North West Migrants Forum among local community groups to receive ‘Begin Together’ funding from Bank of Ireland

North West Migrants Forum, the community group, based in Strand Road, is one of a number of community projects across Northern Ireland that will receive financial support from Bank of Ireland’s Begin Together Community Fund in 2024.   

The funding North West Migrants Forum receives will help them to provide tailored support for those seeking asylum locally including developing their English language skills and integration into the community. 

North West Migrants Forum is among four other organisations operating across Northern Ireland who are set to benefit from funding:Depaul, an all-island homeless charity, Mae Murray Foundation, which delivers individual and family-centred services to those with disabilities, complex medical conditions and the elderly, Cara Friend, which supports the LGBTQIA+  community and Lisburn and Belfast Women’s Aid, which supports those experiencing domestic abuse. 

In this, the fifth year of the Begin Together Fund, £420,000 is being allocated to community groups across the island of Ireland which will be delivered in partnership with the Community Foundation Ireland. Initiatives will receive grants starting from £8,400 up to £67,200.  Several organisations have been awarded multi-year grants to help fund long term projects. 

The current round of grants will bring the total value of Begin Together grants issued through the Bank of Ireland Community Fund since 2020 to £2.1 Million across 286 community projects.    

The groups supported include those who are disproportionately impacted by some of the most critical issues throughout the island of Ireland today.  These groups include migrants, asylum seekers, and refugees, families and individuals living in or at risk of poverty, older people, people experiencing homelessness, people experiencing domestic abuse, and the LGBTQ+ community.  

George Higginson, Managing Director, Everyday Banking, Bank of Ireland UK said: “We have been working with the Community Foundation Ireland to distribute Begin Together Funding to help charities and organisations supporting those most marginalized in our society. 

“We are proud to be able to allocate grants to a broad range of groups working to help those impacted by some of the most critical societal issues including homelessness and domestic abuse. 

“This year, in addition to single year grants we have introduced a number of multi-year grants which we hope will provide greater stability and opportunity for successful organisations to forward plan.   

“We are pleased to provide our support to each of the successful grantees and wish them well as they deliver their impactful projects.” 

Commenting on the funding, Gaëlle Gormley, Community Integration and Welfare Officer, North West Migrants Forum,said: “Our project addresses the critical and growing needs of many of the 250 people seeking asylum in Derry, hailing from non-English speaking countries, who face significant mental health challenges and struggle to navigate complex legal systems.  

“The rise in anti-immigrant sentiment further complicates their integration, as misconceptions persist about people seeking asylum being dangerous, unwilling to work or burdening public services. By empowering them with English language skills, we facilitate their integration into the community, enabling them to engage in conversations with the public and their new neighbours.  

“We are so pleased to have been awarded Begin Together funding from Bank of Ireland which will enable us to enhance our offerings by providing tailored support for our volunteers.”  

A full list of 2024 Begin Together grantees is available on the Bank of Ireland website: bankofireland.com/begintogetherfund