UNISON Condemns Plans to Cut Supporting People Funding

UNISON can reveal that the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE) has recently been advised by the Department for Communities (DfC) to plan for a 5% reduction in funding for Supporting People Programmes for the 2017/18 financial year. UNISON understands that the NIHE will defer the cuts initially and then reduce funding by 6.5%.

Supporting People provides support to assist people to live independently in the community in a residential setting.  This includes help and support to people with disabilities, older people and young vulnerable people to name a few.

Joe McCusker, UNISON Regional Organiser, speaking on the cuts to the Supporting People budget says, “The 5% reduction in the Supporting People budget will have a devastating impact on those organisations who provide the service and the most vulnerable in our society who rely on Supporting People to live as much an independent life as possible.” Mr McCusker adds, “Supporting People Providers are already financially stretched in providing the service as it stands and I fear that this could lead to a reduction in the support that service users receive and that the jobs of dedicated staff who provide invaluable support will be at risk.”

UNISON is calling on the DfC to halt the plans to cut funding to Supporting People and await the outcome of the current talks on setting up a new NI Executive to allow for a newly appointed Minister, if devolved administration is returned, to review Supporting People funding and come to their own conclusion on spending plans.

END STATEMENT

For further information please contact:  Joe McCusker, UNISON Regional Organiser  07775  856286 or email j.mccusker@unison.co.uk