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Belfast Live
Belfast Live
National
Connor Lynch

Day of action called over community and voluntary sector cuts as staff given redundancy notices

A day of action has been called by community and voluntary groups over cuts to the sector.

The Forward South Partnership has been meeting with community groups from the area to discuess the impact that UK Government cuts will have on their sector as their staff are 'left in limbo' and organisations being forced to issue protective redundancy notices.

It has warned there are serious concerns regarding mental health and education provisions across Northern Ireland due to the cuts which will also reduce the level of community support that is available.

Read more: School children protest outside Northern Ireland Office over education funding cuts

Forward South has also highlighted how valued community and voluntary sector workers are being forced to leave their jobs due to the insecurity they face.

Currently, funding has only be guaranteed for many organisations within the sector until June, meaning they are unalble to plan ahead effectively for the future.

A protest will now take place outside the Northern Ireland Office at Erskine House on Thursday, April 6, at 1pm, calling for action and more funding to be made available.

A spokesperson from Forward South said: "The community groups within the two Neighbourhood Renewal areas in South Belfast are responsible for delivering a wide range of valuable and essential services. Due to the inability of government Departments to issue contracts to confirm annual funding, this has unfortunately led to staff being put on protective notice which will lead to people leaving their jobs due to job insecurity. It has always been difficult to recruit and retain staff in the sector, but the circumstances we are currently faced with will make it practically impossible. It is as if the community and voluntary sector are being punished for failures that are beyond our control.

"The Community and Voluntary sector deliver much needed local services, and typically, this time of the year we would be well into planning summer programmes, this will be negatively impacted with funding only guaranteed to June.

"Today the partners have agreed to rally behind the regional network of Neighbourhood Renewal Partnership and support them in their call for action.

"We have agreed to call for a day of action on Thursday and provide essential services only."

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