Loss of European Social Fund 'will cripple communities and cost the government more in the long run'

The community and voluntary sector in Northern Ireland "has been abandoned" as vital organisations face huge cuts due to the loss of ESF funding that has provided support to thousands of society's most vulnerable.

At a press conference on Tuesday morning, members from the sector warned the UK Government that the loss of vital funding will cripple communities and cost it more in the long run.

Over 1,700 community sector workers are facing redundancy and dozens of organisations are at risk of closure in 12 days due to a nearly 60% loss in funding due to the European Social Fund coming to an end in March and has not been replaced by the UK Government or Stormont.