Cameroon Community Development Centre CIC

What is a CIC?

A Community Interest Company (CIC) is a special type of organisation established to benefit the community rather than generate profit for private individuals. Any profits made are reinvested into the organisation to improve services, create opportunities, and make a positive impact on the people it serves.

That is exactly who we are at the Cameroon Community Development Centre (CCDC) CIC.

We are a community-focused organisation based in Derby, dedicated to supporting Cameroonian individuals and families, while also welcoming migrants, refugees, asylum seekers, and anyone looking for a place to belong.

We provide free guidance, signposting, and community support, helping people access housing, employment, healthcare, education, well-being services, and other essential local resources. We also organise community and cultural events that bring people together, reduce loneliness, encourage friendships, and promote inclusion and social integration.

At CCDC CIC, we believe that no one should feel isolated. Whether you are new to the UK, looking to connect with others, or simply searching for a supportive community, our doors are open to everyone.

Together, we celebrate diversity, preserve culture, build friendships, and create opportunities for people to thrive.

Join us, connect with your community, and let’s grow stronger together.

📍 Whitecross House Community Centre, West End, Derby DE1 3LP
📞 07572 934218
📧 [email protected]

Beautiful photos🥰

https://buff.ly/4o4hTD7

Cameroonians in Derby Mark World Refugee Day with Culture, Courage and a Message of Belonging Cameroonians in Derby marked World Refugee Day for the first time through CCDC CIC, celebrating culture, courage, resilience and community belonging.

Yes CCDC CIC!!!

For the first time, Cameroonians in Derby joined World Refugee Day celebrations through the Cameroon Community Development Centre CIC, a young community organisation founded by Ella Benyela.

With traditional clothing, music, food, cultural displays and a “Discover Cameroon” banner, the community proudly showcased Cameroon’s rich identity as “Africa in Miniature” while also raising awareness about the crisis that has forced many families to seek safety and rebuild their lives abroad.

Their message was simple but powerful: refugees and migrants are more than their struggles. They carry culture, resilience, talent, courage and a deep desire to contribute positively to the communities they now call home.

Read more: https://buff.ly/4o4hTD7

Amazing!!!

✨ A Heartfelt Thank You To Hello Derby Refugee Day ✨

What an incredible Refugee Day celebration! We are deeply grateful to everyone who visited our Cameroon stall, took photos with us, and showed so much love and appreciation for our beautiful traditional attire and our CCDC CIC initiative.

We were proud to represent Cameroon at the Refugee Day Event, share our culture, and showcase the richness, diversity, and unity of the Cameroonian community in Derby. It was truly heartwarming to see so many people, including community leaders, the MP for Derby County, and guests, celebrate with us and appreciate our presence.

A special thank you to Derby City of Sanctuary for creating a welcoming space where communities can come together, share their stories, celebrate their cultures, and promote unity and belonging.

Thank you to all our trustees, members, volunteers, supporters, and everyone who made this day a huge success. The joy, connections, and recognition we received will remain a beautiful memory.

🇨🇲 Cameroon was seen, celebrated, and proudly represented! 🇨🇲

With gratitude,
Ella Benyela
Founder
Cameroon Community Development Centre (CCDC) CIC

As the Cameroon Community Development Centre (CCDC) CIC, we are proud to take part in Refugee Week and use this opportunity to celebrate our identity, share our stories, and introduce the beautiful nation of Cameroon to the wider Derby community.

Through our cultural display, traditional clothing, music, food, and our “Discover Cameroon” banner, we invite everyone to learn about our country often known as “Africa in Miniature” because of its rich diversity, ten regions, and vibrant cultures.

We will also be sharing a second banner that raises awareness of the ongoing crisis that has affected many Cameroonian families, leading some to seek safety and rebuild their lives in countries such as the United Kingdom.

This year’s Refugee Week theme is Courage. Today, we recognise that courage is not always loud. Sometimes courage is the decision to continue, to adapt, and to find strength even when the future is uncertain. This reflects the journey of many refugees and people seeking sanctuary who have shown incredible resilience in rebuilding their lives while carrying their culture, hopes, and dreams with them.

We are grateful that Derby has become a place of welcome, hope, and belonging. We sincerely thank City of Sanctuary and City Council for creating a community where refugees and people seeking sanctuary can feel valued, supported, and included.

Our message is simple:
We are more than our struggles. We carry our culture, our resilience, our talents, and our desire to contribute positively to the communities we now call home.

Until all are safe, no one is safe.

Together, through courage, compassion, and unity, we build stronger communities.

🇨🇲 Cameroon Community Development Centre (CCDC) CIC
🌍 Sharing our culture. Telling our stories. Building community.

With Refugee Week – I just made it onto their weekly engagement list by being one of their top engagers! 🎉

📢 REFUGEE WEEK 2026 | DERBY

This year marks a very special milestone: it is the FIRST time the Cameroonian community in Derby will be officially represented in the Refugee Week celebrations! 🎉

We want to say a huge thank you to our CEO of the Cameroon Community Development Centre CIC, who has worked tirelessly to make this happen — her dedication has brought us to this wonderful moment.

We are deeply grateful to the city of Derby for welcoming us and for declaring itself a City of Sanctuary, providing us with a safe home and a place to belong. Now, we are proud not only to appreciate what Derby has done for us, but also to take part in this great celebration actively.

Come join and find us at Hello Derby: A Festival of Welcome 📍 Derby Market Hall & Osnabruck Square
🗓️ Saturday 20 June 2026
⏰ 11:00am – 3:00pm

We will be sharing our culture through:
✅ Traditional pastries & food
✅ Music, dance & performances
✅ Cultural displays & storytelling

We feel truly privileged and honoured to be part of this day, to share our heritage, and to stand together in unity. Thank you, Derby, for giving us a home and a voice!

💛❤️💚 Everyone is welcome!