AQW 26939/22-27

Ms Kellie Armstrong
Alliance Party
Strangford

Tabled Date: 12/05/2025
Answered On Date: 01/07/2025
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for Communities to outline what financial support, for costs related to increased employer National Insurance contributions, is being provided by your Department for those Community and Voluntary and Social Enterprise organisations delivering services to meet your priorities

Answer:

Given the rising cost pressures facing the Voluntary and Community Sector, my Department’s funding for community development, infrastructure support, advice and debt advice services will increase by £2.8 million in the 2025/26 financial year. This represents a 9% uplift on the 2024-25 funding level.

My Department is not the employer for any Voluntary and Community organisations it funds; however, organisations are encouraged to avail of the substantial increase in HMRC Employers Allowance announced in the Budget. This is expected to offset some of the increase to Employers National Insurance Contributions.