Phoenix Education Centre NI - April 2026 Newsletter
April has been another busy and positive month at Phoenix Education Centre NI as we continued supporting young people, families, schools, and communities across East Belfast and beyond. Throughout the month, we remained focused on creating opportunities through education, mentoring, wellbeing support, and community engagement.
We continued delivering accredited learning opportunities through our partnership with Open College Network NI, helping learners build confidence, gain qualifications, and develop important life and employability skills. Alongside programme delivery, our team worked closely with tutors to prepare for upcoming programmes and activities that will launch over the coming months.
Partnership working continued to play a huge role in our work during April. We were delighted to welcome our cross-border friends from CityWise to Phoenix, providing an opportunity to share experiences, strengthen relationships, and discuss future collaboration around youth and community work.
April also saw us facilitating visits from a range of key stakeholders and donors who were able to see first-hand the impact of our programmes and the positive work taking place within the community. Behind the scenes, our team continued working hard on funding applications and future planning, helping to secure additional multi-annual funding to support the sustainability and growth of Phoenix moving forward.
CEO Highlights - April 2026
April was an exceptionally busy and productive month for our CEO, with a strong focus on leadership, governance, partnership building, programme planning, and strategic development.
Throughout the month, our CEO attended a GCSE panel meeting, participated in governance and audit work, and continued involvement in Tension Monitoring meetings. Significant time was also dedicated to supporting OCN delivery and chairing the Root Causes Subgroup meeting to help plan the future direction of an important project.
Partnership and community engagement remained a major focus, with attendance at SPARC Reflection Day, S & E Housing Community Network meetings, Inner East Neighbourhood Partnership discussions, and meetings with Belfast City Council regarding the Fleadh. In addition, our CEO attended the launch of The Executive Office’s EVAWG delivery plan, participated in Momentum discussions with Belfast City Council, attended an event with the Irish Youth Foundation in the Lord Mayor’s Parlour, and met with the new CEO of East Belfast Mission.
April also provided opportunities to welcome visitors from CityWise and facilitate visits from stakeholders and donors, showcasing the important work Phoenix continues to deliver within the community.
Community Corner
Community connection and collaboration remained central to everything we did throughout April. Our staff and leadership team attended a range of important meetings and events focused on community development, education, wellbeing, and partnership working across Belfast.
We continued engaging in Tension Monitoring meetings and discussions surrounding community safety and local issues, while also participating in the S & E Housing Community Network and Inner East Neighbourhood Partnership meetings. These conversations are vital in ensuring that local voices are heard and that communities continue to receive the support they need.
During April, Phoenix also engaged with Belfast City Council regarding the upcoming Fleadh and participated in wider strategic conversations relating to Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (EVAWG). Our CEO attended the launch of The Executive Office’s new EVAWG delivery plan as well as Momentum discussions with Belfast City Council around the development of their own EVAWG strategy.
We also strengthened relationships with a number of organisations and community leaders this month, including meeting with the new CEO of East Belfast Mission and attending an event hosted in the Lord Mayor’s Parlour alongside the Irish Youth Foundation. These opportunities continue to build strong partnerships that benefit the young people and communities we support every day.
Coming up in May 2026
As we move into May, we are looking forward to another exciting and productive month at Phoenix Education Centre NI. We will continue delivering OCN accredited programmes and working alongside schools to support young people both educationally and emotionally.
Planning is already underway for several upcoming initiatives, projects, and community programmes, and our team will continue engaging with tutors, partners, funders, and local organisations to ensure we can provide meaningful opportunities and support across the community.
We are also looking forward to developing new partnerships and continuing conversations around community wellbeing, inclusion, education, and youth support. Keep an eye on our social media pages for updates, announcements, and opportunities to get involved throughout the month ahead.
Thank You & How To Stay Involved
As always, we would like to thank everyone who continues to support Phoenix Education Centre NI. The dedication of our staff, tutors, volunteers, partners, funders, and community supporters allows us to continue making a positive difference in the lives of young people and families across our community.
Your continued encouragement, collaboration, and belief in our work help us grow stronger every month. Whether you engage with us through programmes, events, partnerships, volunteering, or simply by sharing our work online, your support is greatly appreciated.
We look forward to continuing this journey together and sharing more exciting updates in the months ahead.