Funding withdrawal could spell end for social enterprise service

Funding withdrawal could spell end for social enterprise service

1 February 2017

A LIFE changing service delivered by Downpatrick’s Social Enterprise Hub faces an uncertain future with its government funding due to end.

The Hub, which supports those affected by mental health, addiction and isolation issues, must vacate its current base at The Grove shopping centre in March after the Department for Communities confirmed by email on Monday that no money is available in the new financial year.

Those behind the hugely successful initiative are angry at the timing of the announcement with no indication from the government department about how they can be supported in the future.

Manus Teague, who launched the Hub along with his wife Ailish in 2014, admits it faces an uncertain future and revealed the outcome of a funding application to the Big Lottery Fund to allow the social enterprise hub to remain in business for at least another three years will be known next week. He explained even if the bid is successful, the Hub cannot remain at its current base as the rent is too high.

“The bottom line is that government money for this and 11 other similar schemes has run out. We have submitted a funding bid for £200,000 to the Big Lottery and we really hope it will be successful. 

“If it fails, we have to close the doors at the end of March and the people we have been engaging with will have nowhere to go, unless we can secure alternative premises with a rent we can afford,” he explained.

Manus said he is keen to see the social enterprise hub, where people give life to old furniture which is then sold to generate an income to help meet costs, remain in Downpatrick town centre.

“Our location is one of the project’s biggest advantages as the people who come here can use nearby amenities and do their shopping. We do not have the feel of a mental health facility or hospital which is important to people,” he continued. 

“Since we opened, 5,000 people have visited us and I have provided over 2,000 counselling hours, with 250 people benefiting from our Pop Up AClckirt therapy. On any given day, we have 30 people here using a range of services on offer.”

Manus said there are currently 36 vacant premises in and around Downpatrick town centre, including the former Danske Bank base in Market Street which he plans to visit today with a view to potentially agreeing a deal to rent it, if the Lottery funding application is successful.

“A lot of the empty properties in the town would fit the bill as far as we are concerned and we are not necessarily looking for something for free. The furniture we upscale creates an income which we could put towards our rent,” he explained. 

Alliance’s South Down Assembly election candidate, Patrick Brown, warned that if the funding application fails, a hugely successful organisation will be left in “dire straits” with the full impact felt by people from all backgrounds.

He declared: “It is an absolute disgrace that the Department for Communities has allowed this to happen. For the past year it has been kicking the can down the street regarding its commitment to funding these Hubs. It now appears it has completely shirked that responsibility. 

“There is clearly no plan whatsoever to assist these fledging organisations, many of whom provide life-saving services to some of the most vulnerable people in the community. This is evidenced by the fact that tenants have been given just over a month to co-ordinate their exit strategies and leave their premises which they found out about via a very blunt and sudden email on Monday.”

The Recorder asked the Department for Communities for a comment but nothing had been received at the time of going to press.