COMMUNITY hubs providing "life-saving services" across the north are set to close next month as government funding ends with the collapse of Stormont.
Set up in March 2014 as one of the Executive's signature programmes, £5.5m has been spent to date on the Social Enterprise (SE) Hub programme designed to tackle poverty and social exclusion.
But without an agreed Stormont budget for the next financial year, funding for the community schemes is coming to an end.
A Social Enterprise Hub is a space providing support to a range of initiatives such as regeneration projects, community services and new social businesses.
At the time of inception there were 11 hubs across the north, including four in Belfast.
One of the most successful is in Downpatrick and director Manus Teague told The Irish News users are "devastated" the community service is to close.
The organisation, which helps support people affected by mental health problems, addiction and isolation issues, was only informed of the news via email on Monday.
It has been told to begin shutting down operations by March 6 ahead of vacating its premises in the Grove shopping centre on March 21.
"Since we opened we have seen 5,000 people through our doors and I have provided over 2,000 counselling hours, with 250 people benefitting from our pop up art therapy," Mr Teague said.
"The people that attend here, the people that receive the vital services here, will no longer have this facility. This is a fledgling, growing social enterprise that provides critical services that you can't get anywhere else. We're devastated."
The organisation has launched an online fundraising campaign to find alternative premises.
Downpatrick Alliance councillor Patrick Brown said it is an "absolute disgrace" the hub is being allowed to close and accused the Department for Communities of reneging on its commitment to the project.
"There is clearly no plan to assist these fledging organisations after they move out, many of whom provide life-saving services to some of the most vulnerable people in our community," he said
"These hubs are not just about developing social enterprises, but developing their own communities where people from all backgrounds can come together and create a positive change in their lives."
The Department for Communities confirmed that £4m was initially spent on the two-year pilot Social Enterprise Hubs programme and following a "positive evaluation" a £1.5m extension was granted for the 2016/17 financial year.
"Consequently, the contracts for that one-year extension across Northern Ireland end on 31 March 2017," a spokesperson said.
"Consideration is being given to the potential for future delivery of the support provided by the Social Enterprise Hubs in the context of the 17/18 budget which has not yet been agreed. Any future delivery contracts would be the subject of an open procurement exercise to identify contractors."
