Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he has had discussions with Cabinet colleagues on bridging funding for voluntary and community organisations following the closure of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

With the UK Shared Prosperity Fund concluding in 2026, the government is moving away from short-term, uncertain funding cycles and towards a clearer, more stable long-term funding approach through the Local Government Finance Settlement, complemented by targeted interventions to support growth and strengthen communities. The new £902 million Local Growth Fund is just one component of this strategy; government support for local growth is broader than any single funding stream.

We acknowledge the pressures facing the voluntary and community sectors. By allocating the Local Growth Fund at the Mayoral Strategic Authority level, we are empowering regional leaders to take a more strategic, joined-up approach to investment – one that reflects the real economic geographies in which people live, work and do business. The fund is designed to equip mayors to boost regional productivity through investing in infrastructure, supporting businesses, and helping people find jobs and acquire new skills. Decisions about funding for specific organisations and interventions are for regional leaders to take in line with their local priorities.