North West Migrants Forum

What North West Migrants Forum does

North West Migrants Forum (NWMF) is a registered charity (Company NI661353, Charity NIC107318) founded in 2012 in Derry/Londonderry by CEO Lilian Seenoi Barr, operating from the third floor of the Embassy Building on Strand Road. It delivers frontline support, advocacy, and cultural programming for racialised minoritised communities — migrants, asylum seekers, refugees, and people granted international protection — across the north west of Northern Ireland. Services include immigration and Common Travel Area guidance, housing and welfare support, English classes, a clothing bank, and safeguarding; programming includes the Black Heritage NI: Hidden History Project, the cross-border Intercultural Inclusion Programme (ICIP), the People's Café, and recurring events such as the Black History Month Summits and Advancing Race Equality Awards.

NWMF operates on a grant-funded nonprofit model with no fees charged to beneficiaries. Its revenue base is composed of institutional grants — principally a €2,925,134.56 PEACEPLUS award managed by the Special EU Programmes Body for the ICIP, National Lottery Heritage Fund backing for Black Heritage NI, plus funding from The Executive Office, Housing Executive, Derry City & Strabane District Council, Bank of Ireland (£34,000), Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust, Co-op Foundation, Esmée Fairbairn, and A O Shearman — alongside individual donations via PayPal. The organisation is governed by an 8-member board and operates with roughly 11 staff. It does not use proprietary technology; delivery relies on direct in-person services, community events, off-site workshops, and standard digital channels (Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube, email newsletter).

The strategic model is partnership-led and cross-border: NWMF leads a five-organisation ICIP consortium spanning Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland (Rural Community Network, MSCNI, INAR, Donegal Intercultural Platform, plus Social Change Initiative as associate), with academic ties to Ulster University. It also participates in statutory policy work, including a 120-testimony evidence submission to the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee and a Common Travel Area rights campaign with the Committee on the Administration of Justice. Coverage includes BBC Radio Foyle, BBC Newsline, UTV, Derry Journal, and Irish Examiner.

Name

North West Migrants Forum

Legal name

North West Migrants Forum

Website

https://nwmf.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

North West Migrants Forum is a Derry-based charity founded in 2012 that delivers welfare support, immigration guidance, English classes, and anti-racism programmes for racialised minoritised communities across the north west of Northern Ireland and cross-border into Donegal.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community support services

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Educational Support Services (611710), Child and Youth Services (624110)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Refugee & Immigrant Support Services (BPAGAEAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Integration & Inclusion Services (Housing, Education, Employment) (BPADAHAI), Migrant & Refugee Legal Aid and Documentation Services (BPADAHAE), Immigrant & Refugee Community Education (Integration/Navigation) (EDAAAFAH), Newcomer & Refugee Student Support Programs (EDAJAGAH)

Keywords

• Migrant support services
• Community advocacy
• Racial equality
• Anti-racism education
• Refugee integration

Headquarters

HQ city

Derry/Londonderry

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Grant Funding: Primary revenue stream from government and institutional grants including PEACEPLUS funding (€2.9m for ICIP), National Lottery Heritage Fund, and statutory funding from organisations like The Executive Office and Housing Executive.
2. Donations: Individual donations through PayPal accepted to support programmes including the Advancing Race Equality Awards, Black Heritage Project, and ICI Programme.
3. Community Funding: Bank of Ireland Community Fund allocated £34,000 over two years to support the People's Café project and other initiatives.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

North West Migrants Forum is a registered charity that delivers free advice, welfare support, English language classes, cultural programmes, and anti-racism education to migrants, asylum seekers, refugees, and racialised minoritised communities in the north west of Northern Ireland. Its work combines frontline service delivery (immigration guidance, housing support, safeguarding) with advocacy, cultural celebration, and cross-border programming funded through institutional grants.

Product overview

North West Migrants Forum operates as a community organization offering a portfolio of services organized around migrant support, racial equality advocacy, and cultural inclusion. The core offerings include advice and support services (immigration guidance, housing support, clothing bank), community programmes (English classes, Summer Club, Social Café), and the flagship Black Heritage NI: Hidden History Project documenting Black contributions to Northern Ireland. The Intercultural Cross-border Inclusion Programme (ICIP) delivers cross-border anti-racism education and cultural celebration. Major initiatives include The People's Café (intercultural meeting space with training kitchen), the annual Advancing Race Equality Awards, and Black History Month Summits. The organization also runs campaigns on Common Travel Area rights and climate justice, with safeguarding services protecting vulnerable community members.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Advice and Support Services Frontline welfare and immigration guidance service for migrants, asylum seekers, refugees and racialised minoritised community members, including help with housing, medical registration, visa issues, and a clothing bank for all ages.
• English Language Classes Dynamic English learning classes offered throughout the week with various tutors, including women-only conversational classes, for community members to build language skills and confidence.
• Community Programmes Regular community activities including Social Café, annual Summer Club, family fun days, Cross-Cultural Ceilidhs, and Mother and Babies Group.
• Black Heritage NI: Hidden History Project A community-focused initiative exploring and celebrating Black history, heritage, culture and contributions through education, engagement and creative activities including exhibitions, workshops, school visits, and community engagements.
• Intercultural Cross-border Inclusion Programme (ICIP) A PEACEPLUS-funded programme delivering workshops, training sessions, community activities and cultural celebrations across the island of Ireland to identify and challenge structures of racism through education.
• The People's Café A safe and welcoming intercultural café providing community meeting space, laundry facilities, and a training kitchen for hospitality skills development, open to all residents regardless of background.
• Safeguarding Services Comprehensive safeguarding policy and support services protecting children, young people and vulnerable individuals, including designated safeguarding officers, training, and trauma-informed care protocols.

