- PCC on 01437 775710/ enquiries@pembrokeshire.gov.uk
- Or the Phoenix Centre on 07879382771/ phoenixcentre@live.co.uk
- Visit the Vacancies page
Local footballer Ryan Thomas is on the last lap of his training programme for the first Iron Man championships to be held in Wales in Tenby on 11th September 2011– and it’s all in aid of the Phoenix Project – the new Community Centre serving Goodwick, Fishguard and the surrounding area.
The daunting event includes swimming 2.4 miles, cycling 112 miles, followed by a marathon 26-mile run; all to be completed within 17 hours.
Ryan has been in training for the past year, and the last 4 months has seen his training increase to 20 hours a week.
We now appeal to you to match Ryan’s commitment with cash sponsorship toward the new Phoenix Community Centre, being built on the site of the old Fishguard & Goodwick Sports Club.
If your business or organisation would like to sponsor the Phoenix Iron man please fill in the slip below and it return to: 110 Harbour Village, Goodwick, SA64 0E8
Foremost in the Phoenix Centre’s current plans is the recruitment of a manger and staff; along with efforts to raise the last tranche of funding to furnish and equip the centre in time for a September opening.
The project is being assisted in its staff recruitment by Collaborative Communities, a European Union and Welsh Assembly Government funded initiative that assists the development of social enterprises. Collaborative Communities, which is based in Pembrokeshire County Council’s Community Regeneration Unit, will oversee the recruitment process for a new manager that the project would like to appoint before the centre’s opening. The Centre will then expand its workforce to meet the anticipated rising demand for the centre’s catering and bar services, cleaning, maintenance, marketing, youth services and functions.
PCC Community Regeneration Manager Sinead Henehan said ‘the Phoenix Project is a model social enterprise that will deliver much needed sporting and community facilities to the area. Alongside the well-established teams of volunteers that the project continues to successfully engage the new centre will also generate a number of jobs for the area. We are therefore only too pleased to help the project in its efforts to recruit the best available staff and to provide an independent element to that process. ’
John Deason, chairman of the management committee said ‘we are setting up a social enterprise company structure, allied to charitable status; such to ensure the centre is on a sound footing for its long term future. Such an enterprise will require professional staff and willing volunteers. We are also processing our last tranche of capital funding bids in order to furnish and equip the centre to its full potential. With a manager in post we will then finalise opening plans that will include guest sporting fixtures, special community open days and a formal opening ceremony. It has taken 3 years of hard work to get from the drawing board to this exciting new build – now the real task and even heavier work load begins!’
Applications for the post of Manager are advertised in this paper’s jobs section; for an application pack please call Pembrokeshire County Council’s Customer Contact Centre on 01437 775710 or send an enquiry to enquiries@pembrokeshire.gov.uk. Or you can download the Job Description and Application form below.
Phoenix Centre Job Application Form
The picture shows, left to right:
Ken Smyth (Enzos Construction), Tom Kinver (Phoenix Project Architect), John Deason (Chairman Phoenix Project), Kevin Doolin (PCC Social Enterprise Officer) – on the balcony of the new Community Centre
Enzos Construction – the builders of the Phoenix Centre – have received top marks from the prestigious Considerate Contractors Scheme.
The scheme’s inspectors check construction sites across the UK for their safety, good neighbourliness, cleanliness, environmental impact, responsibility and accountability.
In all categories Enzos’ Phoenix Centre site scored in the top 10% margin; with an overall score of 34 from a maximum of 40. This is one of the highest scores in Wales and automatically qualifies the site and its contractors for a place in the UK Annual Awards.
John Deason, Chairman of the Phoenix Project congratulated Enzos on their “well-deserved, award winning report.
“We continue to enjoy excellent relations with the contractors, who throughout have contributed over and beyond the stipulated minimum,” he said.
“They have for example worked with us to trim costs. They have also given us added value by using spare topsoil to create a new rugby training area, crushed concrete from the old building to lay tennis court foundations and exploited the laying of ground source heat pump pipes to better drain the cricket outfield.
