MORE than 90 percent of charity bosses in Northern Ireland would back the draft withdrawal deal over a no deal Brexit.
Around 100 charity leaders took part in a poll run by CO3, the organisation which represents the heads of groups including Age NI, Extern, Friends of the Cancer Centre, the MS Society and the Northern Ireland Hospice.
More than two-thirds of those questioned - around 68% - also said they would favour a second EU referendum.
The leaders have followed business groups and farmers' unions in coming out in support of the draft deal. The DUP remains strongly opposed to the agreement and has previously hit out at groups who have backed it.
CO3 chief executive Nora Smith said the body was non-political and did not take a position on the Brexit referendum in June 2016.
But she said CO3 members, who employ 45,000 people, were fearful that the UK could crash out of the European Union without a formal deal.
"Our members work in many areas: health, mental health, the environment, education, peace-building, justice, human rights and social welfare," she said.
"Most of them have deep concerns about the crisis over Brexit and the uncertainty that is creating for both their organisations and the people that they serve."
The survey, carried out by CO3 in conjunction with Social Enterprise NI, found 92% of leaders questioned felt the draft withdrawal agreement was better than a no deal Brexit.
Three-quarters of respondents said protecting the Good Friday Agreement was their top Brexit priority, along with preserving social, economic, environmental and human rights.
Ms Smith said Brexit has serious implications for everyone.
"Powerful forces in politics, industry and pressure groups have, quite rightly, had much to say about it and will continue to do so," she said.
"We have not heard so much about the interests of the most vulnerable who, after all, have most to lose if things are not managed well."
Meanwhile, some voluntary, rural and community groups have come out in support of the withdrawal deal.
The Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action, Nature Matters NI and the Rural Community Network released a joint statement yesterday which said while the agreement was not perfect, it was the best option of avoiding a no deal.
It welcomed several "positive commitments" in the agreement, including a pledge not to weaken environmental protection measures.
"A no-deal scenario next year would be a severe blow for Northern Ireland in terms of both our economy and wider society with our communities and environment likely to bear the brunt," the statement read.
