AQW 22710/22-27
Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry
Tabled Date: 17/02/2025
Answered On Date: 28/02/2025
Priority Written: No
Question:
To ask the Minister of Health, given their role in suicide prevention and mental health support, to detail the rationale for the decision not to provide core funding to Samaritans Northern Ireland.
Answer:
The Core Grant Funding Scheme for 2025-26 was co-designed in 2024 with Community and Voluntary Sector representatives. 259 bids totalling over £13m were submitted to a Scheme with a budget of £1.8m. Demand was therefore always going to outstrip supply, leaving more losers than winners. The general standard of applications was incredibly high, and the selection of 25 high scoring applications to stage 2 of the assessment process was based solely on agreed scoring criteria, rather than a departmental determination of the value of the applicants. The purpose of the Core Grant scheme is to help Community and Voluntary sector bodies cover their fixed costs and does not directly fund service delivery. The Department’s Core Grant Scheme is a small part of the total health service expenditure which goes to the Community and Voluntary sector, as most money is for the direct provision of services. For example, in 2023/24, 84% of Core Grant recipients were also in receipt of HSC service delivery contracts worth £53m. The Samaritans have not been successful in their application for Core Grant in 2025/26, which I understand will be disappointing for the organisation. My officials will be in contact with all applicants to offer feedback over the coming weeks, which will assist them in applying again in future funding rounds. I expect to issue another call for applications this Autumn for 2026/27 funding. I can assure you that I value the work of the Samaritans and I want to place on record my thanks for their continuing work to support those in need.
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