The Northern Ireland Executive has issued a unified call for immediate changes to the Local Growth Fund, warning that the current funding position is neither sustainable nor fair for the local community and voluntary sector.

Ministers have expressed a "depth of anger and frustration" on behalf of organisations that provide essential lifelines to individuals and communities across the region. The Executive highlighted that the significantly reduced scale of the Fund is compounding existing fiscal challenges and placing these vital interventions at risk.

The matter was a primary focus of the Executive's meeting on Thursday, 26 March, where Ministers discussed the "very grave situation" facing the sector. Despite raising these concerns directly with the Prime Minister and writing to Steve Reed, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, the Executive noted that the response to date has been deeply disappointing and has not met the required level of engagement. In a statement regarding the ongoing pressure, the Executive said: "The Executive has discussed the worsening situation on multiple occasions, including at our meeting on Thursday (26th March), where Ministers again discussed the very grave situation still facing the sector due to the current fiscal challenges. The significantly reduced quantum of the Fund is compounding these challenges and placing vital services at risk."

The Executive remains in close contact with representatives from the voluntary and community sector and believes there is still time for the Secretary of State to act to protect these organisations. They argue that a fair resource allocation is necessary not only to support vulnerable people but also to drive regional economic growth.

The statement continued: "With one voice, we continue to urge the Secretary of State to ensure the Local Growth Fund receives a realistic resource allocation immediately. The Executive stands firmly with those calling for a fair and sustainable funding position and we will continue to make that case in the strongest possible terms."