Agenda item

The Committee considered the following report:

“1.0      Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

            To provide an update for members in relation to the Social Supermarket Fund 26/28 and seek members agreement in relation to the allocation of financial resources.

2.0        Recommendation

2.1        The Committee is asked to note the contents of the report and agree the allocation of funding to Social Supermarket Fund 26/28 applicants.

3.0        Main report

            Background

3.1        At February committee officers provided an update on the assessment of applications to the Social Supermarket Fund 26/28. Members agreed the following;

·         the allocation of 25 per-cent bridging funding for those groups which scored 50% and above, in advance of receiving the DfC LoO so that activity could begin from 1st April, 2026.

·         that a report be submitted to the Committee within the next three months to confirm the Department for Communities budget, outline how the remaining 75 per cent of funding could be allocated, together with options on how the three groups which had eligible funding but scored below 50% could be assisted.

            Key Issues

3.2        On 10th April 2026, Council received the Community Support Programme Letter of Offer from the Department of Communities. This included £777,811 for the Social Supermarket Fund. At its February meeting committee agreed an allocation of 25% for all applications scoring 50% and above which was £207,562. If this 25% award was increased to 100% a budget of £830,249 would be required. The Letter of Offer does not provide sufficient funding to make awards at 100% to all projects scoring 50 and above, there is a shortfall of £52,437.

3.3        The Letter of Offer provides sufficient funding to award 94% of eligible costs to all projects scoring 50. This level of award requires £780,434and does not require any additional allocation from council budgets.  

3.4        Officers have been in contact with the three organisations that scored below 50% to explore what support can be given and signpost to other funders and relevant support services who can provide support to existing users.

            Financial and Resource Implications

3.5        The Letter of Offer from DFC provides £777,811. Social Supermarkets are primarily funded through the CSP Letter of Offer, although council has made additional contributions in recent years to provide additional levels of financial support.

3.6        Members agreed last September that although funding is primarily from DfC the Social Supermarket Fund should be advertised on a two year basis rather than one. Applications to the fund were for activity from 01 April 2026 until 31 March 2028.  Organisations will only receive a Letter of Offer for 26/27 initially. A paper will be brought to committee in January 27 to advise of the financial position in terms of available funding for 27/28.

            Equality or Good Relations Implications /Rural Needs Assessment

3.7        The 26/28 Social Supermarket Fund open call is being screened for Equality, Good Relations and Rural Needs Implications.”

The Committee noted the contents of the report and agreed the allocation of funding to Social Supermarket Fund 2026/2028 applicants.