Communities Minister Carál Ní Chuilín today announced £3.2 million in additional funding to Councils to allow them to support the voluntary and community sector as it continues to recover and help citizens to get through the COVID-19 crisis.
The funding boost will support local grassroots community and voluntary organisations across council areas working with individuals and communities during the pandemic and will be used for community support, access to food and financial wellbeing.
Carál Ní Chuilín said:
“I am delighted to announce this significant package of funding for voluntary and community sector groups, through local Councils. My department is continuing to build partnerships with Councils and local communities, working together to tackle the impacts of the pandemic and to support those who have been hardest hit, many of whom were already struggling with the effects of poverty.
“As we emerge from the pandemic, I am aware of the need to help people and communities recover from its devastating impact and that is why I am happy that I am able to provide a further £3.2m in funding to community level organisations who are best placed to support people in need.”
The package includes funding to support a more sustainable and strategic response to food insecurity, connectedness and social isolation and financial wellbeing. Councils, through their community development programmes, will work with the Department to direct the funding to those community sector organisations who are responding to need on the ground.
