23/04/2026
Hello everyone, my name is Ella Benyela, and I’m the founder of the Cameroon Community Development Centre CIC.
Welcome to this new series where we’ll be sharing our journey, our purpose, and the work we are doing to support our community.
This CIC was created from a real place of need. Many people in our community face challenges when trying to settle and build their lives here in the UK. These challenges include accessing employment, finding safe and affordable housing, understanding immigration processes, and even knowing how to access healthcare services.
And beyond that, there is something deeper — isolation, lack of guidance, and not having the right support system in place.
That is why we started this CIC.
Our goal is to create a space where people feel supported, informed, and empowered. A space where individuals can access guidance, connect with others, and find practical solutions to real-life challenges.
Through this initiative, we will be delivering community workshops, offering guidance and signposting to the right services, supporting people with housing pathways, and creating opportunities for cultural connection and wellbeing.
We are not here to replace existing services we are here to bridge the gap, to help people understand and access the support that already exists, and to make sure no one feels left behind.
As a newly established CIC, we are still growing. We are building partnerships, seeking support, and working towards creating a strong foundation that will benefit not just individuals, but the wider community.
In this series, we’ll be sharing more about what we do, the impact we want to make, and how you can be part of this journey.
Whether you are someone who needs support, someone who wants to collaborate, or someone who simply believes in community this space is for you.
Thank you for being here, and welcome to our journey.”
Ella Benyela
Founder CCDC CIC Derby
