To ask the Minister for Communities (i) for an update on the development of an active ageing strategy; and (ii) whether he will commit to securing the future of Linking Generations NI by making up the current shortfall in the organisation’s funding.

I will be engaging with my officials in due course to understand work completed to date on developing a successor to the Active Ageing Strategy 2016-22 and to consider the next steps.

Final decisions on the content and implementation of an Active Ageing Strategy will be subject to Executive agreement.

My Department has no funding relationship with Linking Generations NI and currently has no funding programmes open that the organisation may be eligible to apply to. However, they may wish to contact Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action (NICVA) who provide advice on securing funding alongside providing details of available grant funding through its grant tracker. Contact details can be accessed at https://www.nicva.org/services/fundraising