The ICI Programme was developed by drawing on existing learning from organisations working to combat racism, prejudice and hate throughout communities and society on both sides of the border.
The programme will also upskill people with lived experience of racism and hate and will work specifically with community leaders, policy makers, teachers and school pupils to address the misunderstandings and prejudices causing division within our society and communities.

We held our annual Christmas party in NWMF’s offices on December 10 2025. Why did we make the conscious decision to have it on International Human Rights Day? Well while the lights twinkle and little faces light up, Christmas isn’t always the happiest of occasions for our members, the majority of whom are far from their family and loved ones.

We do our best to cheer them up by providing food, music and a place where they can get together and talk and laugh. This year was no exception with upwards of 75 people joining us for a what was a lovely, joy-filled evening, made all the more special by the appearance of Santa Claus who handed out presents to all the children. We hope everyone enjoyed attending as much as we did preparing the food and the gifts.

All being well, we will do it all again next year!

Twenty of our members enjoyed an overnight stay at the Waterfoot Hotel on Friday November 15 and 16 2024 as part of a women-only residential funded by Bank of Ireland.

During their break away the women enjoyed a relaxing Myofascial Release class delivered by Louise Carey and Laurie Schneider at Embodied Pilates Studio.

After an early night, Saturday began with a highly informative workshop from Clare McLaughlin and Mary Crumley of Derry Credit Union Limited while in the afternoon, Michelle Major from The Sunshine Project delivered a fantastic programme focused on women’s mental health.

The feedback from the residential was brilliant with participants describing it as an interesting, relaxing, informative and helpful experience.

ON October 24 2025 we gathered in The Great Hall of Ulster University’s Magee campus for our fifth annual Black History Summit.

As in previous years, it was a fabulous day of discussion followed by a musical fusion where Kenya met Ireland in the form of Maasai singer Nelson Ngotiek and Irish star Ritchie Remo.

Our guest speakers on the day included Zita Holbourne who travelled from England to be with us. As well as being a writer, multi-award-winning artist, educator, community activist and trade union leader, Zita has done momentous work in exposing the Windrush Scandal.

Joining her on the podium was Lisa Williams, founder of the Edinburgh Caribbean Association. Ms Williams curates education programmes, arts events and walking tours to promote awareness of Black Scottish history and links between Scotland and the Caribbean.

Rajvi Glasbrook, senior implementation manager for the Welsh Government Anti-racist Wales Action Plan, also addressed the Summit. Rajvi worked on the ‘Cynefin’ report which made the teaching of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic histories mandatory in the Curriculum for Wales.

The event was moderated by Lilian Seenoi Barr, Chief Executive of the North West Migrants Forum, while the panellists included Dr Naomi Green, one of the researchers on our Black Heritage NI: Hidden History Project, Ulster University researcher Seun Awonuga and Daniel Sanusi, organiser of Ulster University Students’ Union’s first-ever Black History Month.

Closing remarks were by author and activist Chantelle Lunt, also a researcher on our Hidden History Project.

We want to put on record our thanks to everyone who contributed to make the event a success and to National Lottery’s Heritage Fund, British Council, Ulster University and Housing Executive for their support.

Our annual Summer Club ran throughout July and August 2025 and once again proved to be a huge success.

Almost 60 young people across three age groups – 7-9 years, 10-12 years and 13-15 years – signed up to participate and subsequently enjoyed a wide range of fun activities.

From fishing at Oaks Fishery to wall climbing at Foyle Arena to workshops with art therapist Dr Pamela Whitiker, visits to the bowling alley and a day out at the beach along the north coast, there was lots to keep young minds busy and young faces smiling.

We even managed to make the headlines three times (once accidentally!) – on Radio Foyle and on BBC Newsline which we were thrilled about.A huge thank you has to go to Cara Gilliland and Cathy Malcolm, our youth leaders who took over duties from Adrian Baena and Aoife Greenberg.

We look forward to Summer Club 2026!