“They have latched on to the community enthusiasm for the project and responded accordingly – and on top of that they are on schedule to complete the new build by September!”
The Phoenix Centre management committee is now working with Enzos, to plan preview site visits in May for representatives of community groups wanting to use the new Centre.
Russell Jones, Secretary of the Phoenix project said, “As the opening date for the new Centre approaches we are finalising agreements with key user groups and we are also applying for charitable status, which will help secure the centre for the community over the long term.” He also thanked the Wales Cooperative Centre and local solicitors V.J. G. Johns & Son for their freely given legal advice.
If you would like to help the Phoenix Centre please contact John Deason at deason.j@hotmail.co.uk or telephone 07774 900139.
Plans for the new multi-use community centre on the grounds of the old Fishguard and Goodwick Sports Club, has been given a substantial boost from South Hook LNG.
The Phoenix Community Centre will provide a multi-use facility in North Pembrokeshire, providing a new home for Fishguard and Goodwick’s existing Sports Association, which includes the twin towns’ football, cricket, tennis, squash and rugby clubs. The new facility will also be the venue for a number of educational classes, toddlers’ playgroups, arts clubs and musical groups – creating a unique centre that will be able to accommodate the needs of the entire community.
South Hook has contributed £10,000 towards the development of an outdoor multi-use games area that will include flood-lit tennis courts and 5-a-side football training area. Director & General Manager of South Hook, Mohammed Al Naimi is “delighted that the Company is able to support the development of such a valuable community resource.”
“The project will give the community of North Pembrokeshire a tangible asset and it’s been important to us to have given our support to communities in this part of the County” he said.
Chair of Fishguard & Goodwick Sports Club and its Phoenix Community Centre project, John Deason commented, ‘we are now on the last lap of raising sufficient funds to complete the Phoenix Community Centre complex, in time for next summer’s opening. South Hook’s generous support is a major boost to those efforts. We are particularly grateful that such a prestigious company is supporting a community project in rural North Pembrokeshire. The courts and multiuse games area will be a key component for the projects sports clubs and for local youth services. It will also add to our capacity to host a Community Olympiad in 2012.’
The Phoenix Community Centre is due to be completed by September 2011 and will provide a much needed facility for some 70 community groups and sports clubs; benefitting over 4000 people in the area.
Our fundraising effort is now on its last lap. We need to raise the last £100,000 to fully equip and furnish the Centre and to landscape its surroundings.
Please would you or your organisation therefore consider making a contribution – either to the general fund or in support of a specific element of the project?
If you would like to support the Phoenix Project or have any suggestions please contact us…
By email: phoenixcentre@live.co.uk
By post: Phoenix Project, C/o Fishguard & Goodwick Sports Club, Wern Road, Goodwick, Pembrokeshire, SA64 OAA
By telephone: 07774 900139
The Phoenix Centre has taken a major step forward with the appointment of a contractor.
Enzo’s Construction Ltd has been awarded the contract to build the new community centre.
Work on demolishing the Fishguard & Goodwick Sports Clubhouse will begin early next month with the new building expected to be complete in time for the start of the 2011/12 winter sports season.
The new building, which will be built on the site of the existing sports clubhouse, will act as a community hub for Fishguard and Goodwick and will also include new sports changing facilities and function rooms.
Ron Cobley, Commercial Manager of Enzo’s Construction said the company was delighted to win the construction contract for the innovative community centre and sports clubhouse.
“We will be working closely with the project’s management team to deliver the new centre on time,” he said.
“I have nothing but admiration for the community effort, which has been involved in raising the funding for the new centre. As a company we are proud to be part of it.”
John Deason, Chairman of Fishguard & Goodwick Sports Club, said that the new centre was expected to be completed within 15 months – in time for the start of the 2011/12 football and rugby seasons.
“Our priority over the next year is to raise a further £85,000 to cover the funding shortfall. We are into the final phase of a marathon effort; the challenge is to raise the last £85,000 while the new centre is being built and in time for its completion – and like a real Marathon race, the last mile is often the hardest!’
