund here with a more favourable Resource allocation immediately," the statement concluded.
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A sunny but frosty start for many. However cloud increases by midday with a few showers reaching the north coast, these mostly light but spreading inland this afternoon. Chilly. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:A rather cloudy evening with scattered showers. Becoming drier through the night with some good clear spells developing and a patchy frost away from coasts. Minimum temperature 0 °C.