Phoenix Education Centre NI - December 2025 Newsletter
December marked a meaningful and reflective close to another busy year at Phoenix Education Centre NI. As always, the final month of the year brought a balance of continued delivery, strategic engagement, festive connection, and well-earned celebration. From strengthening partnerships and influencing policy to celebrating with staff and community, December captured the spirit of what Phoenix is all about: people, progress, and purpose.
Spotlight: Christmas Work Do
Our annual Christmas work do was a highlight of the month and a chance for the Phoenix team to come together outside of our day-to-day work. This year, we celebrated at The Northern Wig, enjoying a relaxed and festive atmosphere that gave everyone the opportunity to reflect on the year’s achievements and reconnect as a team.
The night ended on a high note with karaoke, where staff embraced the fun, showed their confidence, and reminded us all of the strong sense of togetherness that runs through Phoenix. It was a well-deserved celebration of a year filled with hard work, commitment, and impact.
Community Corner
Community remains at the heart of everything we do at Phoenix Education Centre NI, and December provided many opportunities to strengthen those connections. Throughout the month, we continued to engage with learners, partners, and local organisations, ensuring that our work remained responsive and grounded in real community need.
The festive period also allowed us to work alongside partners to support Christmas-focused activities and events, helping to create positive, inclusive spaces at a time of year that can be challenging for many. We are proud of the relationships we have built and deeply grateful to everyone who continues to work alongside Phoenix to support learners and families.
December Highlights at Phoenix Education Centre NI
December may be a shorter work month, but it was full of meaningful activity across the organisation. We continued to deliver learner-focused education and support, while also taking time to reflect on progress made throughout 2025. Partnership work remained a key focus, with strong engagement across education, community, and statutory sectors.
Alongside programme delivery, December provided space to celebrate successes, recognise contributions, and prepare for the year ahead. The commitment of our staff, partners, and learners ensured that Phoenix ended the year with momentum, purpose, and optimism.
CEO Update – December Highlights
December was a particularly busy and impactful month for our CEO, with extensive engagement across education, employment, policy, and community sectors. During the month, meetings took place with employers to strengthen pathways and opportunities for learners, alongside meaningful input into the Department of Education Curriculum Review to ensure that the value of community-based education was reflected at policy level. Phoenix’s work and impact were also presented to Belfast City Council, highlighting the organisation’s role in supporting learners and communities.
Engagement with higher education partners continued through work with Ulster University and the Boys Impact Hub, as well as ongoing support for Queen’s University mentees. December also included a visit from Baroness Ruth Anderson from the House of Lords, providing an opportunity to showcase Phoenix’s work at a national level. Liaison with key stakeholders, including social services, schools, and other statutory agencies, remained a priority, ensuring joined-up working and collaboration. The month concluded with attendance at several events, including the British-Irish Secretariat Christmas event at the Titanic Hotel, alongside the coordination of Christmas events delivered in partnership with our valued collaborators.
S.T.A.B.L.E Programme
The S.T.A.B.L.E programme is designed to support tenants and build lasting engagement within local communities. It provides practical guidance, encouragement, and tailored support to tenants of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE), helping individuals to maintain their tenancies and improve overall wellbeing.
Through STABLE, tenants can access advice, support, and opportunities to strengthen their skills and confidence, while also building positive, long-term connections within their community.
If you would like to find out more about the STABLE programme or are interested in taking part, please contact Claire at Phoenix Education Centre on 028 9068 0421.
Coming Up in January 2026
January marks a fresh start and the return to full programme delivery across Phoenix Education Centre NI. The new year will see learners re-engage with their programmes, alongside continued partnership working and strategic planning across the organisation.
We will be building on the successes of 2025, exploring new opportunities for collaboration, and maintaining our focus on delivering high-quality, inclusive education and support. We look forward to welcoming learners, partners, and staff back as we begin another productive year together.
Thank You & How To Stay Involved
As we close out 2025, we want to extend a sincere thank you to everyone who has supported Phoenix Education Centre NI throughout the year. From learners and staff to partners and funders, your trust, collaboration, and commitment make our work possible.
There are many ways to stay involved in 2026, by following our work on social media, keeping up to date through our website, partnering with us on projects, or supporting our programmes. From all of us at Phoenix, we wish you a peaceful Christmas and a positive, hopeful New Year.