SDLP Communities Spokesperson Mark H Durkan has welcomed the long overdue opening of the COVID Charities Fund but stressed that this support alone is not enough to meet the needs of this vital sector.
Said the Foyle MLA: “I welcome the confirmation from Minister Hargey that the COVID Charities Fund will open on Monday next week.
“However, the delay in getting this scheme up and running is highly regrettable and will have caused distress to charities across the North, many of who are on the brink of financial collapse.
“The £15.5 million support fund is welcome and will provide some emergency support to our vital community and voluntary sector, but it does not go far enough to prevent the closure of many of these charities.
“Many of these charities deliver key frontline services in relation to health and homeless and as a society, we cannot afford to lose them.
“While we welcome this funding as a first step, it cannot be the only support made available to our charities.
“It is a drop in the ocean in terms of the need that is there across the North.
“In recent months, I have been contacted by many of our charities and their representative bodies, some of who estimate they have lost £10 million in income in recent months alone.
“I welcome this first step but it cannot be the end of the journey.
“The Communities Minister must work with the Minister for Finance and Executive colleagues to make more financial support available.
“I will be raising this with the Minister at the earliest opportunity,” added Mr Durkan.
Tags: