To ask the Minister for Communities to detail how the recently announced £1.45 million increase in funding for his Department's 2024-25 budget will be allocated to the voluntary and community sector.

Final confirmation of budget allocations remains subject to the outcome of consultation on the equality impacts of my 2024/25 spending proposals.

I can confirm that community and voluntary sector groups with an existing grant funding relationship with my department have been informed to plan the remainder of the 2024/25 financial year based on an uplift of 5% on their 2023/24 opening funding allocation.

Grant Funding Agreements will issue to these groups by the end of June 2024.