June 2025 Newsletter
Listening to Community Voices on the School Uniform Bill
At the tail end of last month, our director Emma Shaw attended the All Party Group on Parental Engagement at Stormont to hear more about the proposed School Uniform Bill, an issue that continues to affect many families across Northern Ireland.
While there, Emma also spoke with Peter Martin, highlighting the importance of ensuring community voices are part of these conversations. Policies like this one are strongest when shaped by those they directly impact, and that means listening to the lived experiences of parents, carers, and young people.
As an organisation rooted in community, we’re glad to see these issues being taken seriously and will continue to advocate for practical, people-centred solutions in education and beyond.
Listening, Learning, Leading: Our Ongoing Work with Step Up for Change
As we head into the summer months, our Step Up for Change group has been keeping active, creative, and connected, both with each other and their wider community.
One of the highlights this month has been our weekly visits to Avoniel Leisure Centre, where the group gets together for a casual kickabout and some light exercise. These sessions have been a great way to let off steam, stay active, and build team spirit. Beyond the physical benefits, it’s also a powerful reminder of how movement and play can boost mental wellbeing and strengthen bonds within the group.
We also had something extra special to celebrate recently, an 18th birthday for one of our young people! This reminded us of how important it is to celebrate milestones.
On the more hands-on (and green!) side of things, the group rolled up their sleeves for some painting and planting, getting stuck into growing bean sprouts. Each young person has taken responsibility for nurturing their own plant, and it’s been brilliant to see how much care and pride they’re putting into it. It’s more than just a gardening activity, it’s about learning responsibility, consistency, and the satisfaction that comes from looking after something and seeing it grow.
As we head into a short summer break, we hope the group enjoys a well-deserved rest, whether that’s time to recharge, explore, or just take it slow.
We’re so proud of the energy, growth, and kindness they’ve shown this season, and we look forward to what’s next when we return.
Strengthening Partnerships: Learning and Growing with Queen’s University
This month also marked the end of an exciting collaboration with Queen’s University Belfast through their Real World Consultancy Programme. Our director, Emma Shaw, took part in the final session at 1 Elmwood alongside other local employers and Queen’s Careers Service.
The programme brought together students and organisations to work on real-life business challenges, and we were fortunate to be one of the participating partners. Over the course of the week, students explored marketing ideas and strategies to help Phoenix grow its reach, raise awareness, and engage more people with our work. Their creativity, fresh perspectives, and dedication were truly inspiring, and we’re grateful to have been part of a project that connects learning with real community impact.
This is just one example of the brilliant relationship we’ve built with Queen’s over the past year. We’ve also had the pleasure of welcoming several student placements, particularly from the Psychology Department, who’ve brought energy, curiosity, and a real willingness to learn. Their contributions have made a genuine difference to our work, and we were so touched to receive a Born and Bred box of local goodies as a thank-you gesture from the department, a lovely reminder of the power of mutual support and collaboration.
Placements like these aren’t just valuable for the students, they’re incredibly meaningful for us too. They bring new ideas, challenge our thinking, and help us grow as an organisation committed to learning and development.
June's Book Club Fun
Our Book Club met again this June, and this month’s read was Susannah Dickey’s Common Decency. As expected, the group brought a variety of opinions to the table — with lively discussions, different interpretations, and some great debates. It’s always refreshing to see how one book can spark such a wide range of responses, and this one certainly didn’t disappoint!
Alongside the chat, we added a creative twist to the evening by making our own bookmarks using dried flowers. It was a lovely way to unwind, connect, and get a little crafty — and everyone left with a one-of-a-kind creation to tuck into their next read.
Looking ahead, our next book club meeting will be in July, and we’re doing something a bit different — each of us will be reading someone else’s favourite novel. It’s a brilliant way to diversify your bookshelf, discover new genres, and see the stories your fellow readers love most.
Whether you’re a seasoned reader or just getting back into books, there’s always a seat (and a cuppa) waiting for you.
OCN Learning Endeavour Awards 2025
We were thrilled to attend the OCN NI Learning Endeavour Awards 2025 this month, where one of the incredible young people we’ve had the pleasure of working with was shortlisted for the Third Sector Learner of the Year. Being nominated for such a prestigious award is a huge achievement in itself, and we couldn’t be prouder.
The event, held at the Titanic Quarter, was a truly inspiring afternoon — full of stories of resilience, determination, and personal growth. We especially enjoyed hearing from Martin Flynn, whose words left a lasting impression on many of us.
While our young person didn’t take home the award this time, the recognition alone brought a huge sense of pride and encouragement. Opportunities like this remind our young people that their efforts matter, their growth is seen, and that they have every reason to feel proud of how far they’ve come.
Moments like these go a long way in boosting confidence and motivation, not just for the individual recognised but for everyone in our community.
Job Fair 2025
We want to say a huge thank you to everyone who joined us for our annual Jobs Fair on June 26th! It was a fantastic day filled with opportunity, energy, and ambition.
The event welcomed a wide range of fantastic employers from various industries, all actively seeking apprentices, as well as candidates for part-time and full-time roles. Whether you were exploring your options or ready to take the next step in your career, there was something for everyone.
We’re especially proud of the young people who came along to meet employers, ask questions, and start building their futures.
If you’re a young person looking for work but unsure where to begin, don’t worry, we’re here to help. Whether you need advice on CV writing, interview tips, or just want to chat about your options, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team. Your journey starts here, and we’d love to support you every step of the way.
Once again, thank you to all the employers, attendees, and partners who made the day such a success. We’ll see you at the next one!
Director Emma Shaw Attends US Garden Party Celebration
We were delighted to see our Director, Emma Shaw, representing our organisation at this year’s prestigious US Garden Party.
Held in a beautiful outdoor setting, the event brought together a diverse group of leaders, changemakers, and community representatives to celebrate the strong ties and shared values between the UK and the United States. It was a wonderful opportunity to connect with others doing important work across education, employment, and youth development.
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Upcoming Events
A Thank You
As we approach the end of the academic year, we want to take a moment to reflect and say thank you.
Since September 2024, we’ve achieved so much together, from exciting activities and enrichment sessions to essential skills development and OCNs. We’ve watched young people grow in confidence, resilience, and ambition, and we couldn’t be prouder of everything they’ve accomplished.
To our young people: thank you for showing up, engaging, and pushing yourselves to learn and grow. Every small step you’ve taken has made a big difference.
To our staff: thank you for your passion, commitment, and belief in every young person who walks through our doors. The work you do changes lives and it shows.
And to our incredible supporters, directors, volunteers, and partners: thank you for being part of this journey. Your time, energy, and encouragement mean the world to us.
Please note: the centre is now closed for a short break and will reopen on 15th July. We hope everyone enjoys celebrating or taking a well-deserved bit of time off. Stay safe, take care of yourselves, and we’ll see you soon!
Together, we’ve built something special and we can’t wait to see what the next academic year brings.