Quantifiable outcome

• 120 testimonies gathered from minority ethnic community members for NI Affairs Committee evidence submission
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Rural Community NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership consortium member for the Intercultural Cross-border Inclusion Programme (ICIP). RCN is based in Cookstown and provides an effective voice for rural communities, particularly those who are most disadvantaged. Contributes expertise in community engagement and rural inclusion.
• Multi-Ethnic Sports and Cultures NI (MSCNI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBelfast-based charity bringing cultural activities including drumming workshops, African dancing, poetry, and singing to local communities. Partnership consortium member for ICIP delivering cross-border anti-racism education and cultural celebration.
• Irish Network Against Racism (INAR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational network of nearly 160 anti-racism civil society organisations in Ireland. Active member of European Network Against Racism (ENAR). Partnership consortium member for ICIP providing policy expertise and national coordination.
• Donegal Intercultural Platform clgcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLetterkenny-based NGO committed to building inclusion and equality in Donegal, promoting human rights and challenging discrimination. Partnership consortium member for ICIP ensuring cross-border representation.
• Ulster UniversitysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner for Black History Summits held at Magee campus. Contributes researchers and student involvement. Research Assistant Seun Awonuga works at the university.
• Craft TrainingsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerTraining provider delivering hospitality skills programme for People's Café participants. 30 individuals receive training in catering operations, menu planning, health and safety, and food hygiene.
• Committee on the Administration of Justice (CAJ)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndependent human rights NGO partnership for Common Travel Area campaign and ICIP associate partner. Focus on policy development, legal strategy, and campaigning to secure enforceable CTA rights.
• Belfast Islamic CentresupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in evidence submission to NI Affairs Committee on experiences of minority ethnic and migrant people. Contributed to written evidence gathering process.
• Belfast Multi-Cultural AssociationsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in evidence submission to NI Affairs Committee. Grassroots BME organisation contributing to policy advocacy work.
• Black and Minority Ethnic Women's NetworksupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in evidence submission to NI Affairs Committee. Represents and supports BME women across Northern Ireland.
• Horn of Africa People's Aid Northern IrelandsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in evidence submission. Derry-based organisation supporting Horn of Africa communities. Volunteer Ala Alsygaly previously volunteered with HAPANI.
• Equality Commission for Northern IrelandsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerChief Commissioner Geraldine McGahey attended People's Café launch. Commission provides oversight and support for equality initiatives.
• Bloody Sunday TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-developer of North West Anti-Racism Charter through series of community consultation workshops. Director Maeve McLaughlin involved in launch.
• Sole Purpose ProductionssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCultural production company co-organising Integration Craic events with NWMF, combining theatre and community celebration.
• Friends of the EarthsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental organisation partner for climate action initiatives. Collaborates on sustainability education and environmental awareness.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Refugee Action: UK-wide charity supporting refugees and asylum seekers with integration, advocacy, and frontline services. Comparable mission and service mix to NWMF's advice, welfare, and integration programmes, serving a similar beneficiary population.
• Migrant Help UK: One of the largest UK charities providing advice, support and advocacy for asylum seekers and refugees. Directly comparable to NWMF's welfare, immigration guidance, and integration services, though operating at a much larger national scale.
• British Red Cross (Refugee Services): Major UK charity providing refugee support including family reunion, integration, and emergency aid. Offers overlapping refugee assistance services with NWMF but operates as a broad incumbent across many disaster and humanitarian areas.

Direct peers

• The Black Curriculum: Delivers Black history education and works to embed it in schools across the UK. Comparable to NWMF's Black Heritage NI: Hidden History Project, school visits, and Black History Summit model.
• Asylum Seeker & Refugee Support (formerly Chester/Asylum Link): Regional charity providing advice, English classes, and integration support for asylum seekers and refugees in the North West of England. Comparable geographic specialisation and service mix to NWMF in NW Northern Ireland.
• Donegal Intercultural Platform: Letterkenny-based NGO building inclusion and equality in Donegal through intercultural programmes. Already an ICIP consortium partner with NWMF, but independently operates comparable refugee/migrant integration and anti-racism services.
• NICRAS (Northern Ireland Community of Refugees and Asylum Seekers): Northern Ireland-based refugee and asylum seeker support network. The most direct local peer to NWMF, focused on similarly advocacy, integration, and community support for new arrivals in NI.
• Brittlebone (formerly RASASC / Right to Remain): Provides immigration advice, community organising, and resources for migrant communities facing the UK asylum system. Comparable to NWMF's immigration/CT Area guidance and grassroots advocacy work.
• Hibiscus Initiatives: Charity supporting migrant women and people in detention with welfare advice, advocacy, and community integration. Closely comparable to NWMF's welfare appointments, immigration guidance, and community co-design model.

Regional players

• Scottish Refugee Council: Provides advice, advocacy, and community integration support for refugees and asylum seekers in Scotland. Comparable service portfolio to NWMF but operates in a different UK nation, sharing policies on community-based refugee support.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCZ8T6vhDl3Xx8-MTLaRX24w
• Facebookfacebook.com/www.nwmf.org.uk
• Instagraminstagram.com/northwestmigrantsforum
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/north-west-migrants-forum

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about North West Migrants Forum