1,483 welfare support appointments supporting 357 people delivered by Derry’s North West Migrants Forum

Two hundred and five activities were organised across the forum’s learning, skills and well-being programmes with over 1,875 people reached.

A total of 118 English classes were taught, educating 1,049 learners, the report says.

Eleven health events and workshops were attended by 81 people.

Fifty three wellbeing activities supported 360 individuals.

And nine Education Authority support sessions were attended by 59 people.

Twelve racial literacy workshops were carried out at schools with 13 delivered at Ulster University and the North West Regional College.

One hundred mobile phone SIM cards were distributed through Charities Connected and 30 bicycles given to members in collaboration with Life Cycles.

Marija Stuke, Chairperson of the NWFM, in her foreword, described 2024/25 as a busy year.

"Our Advancing Race Equality Awards proved once again to be a huge success, as did our Black History Summit which moved out of Derry for the first time. Kenneth B Morris, direct descendant of Frederick Douglass, flew in from the USA to be our keynote speaker at Ulster University Belfast.

"In July our annual fun day took place in Brooke Park and drew upwards of 300 people on what was a beautifully sunny afternoon. Our Social Café continued to be a vital outlet for reducing isolation, building connections, holding activities, workshops and meetings as well as English language classes.

"The dedication of our team meant we were also able to continue progressing projects such as Let’s Talk Race and Racism, Racial Justice in NI: Influencing Lasting Change, Black Heritage: Hidden History in Northern Ireland, New Beginnings: Building Pathways to a Shared Future and the youth-led Future Communities project,” she stated.

Chief Executive, Lillian Seenoi-Barr, added: “Our projects this year speak to the core of who we are. The Racial Justice Project continued to create space for dialogue, engagement, and learning, bringing communities and policymakers together to challenge prejudice and change attitudes.

"A Fairer Future: Migration Justice Fund, in partnership with CAJ, allowed us to campaign actively and engage with high-profile government officials, trade unions, and elected representatives, not merely to raise issues, but to help shape policy.

"The day-to-day work supported by the National Lottery Community Fund gave people seeking sanctuary the practical starting point they need to build lives here.

"And our Co-op funds, supporting programmes for young people, empowered the next generation to lead with confidence, creativity, and care. Each of these strands is part of a larger story: a community choosing connection over division, hope over fear, and justice over complacency.”

NWMF held its annual general meeting on Friday, when the annual report relaying all its activities and events during the 2024/25 financial year was presented.

The report concludes: “In our little corner of the world, we will continue to offer a hand up to those cast to the wind through circumstances not of their making. In 2026 we have so much to look forward to: the ongoing development of our Intercultural Café, our Intercultural Cross-border Inclusion Programme, the return of our family fun day and summer club and of course our annual Cultural Ceilidh. We’ll keep moving forward. We only ask that you stand beside us as we do.”