A community celebration at Belfast City Hall brought together people from across Northern Ireland to mark ten years of Multi-Ethnic Sports & Cultures Northern Ireland’s (MSCNI).
The Community Relations Council supported the event through its CR/CD Small Grants Scheme.
The event recognised MSCNI’s work promoting volunteering, inclusion and positive community relations, and also provided a platform to launch the NISCANS Shared Stories Awards.
The civic celebration marked a decade of impact by MSCNI, bringing together people from different religious, ethnic and cultural backgrounds in a shared space to celebrate volunteering, inclusion and shared community. The MSCNI 10th Anniversary, Volunteer Recognition and NISCANS Shared Stories Awards, delivered on 10 January 2026, welcomed over 100 direct participants from across Belfast and the wider region, with an estimated 300 people benefiting indirectly through families, networks and community connections.
The event was officially launched by His Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant, Dame Fionnuala Jay-O’Boyle DBE DStJ DDL (Hon QUB). Guests were formally welcomed by Deputy Lord Mayor Cllr Paul Doherty, who also joined in the presentation of awards and volunteer recognition medals. Their participation highlighted the importance of recognising grassroots leadership, welcome and shared values within a civic setting.
Sixty volunteers were also recognised during the evening for directly contributed to MSCNI’s work in building belonging, creating safe spaces and promoting inclusion. The volunteers received medals and certificates in recognition of their sustained commitment.
In addition, 15 awardees from the host community were recognised through the NISCANS Shared Stories Awards for their positive impact in supporting migrant and ethnic minority communities.
Award presentations were further supported by sector leaders including Denise Hayward, Chief Executive of Volunteer Now; Celine McStravick, Chief Executive of NICVA; and Professor James Uhomoibhi, Chair of the BAME Plus Network at Ulster University. Their involvement reflected strong partnership working across the community, voluntary and education sectors in advancing inclusion and cohesion.
The celebration showed how neutral civic spaces, inclusive programming and positive storytelling can help challenge prejudice, build empathy and strengthen relationships between minority ethnic communities and the wider host community. Post-event feedback indicated increased confidence among participants engaging in shared civic spaces.
Speaking after the event, Jahswill Emmanuel BEM, Founder and CEO of MSCNI, said the evening reflected the organisation’s founding values and future direction: “This celebration is about people who choose kindness and welcome. Ten years on, our volunteers remain the heartbeat of MSCNI, building bridges, belonging and hope. The NISCANS Awards honour lived experiences of welcome and the people quietly shaping a more inclusive Northern Ireland.”
The NISCANS Awards are shaped by the voices of people who have experienced migration, displacement and resettlement. Through NISCANS, migrants and ethnic minority communities recognise local people, organisations and institutions who helped them feel welcomed, safe, valued, included and able to belong.
MSCNI expressed sincere thanks to the Community Relations Council (CRC) funding support, Belfast City Council for venue support and PEACEPLUS/SEUPB for their funding support through the ICIP Programme. The event concluded with a renewed commitment from partners, community leaders and stakeholders to continue supporting volunteer-led action, shared storytelling and cross-community collaboration into MSCNI’s next decade of work.