ON July 19 2025 we returned to Brooke Park for our family fun day, hoping to recreate the magic of the year previous when 300 people joined us.

It is hard to gauge how many families and individuals came along this year but one way of doing it is this: We brought with us 250 burgers and even more sausages for hotdogs. By the end of the day there wasn’t a burger or a sausage to be found!

It was another very successful day for us as an organisation and we enjoy immensely seeing smiles on faces, both young and older and from both the local community and those only now making a life for themselves in Derry.

Thank you to everyone who came along and everyone who helped make it such a wonderful event. To our funders, National Lottery Community Fund, Esmeé Fairbarn, Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust and the Co-op Foundation, without you none of this would be possible. To our facilitators, our volunteers, St John’s Ambulance and Derry City and Strabane District Council who look after Brooke Park, we are immensely grateful for all your help and support.

All being well we will be back next year. Hopefully we’ll see you then if not before. For now, enjoy our photo gallery, the majority of which were captured by Marie McGrellis.

Following years of development, research and planning, we launched our first Black Heritage NI: Hidden History Project exhibition in Derry Central Library on July 1 2025.

Among those in attendance were Mayor of Derry and Strabane, Ruairí McHugh, researchers Chantelle Lunt and Dr Naomi Green, Project Manager Aynaz Zarif and National Lottery Heritage Fund Committee Member Jim McGreevy.

Those gathered were told about the genesis of the project and its subsequent progress before being given a guided tour by Dr Naomi Green.

The exhibition will visit ten libraries, starting with Derry Central where it will remain on display for a month.

Thank you as always to National Lottery Heritage Fund for financing the project.

On June 3 2025 we held our annual get-together to thank our volunteers for their hard work throughout the year. As much of a cliché as it may be, it is also a truth when we say that we could not continue with the work that we do without the support of our volunteers. Fun days, residentials, our summer club, or Black History Summits – our volunteers are front and centre when it comes to making these events the success that they are. There were quite a few members who couldn’t join us due to other commitments, but rest assured they received their gifts and certificates. Thank you to each and every one of you

On Wednesday May 21 2025 we gathered in Derry’s Cultúrlann for a Cross-Cultural Céili, organised in conjunction with our friends at Sole Purpose Productions.

It was a truly amazing evening with around 140 people in attendance – a mix of our members and people and families from the local community.

We ate, we danced, we sang, we laughed.

Thank you to everyone who attended, cooked, performed or contributed in any way. And thank you to Radius Housing for providing funding. Without you we would not have been able to put on what was a wonderful event to mark World Diversity Day.

On March 13 2025 dozens of our members waited until 6.32pm before breaking their Ramadan fast. What followed was an evening of gorgeous food in a room full of chatter and laughter. So many nationalities in the one room, all human, all with their own worries, tribulations, aspirations and thoughts of the future.

“Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty.” – Mahatma Gandhi.

A second splash of award-night portraits captured by Marie McGrellis highlights the honorees and atmosphere inside the Ebrington Hotel.

Over 250 people gathered in The Ebrington Hotel on March 6 2025 for our fourth Advancing Race Equality Awards.
It was an incredible evening for many reasons, but mainly for the inspiring individuals and organisations whose work in tackling racism and breaking down barriers we celebrated.

Our host, author, activist and politician Chantelle Lunt, flew in from Liverpool just for the awards. She described it as a truly memorable night.

The winners were:

Schools Anti-Racism Art Competition Ambassadors: Georgia Forsythe (Secondary School) and Maisie-Kate Nixon (Primary School)

Anti-Racism School of the Year: St Eugene’s Primary School

Anti-Racism Teacher of the Year: Bronagh Fikri (NWRC)

Community Champion: Mohammed Idris

Advancing Racial Justice and Fairness: Daniel Sanusi

Anti-Racism Leader of the Year: Takura Makoni

Anti-Racism Media of the Year: Derry News

Young Leader: Daniel Sanusi

Lifetime Achievement: Patricia Byrne of Sole Purpose Productions

Special Recognition Award: Foyle Food Bank