Carla Lockhart said:

“In recent months I have been engaging across my constituency with groups who do amazing work, who relied on ESF funding to support employment and the provision of vital life changing services. Whilst the Government had given assurances money would be forthcoming, the delays to making an announcement have been totally unacceptable, causing huge anxiety and stress to employees and service users who faced such ongoing uncertainty.

Today’s announcement of £57m to charities across Northern Ireland is welcome. It will allow so much good work to continue, and so much essential support to remain with those who use these services. In my own area, I think of fantastic projects led by The Appleby Trust in Banbridge through Print-It, and I am delighted their bid led by Triangle Housing has secured around £4.8m. Likewise, the amazing Action Mental Health will do so much great work with their award of £12m.

A sense of relief will be felt across these charities but of course we will also have schemes that maybe have missed out on funding, and with that will come ongoing uncertainty. To have been left in limbo to this point is unacceptable by the Government, and lessons must be learnt from how they have handled this process.”