Phoenix Education Centre NI - November 2025 Newsletter

As the autumn leaves fall and we approach the winter season, Phoenix continues growing, bringing new opportunities, events, and community connection. This month we’ve been especially busy preparing for festive programming, expanding our offerings, and strengthening partnerships to help more young people and families in East Belfast.

In addition to ongoing classes and mentoring, we are working hard to embed our values of “community-based, community-focused, and community-led” into everything we do.

We remain committed to offering accredited qualifications, through OCN NI, in a wide range of areas, from employability, vocational skills, mental-health awareness, to personal success and well-being.

Spotlight: Grinch Bus in Partnership with Walkway

This November, we partnered with Walkway Centre to put on a magical “Grinch Spotting” double-decker bus event for local families. We welcomed around 300 children and young people, who enjoyed a fun, festive ride, complete with a surprise appearance by the Grinch chasing the bus!

The feedback from families has been overwhelmingly positive. For many children it was the highlight of their month. A joyful, community-centred moment that brought smiles and laughter. It’s exactly the kind of experience that reminds us why Phoenix exists: building connection, hope, and memories for local families.

A big thank you to everyone at Walkway and to all our staff and volunteers who helped make this happen!

S.P.A.R.C Trip to Airtastic Newtownabbey

Our S.PA.R.C group had an exciting outing this month, a trip to Airtastic Belfast. The day was a great blend of fun and friendship. Jumping, laughing, and enjoying time together outside the usual sessions reminded everyone of the importance of recreation, relaxation, and belonging.

For many of our young people this was a chance to let off steam, build friendships, and have a carefree day away from routine. These experiences are vital, not just for fun, but for building confidence, trust, and a sense of community.

We’ll aim to do more outings like this in the future, offering variety and enjoyment alongside our educational and mentoring work.

Community Corner

At Phoenix, we believe in supporting the whole person, not just education, but well-being, personal growth, and community connections. That’s why as well as offering training and qualifications, we continue to provide access to mental health, financial, and support resources for those who may need them.

Whether it’s guidance for addiction support services, help navigating financial or benefit advice, or signposting to confidential helplines, we want everyone in our community to know they’re not alone, and support is always available.

We encourage anyone who needs support, or knows someone who might, to reach out, either to us directly, or to the relevant support services listed on our website.

Coming Up In December

  • Festive Activities & Community Events: Keep an eye out for announcements about family socials, festive trips, and holiday-themed get-togethers!

  • New Phoenix Programmes Launch: We’re planning to roll out our latest learning and support programmes in December. More details coming soon!

  • Partnership Opportunities: We’re exploring new collaborations to expand our reach in the community. If you or your organisation are interested, feel free to contact us via the details on our website!

CEO Update - November Highlights

November has been a dynamic and productive month for our Executive Director, Emma Shaw, as she continued to lead and shape the future of Phoenix Education Centre NI. Early in the month, Emma hosted and facilitated our cyber-security event at Avoniel Leisure Centre. This was an important opportunity to raise awareness about online safety, helping young people and families build essential knowledge around digital wellbeing and protection.

Throughout the month, Emma also met with several local schools to discuss the development of Phoenix Pathways, our new programme designed to provide more personalised educational and support routes for young people who may be facing barriers in traditional schooling. These meetings have been invaluable in strengthening partnerships and ensuring the programme reflects real need.

Professional development has remained a priority for Emma as well. She participated in training focused on trauma-informed practice and the Solihull Approach, both of which reinforce our organisation’s commitment to compassionate, evidence-based support. Alongside this, she continued to meet with our funders to review progress, explore sustainability, and shape future programmes that align with Phoenix’s long-term vision.

Emma’s dedication to mentorship also continued this month through the Queen’s University Belfast Alumni Programme, where she supports two QUB students as they develop their career pathways and leadership skills. A significant highlight of November was Emma’s presentation to the Northern Ireland Assembly Education Committee at Stormont, where she was joined by two of our Phoenix participants. This provided an opportunity to share firsthand experiences, advocate for our young people, and highlight the importance of inclusive, community-based education.

Emma’s work this month reflects her ongoing commitment to ensuring Phoenix remains a forward-thinking, community-rooted organisation, one that listens, adapts, and continues to uplift the children, young people, and families we serve.

November Highlights at Phoenix Education Centre NI

This month has been an inspiring one, filled with progress, connection, and community spirit. Here’s a look at what we achieved together throughout November:

  • 👟 90.57 miles walked  promoting health, wellbeing, and connection.

  • 🧒 893 young people engaged, participating in a range of learning, support, and enrichment activities.

  • 👩‍🍼 35 young mums attended our weekly support sessions, building confidence and community.

  • 🧠 17 counselling and therapeutic sessions delivered, offering vital emotional and mental-health support.

  • 👶 28 crèche spaces provided, enabling parents to access programmes and services.

  • 🏠 150+ families supported through the Phoenix Community Hub.

  • 🎉 5 drop-in youth club sessions delivered, giving young people a safe and fun place to connect.

Thank you to everyone, participants, staff, volunteers, and partners, who helped make these achievements possible. Together, we continue to make a meaningful difference in our community.

Thank You & How To Stay Involved

A huge thank you to everyone who continues to support Phoenix Education Centre NI, our young people, families, staff, volunteers, partners, and wider community. Your energy, kindness, and commitment are what make our work possible every single month.

There are lots of ways to stay connected and involved:

  • 📣 Follow our updates – Stay up to date with upcoming programmes, events, and success stories across our social media channels.

  • 💛 Spread the word – Share our work with friends, family, and colleagues. Awareness helps us reach even more young people and families.

  • 🎁 Support our initiatives – From donating resources to partnering with us on community projects, every contribution helps strengthen our impact.

  • 📬 Get in touch – Want to collaborate, volunteer, or learn more about what we do? We’d love to hear from you.

Together, we’re building a stronger, more supported community and we’re grateful to have you with us on the journey.

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