Essential Skills Literacy + Numeracy
July 2025 saw the opening of enrolment for our Literacy and Numeracy Essential Skills courses, welcoming community members looking to build foundational academic confidence. Modeled on our community-based, youth‑work approach, these courses offer flexible, inclusive learning spaces for adults and young people alike. We draw on the same ethos that defines Phoenix, tailored support and practical outcomes.
Participants can enroll now and gain access to OCN‑accredited training, empowering them to boost employability, meet further education prerequisites, or build daily life skills. Whether you’re aiming for career progression or simply want to feel more secure with reading, writing, and numbers, our friendly tutors are here to help. We believe that everyone deserves a second chance to succeed and often, it’s our Essential Skills programmes that make a real difference.
Past participants share stories of progress, improved confidence, greater resilience, and more optimism about future learning. We’re especially proud of learners who overcame anxieties or missed out on formal schooling, now thriving in our supportive environment. Pitch your goals, and we’ll help you map the route to success.
Book Club - July Wrap and August Preview
Our July Book Club took a creative twist as participants read one another’s favourite novels. It was a great opportunity to explore diverse genres and discuss personal stories. Even without a single selected book, the evening buzzed with conversation, laughter, and connection—true to Phoenix’s vision of learning through shared experience.
Members brought novels spanning fiction, memoir, and local interest. Each reader championed their pick, explaining why it mattered to them. The diversity of stories from Belfast‑based authors to global voices sparked deep reflections on identity, belonging, and what learning means beyond the classroom. Newcomers reported feeling welcomed immediately, and many discovered books they might never have tried.
Looking ahead, our next Book Club discussion is scheduled for 26 August 2025. Whether you’ve been coming for months or this is your first time, join us for an evening of thoughtful discussion, warm company, and perhaps your next favourite read.
July’s Book Club Flyer
Grand Opening: Phoenix Community Hub
A landmark moment this July: the grand opening of the Phoenix Community Hub at 315 Woodstock Road, our new space in East Belfast. Our hub takes donations of school wear, work wear, and cash donations to allow us to provide these same items to those who need but may not be able to afford them, as we at Phoenix believe everyone deserves the dignity of the basics.
Inside, the Hub includes tables and racks of uniform items such as school jumpers, blazers, trousers, skirts, polo shirts, ties, and more. We also carry and take donations of work wear that can be used for interviews for those who may not have family members to lend them items.
Step Up For Change Highlights
July was filled with Step Up For Change outings, combining learning with community building. Participants enjoyed:
Go-Karting
An afternoon of speed, laughter, and teamwork at a nearby go‑karting venue. It was a dynamic way to build confidence, challenge personal limits, and connect with peers in a high‑energy setting.
Visit to Uster Museum
Another group trip took participants to the Ulster Museum, where they explored exhibitions spanning history, art, and science. The immersive experience sparked curiosity, conversation, and reflection on local identity and cultural heritage.
These outings embody Phoenix’s belief in holistic education—experiences that teach resilience, curiosity, and civic connection beyond textbooks. Participants reflected afterwards on how new environments stimulate new ways of seeing, learning, and tackling challenges.
Combined with their regular creative and mentoring sessions, this summer’s activities helped strengthen trust, build relationships, and give everyone something to celebrate.
August: What's on
Looking ahead to August 2025:
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Essential Skills Literacy & Numeracy: Enrolment closes mid‑August. Learners begin courses in early September.
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Book Club Discussion: 26 August 2025, join us to explore our next read and meet fellow readers.
Step Up For Change Activities: Planning resumes in late August with creative challenges, community projects, and optional field trips as school resumes.