HC Deb 30 November 1978 vol 959 cc282-3W
Mr. Sandelson

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made in setting up in Northern Ireland an independent grant-making charitable trust, referred to in the consultative document"The Government and the Voluntary Sector "; to what extent the trust would initially be financed by the Government; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Carter,

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 29th November 1978; Vol. 959, c. 221], gave the following information

Steps are now being taken to set up an independent charitable trust to stimulate and support voluntary work in Northern Ireland.

While some of the charitable trusts in Great Britain have in the past made welcome grants in Northern Ireland, and some are still doing so, it is important that Northern Ireland develop its own source of charitable funds. Generous grants for voluntary bodies are already available from statutory agencies, but local groups should not be totally dependent on Government. As well as raising money themselves, they should have access, as in the rest of the United Kingdom, to funds from independent charitable trusts, which can be geared to respond to need with speed, flexibility and the minimum of formality.

The Government are therefore encouraging the establishment of a trust in Northern Ireland, the aims and objects of which will broadly be to promote the welfare of deprived groups in the community through support for voluntary organisations, groups or bodies engaged in charitable activities for the relief of poverty and social deprivation, especially where there is special social need. The trust would raise money from private sources in Northern Ireland and from the main charitable trusts in the United Kingdom and abroad. It should attract considerable support, accumulate funds and become an important factor in voluntary work in Northern Ireland. As it will take a year or two to achieve this level of support from private sources, and in order to enable the trust to begin operating as a funding agency from the date of its foundation, the Government will provide a capital sum of £.5 million to be pain on the setting up of the trust. To encourage private donors the Government will also match pound for pound up to a maximum of £250,000 any funds that the trustees raise from other sources. Parliamentary approval for the capital sum of £0.5 million, which will be by way of an extra-statutory grant in aid, will be sought in the Spring Supplementary Estimate for the Department of Health and Social Services for Northern Ireland.

My noble Friend the Minister of State is now arranging for a group of people to come together as trustees-designate to discuss the legal setting up of the trust, which is expected to be in operation by 1st April 1979.