Jim Shannon

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Sir Roger. I thank the right hon. Member for Chingford and Woodford Green (Sir Iain Duncan Smith) for leading the debate. We should do more to ensure the long-term sustainability of the charity sector. I declare an interest as chair of the all-party parliamentary group for international freedom of religion or belief. Our secretariat is run by a small charity called the FoRB Foundation, the task of which is to raise awareness, recover rights and rebuild the lives of those affected by FORB violations. The foundation has many volunteers who make the time to do many things. The charity sector in Northern Ireland is a major employer, with some 53,620 employees, representing some 7% of the total workforce. Some 4.3 million people across the UK have sought the support of charities in recent years, highlighting the need for charity support nationwide. Let me name a few of the charities in my constituency. The Ards suicide awareness group started a few years ago, and it reaches out to try to help those of a male disposition, and in respect of those who have unfortunately lost their lives. There are also food banks, the Home-Start team, the Beyond the Battlefield veterans team, and the Link, where a number of churches come together to give help. Beyond the Battlefield provides pivotal and comprehensive support for veterans, service members and their families. It offers free, specialised services, including counselling for post-traumatic stress disorder; housing assistance for the homeless; help with war pensions, benefit entitlements and medical claims; and support through tailored long-term care. The Newtownards food bank, which is run by the House church—Richard, Natalie, Lisa and their team—reminds us all of the scale of how food poverty is affecting Northern Ireland, and how critical the small charity sector is in terms of food poverty. Those are just a few of the charities in my constituency. Between 2014 and 2023—excluding the pandemic years 2020 to 2022—the average number of registered charities that was removed annually was about 63. That tells us that there is a decrease in the number of charities being sustained annually. Many small charities, especially those with limited reserves, are under significant pressure, and that has been exacerbated by cuts to core Government grants. Sustained Government support is critical for the survival and effectiveness of Northern Ireland’s small charity sector. Without adequate funding, many organisations will face closure or the scaling back of essential services, putting vulnerable communities at risk. We must never underestimate the impact of charities on the community and how they have saved so many from personal and financial devastation. I very much look forward to the Minister’s response; not to throw any pressure on her, but the charities need help.