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Niall Deeney

'Disgust' at failure to fund Derry Women's Centre after European money replacement debacle

Failure to continue funding the Women's Centre in Derry, leading to the loss of several jobs with more at risk, has been met with disgust.

The organisation announced earlier this week that money from the European Social Fund is not being replaced by the UK government.

A number of staff are now set to lose their jobs.

Read more: European Social Fund: Around 100 NI groups to benefit from UK fund to replace EU support

On Friday, March 31, it was announced that a £57 million funding package has been allocated to charities and community groups in Northern Ireland facing financial crisis due to the loss of European money.

Eighteen projects covering around 100 organisations across the region will receive backing through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) with a focus on helping support people into work.

However, an umbrella group representing community organisations in Northern Ireland said the funding announced amounted to only half of what was previously available.

The Women's Centre in Derry is one of the organisations missing out.

In a statement published on social media, a Women's Centre spokesperson said: "We have had devastating news today that our ESF funding is not being replaced! As a result this impacts the employment and education services we have been offering for over 10 years to the women of Derry!

"We also today have to say goodbye to 6 of our amazing skilled colleagues and friends."

The centre branded the decision a "disgrace" and "not good enough".

In a further statement, the Women's Centre said it would continue to open on Monday and provide services but warned that "the next battle" will centre on another six staff on "three months notice as the Department of Communities has withdrawn funding due to no budgets being assigned".

The spokesperson added: "We need a government that works! We're not alone this affects many organisations. We need to stand together as a sector and as a community and not stand for this."

SDLP MLA Sinead McLaughlin said: "The UK Government finally confirmed that £57 million of funding will be awarded through the Uk Shared Prosperity Fund. Whilst there will be some relief to some organisations that they may be able to save a number of jobs and services, the funding goes nowhere near plugging the gap of ESF.

"It is deplorable that after months of waiting, panicking and unable to plan, confirmation has come on the last day of the financial year."

She continued: "I am disgusted that one of the groups not being support is the Women’s Centre Derry which has supported the women and families of Derry for a decade. The Centre has confirmed that they will lose 6 of their extremely talented and hard working staff as a result of today’s news. That is six families who won’t know where their next cheque will come, how they will manage their bills and keep their homes."

The Foyle MLA added: "Once again we are seeing the disastrous outworkings of Brexit on our vital frontline services which have been propping up the Departments for years at a time when central budgets are being decimated."

Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris, meanwhile, welcomed the shared prosperity funding announcement.

“The £57 million funding will support the vital work of community and voluntary organisations, enabling them to support people in Northern Ireland into secure and sustainable employment," he said.

“Through its People and Skills strand, the UK Shared Prosperity Fund will invest in skills training and interventions to support economically inactive people in Northern Ireland."

Mr Heaton-Harris added: “This is key to boosting productivity and harnessing Northern Ireland’s growth potential.”

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