Committee publication · Correspondence · 4 March 2026
Correspondence from Include Youth relating to Local Growth fund, dated 24 February 2026.
Summary
Include Youth, part of the YouthStart consortium, writes to the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee to raise urgent concerns about a 64% cut to Local Growth Funding that will impact their Give and Take programme for care-experienced young people. The letter references a ministerial statement and asks for clarification on government conversations to support the voluntary sector during the transition, given 25,000 young people are not in education, employment, or training in Northern Ireland.
Key findings
- Local Growth Funding faces a confirmed 64% cut, affecting match funding for Include Youth's Give and Take programme for care-experienced young people
- YouthStart consortium comprises seven youth work charities providing employability support to over 1,500 young people annually facing addiction, homelessness, domestic abuse, mental health challenges, and family breakdown
- 25,000 young people are not in education, employment, and training in Northern Ireland
- Miatta Fahnbulleh MP, Minister for Devolution, Faith and Communities, stated the Executive has flexibility to support community and voluntary sector programmes and committed to working with the Northern Ireland Office and Executive to find support during transition
- Include Youth seeks confirmation of conversations between MHCLG, NIO, and the Executive, updates on those conversations, and solutions to resolve the funding crisis by 31 March
Tone
CriticalTopics
Key actors
Include Youth, YouthStart consortium, Diane Hill (CEO, Include Youth), Miatta Fahnbulleh (Minister for Devolution, Faith and Communities), Robin Swann (MLA), Ms Antoniazzi, Northern Ireland Office, MHCLG
Notable line
“Young people should not pay the price for funding decisions made without regard to impact.”
Key Quotes
“An astonishing 25,000 young people are not in education, employment and training in Northern Ireland.”
“The Executive has the flexibility to support these programmes delivered by the community and voluntary sector, we have heard the huge pressures the community voluntary sector are under, we are committed to working with The Northern Ireland Office and The Executive to find ways to support the sector in the transition.”
“This work changes lives. Without it, many young people will be left without support at the point they need it most.”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