The Health Minister Today Launched the Department of Health's
Core Grant Funding Scheme for 2026/2027.
The Scheme Is Open to Community and Voluntary Sector
Organisations and Is Intended to Support Them with Core Operating
Costs.
To Ensure a Greater Number of Organisations Receive Support Under
the Scheme in 2026/2027, the Maximum Bid per Eligible
Organisation Is Being Capped at £50,000.
This Guarantees a Minimum of 64 Recipients from a Budget of £1.M,
Compared to 26 Recipients in 2025/2026.
Health Minister Said: My Department
and I Are Committed to Supporting the Community and Voluntary
Sector As Much As Possible, Recognising Its Vital Role in
Promoting Public Health and Social Wellbeing.
Community and Voluntary Sector Organisations Provide
Vital Assistance to Those Within Our Communities Who Need It
Most, and in Doing So, Support Statutory Services in What Remains
a Very Challenging Environment.
My Department Has Been Liaising Closely with the Sector
and Their Valuable Feedback Has Helped Inform the Development of
the 2026/27 Scheme. I Want to Thank All of Those Who Engaged so
Constructively with My Officials, Including Colleagues from
Nicva, Co3, and the Northern Ireland Health Collective.
Although I Would Have Liked to Have Been Able to Devote
More than the £1.M, I Have Protected This Important Investment in
the Community and Voluntary Sector, Despite the Continued Severe
Budgetary Constraints Facing My Department. I Will Continue to
Press the Case for Sustained Additional Funding for Health and
Social Care.
I Have Listened to the Feedback Following the Outcome of
Last Year's Application Process, Which Made It Clear That the
Scheme Should Be Supporting a Larger Number of Organisations, and
Particularly Those Smaller Organisations Which Struggle the Most
to Cover Their Core Costs. The Scheme Has Therefore Been
Restructured to Ensure That at Least 64 Organisations Working
Across Four Key Priority Policy Areas Can Be Supported in
2026/27, and a Majority of Those Supported Will Have an Annual
Income of less than M.”
Under the 2026/2027 Scheme, Eligible Organisations Are Invited to
Apply to One of Four Policy Funds, Each Totalling £450,000. They
Are:
- Public Health, Including Reducing Health Inequalities;
- Supporting Adults, Including Those with Disabilities, to Live
Independent, Healthy and Inclusive Lives;
- Supporting Children and Young People, Including Those with
Disabilities and Vulnerabilities, and Their Families;
- Improving the Mental Health and Wellbeing of the Population.
Organisations Have Until Pm on Friday 28 November 2025 to Apply
for Funding from the Scheme.
Further Information, Including the Application Form and Guidance,
Can Be Found Online At: Www.Health-ni.Gov.Uk/articles/core-grant-funding-scheme-2026-27.
Notes to Editors:
- The Purpose of the Core Grant Scheme Is to Help Community and
Voluntary Sector Bodies Cover Their Fixed Costs. The Scheme Does
Not Directly Fund Service Delivery. That Comes from Separate
Funding.
