The Minister met with leaders and board members from four participating organisations — ASCONI, Dom Polski, Polish Sisterhood, and Imagenation NI — who shared the work they’re doing in their communities, the challenges they face, and how ASCEND is supporting their growth and resilience.
During the conversation, the Minister emphasised the importance of cultural identity, language preservation, and community inclusion — drawing a parallel with Irish cultural centres established across the world. He thanked the groups for their valuable work and said he looked forward to seeing how they would grow through the ASCEND Programme. He also reflected on the impact of the Dormant Assets NI Fund in building more sustainable and resilient communities.
The participating organisations spoke about their ambition to integrate more deeply into local communities while protecting and celebrating their own cultures and heritage. They spoke about the need for greater representation in decision-making, for their contributions to be respected and recognised, and for diversity within ethnically minoritised organisations to be better understood by wider society.
Participants engaged in thoughtful discussions about the language used in the sector. The term ethnically minoritised, introduced by The National Lottery Community Fund as part of this programme, has opened up meaningful conversations around identity, inclusion, and power. Many groups have shared a preference for terms like Global Majority, which they feel better reflect their strengths and shared experiences, and help reframe deficit-based narratives often associated with the term minority ethnic. These conversations are shaping the evolution of ASCEND and informing wider discussions across the sector.
About the ASCEND Programme
Funded through Dormant Assets NI and delivered via the National Lottery Community Fund’s Access to Resilience Programme, ASCEND supports small organisations led by and for ethnically minoritised communities in Northern Ireland.
Through tailored mentoring, coaching, and peer learning, the programme helps build leadership, strengthen governance, improve fundraising and planning, and create connections across the sector.
Seven organisations are currently participating
- ASCONI
- Counselling All Nations Services (CANS)
- Dom Polski
- Polish Sisterhood
- Image Nation NI
- MSCNI
- Yallaa
These organisations represent a vibrant mix of cultures and communities across Northern Ireland, each at different stages of development. Support is personalised and currently focuses on leadership, fundraising, governance, business planning, and human resources, ensuring each group gets the guidance they need to thrive.
Get Involved
Interested in being part of ASCEND Year Two, starting January 2026? Or want to learn more about how we’re supporting ethnically minoritised communities in Northern Ireland?
Please contact our Project Co-ordinator: [email protected].
