Alliance Health spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA has welcomed the additional allocation of £875,000 to 65 voluntary and community sector organisations.

Health Minister Robin Swann announced the financial package for the organisations which are directly funded by the Department, saying it recognises the vital contribution they have made during the pandemic.

“As someone who used to work in the community sector, I know the pandemic has caused unique and specific challenges and this extra money is absolutely necessary,” said Ms Bradshaw.

“While I recognise implicit in this allocation is an appreciation of the resilience many in the third sector have shown over the past year, there is also no doubt the money is essential to supporting key services and keeping them going.

“I would also call on the Communities Minister to work with the Health Minister to extend the £500 one-off special recognition payment to those staff members who have worked so diligently over the last year. It remains the case we need to move towards more secure funding models in future so the voluntary and community sector can operate with certainty in the longer term.”