The project has already raised over £1.3 million and has benefited from an unprecedented community fundraising effort including free professional services from local Chartered Architectural Designer Tom Kinver and his Design Team; which includes Keith Pearce (Quantity Surveyor), Mike Sauro (Mechanical & Electrical Engineer) and John Brailsford (Structural Engineer).
The project has also benefitted from major cash commitments from the local Rugby, Goodwick Football, Brass Band, Tennis and Cricket clubs; while the popular ‘Buy-a-Brick’ scheme continues to raise funds.
Underpinning this community effort has been the success of two large grant applications to the Big Lottery (£500,000) and to the Welsh Assembly Government (£490,000). Additionally a Pembrokeshire County Council grant of £50,000 is anticipated, while Fishguard & Goodwick Town Council has, to date, contributed £3,000.
The project’s Management Committee meets later this week and will be announcing a range of new fundraising initiatives. Foremost among these plans will be the forthcoming Preseli Bluestone Challenge organised by the Fishguard, Cardigan and Haverfordwest Rotary Clubs. Fishguard Rotary Club has dedicated their fundraising from this event to the new Phoenix Centre. For more details of the Bluestone Challenge go to www.preselibluestonechallenge.com
On Friday 12th February thirty young people from Fishguard Youth Club took part in a 12 hour Sponsored Stay Awake at the Popworks Youth Centre.
They started their challenge at 8:00pm and finished the task at 8:00am in the morning.
To keep everyone awake the young people organised a number of activities and cooked different foods throughout the night.
It was a very successful night with all young people completing the task of staying awake for 12 hours.
The young people raised a very good sum of £458.49 which they have decided to donate to the RNLI in Fishguard and the upcoming Phoenix Community Centre in Goodwick.
Stephen Lewis, Community Youth Worker for Fishguard and Goodwick said “It is great to see the young people of Fishguard and Goodwick supporting the Phoenix Centre. Once completed the Phoenix Centre will provide the young people with a great venue. The youth club is very excited by the prospects it will bring the young people of Fishguard and Goodwick.”
The Phoenix Project is very grateful and has thanked the young people for their achievement they will be presented with a cheque on Thursday 4th March at the Youth Centre.
Local Rotary members are backing the Phoenix Project.
Fishguard and Goodwick’s Rotary Club has organised a Rotary Race Night to help raise funds for the community project.
The annual Race Night, which is one of the club’s biggest fundraising events, will be held at the Fishguard Bay Hotel on Friday March 26th.
Club President, Nigel Owen, said the Club applauded the efforts of local sports clubs – supported by hundreds of residents – to build a community centre on the site of the old sports clubhouse.
“It is, as far as I can recall, one of the largest joint community fundraising initiatives to be undertaken in our area. Our Rotary Club is only too pleased to put our fundraising resources behind such a worthy initiative.’
Lorraine O’Brien, who heads up the Phoenix project’s fundraising team said the Race Night was a welcome boost
“Although we have won considerable grant aid, we still need to continue the drive for funds to meet the shortfall between grants committed and the final cost.
“The Rotarians timing could not be better. The old sports club will shortly be demolished and the contractors will then be on site for 15 months – giving us 15 more months to put in one last fundraising effort.
“We have now exhausted all possible grant sources; the remainder has got to be made up of local fundraising efforts like that of the Rotary Race night.
“I would like to thank the Rotary for their kind offer. It is gratifying to have such an experienced fundraising organisation on board and I urge all our supporters, who are not a member of one of the clubs supporting the Race Night to come along and join us for the evening.”
Tickets for the Race Night are available in advance from Richard Goswell 01348 873 733 and will not be available on the night. If you wish to support the event in any way please contact a Rotarian.
Everyone is invited to come along and join the fun while at the same time supporting a worthy local cause.
The new drawings for the Phoenix Project are now up on the webiste. Please click on the page “Drawings” to view all the pictures.
