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.

Local footballer Ryan Thomas is in training for the 2012 Iron Man championships in Austria – and it’s all in aid of the Phoenix Project.

The daunting event includes swimming two miles and cycling 100 miles, followed by a marathon 26-mile run; all in one day.

The 32 year-old from the Gwaun Valley is taking on the challenge to raise funds for the new community centre to be built at Phoenix Park in Goodwick.

Ryan, whose sporting activities usually revolve around playing football for Goodwick 1st X1, said he had always fancied giving the Iron Man a go as a personal challenge.

“The chance to support the Phoenix Project has clinched my resolve to do it,” he said.

Ryan’s training regime will involve swimming 50 pool lengths three times a week, 50 miles a week of running sessions and cycling over 70 miles per week, for the next 18 months.

And this will be on top of football training sessions on Wednesdays and a match on Saturdays.

Football teammates, family and friends are rallying around to collect sponsorship for Ryan’s efforts and forms are also being promoted by youngsters from the local Youth Club.

If you want to sponsor Ryan and support the Phoenix Project, the forms are available at Fishguard & Goodwick Sports Club or download one here –> Sponsor the Iron Man FORM

Picture

Ryan Thomas with members of Phoenix Project Management Committee

Fun Quiz Night, Friday 20th November at 7.15pm at The Sports Club Goodwick.

Followed by a short Presentation of Club awards for 2009 season.

Compere for the night is Mr.Bill Carne.

Teams of 4 – entry fee £10 per team.

Prize for the Winners!! Return trip to Ireland for a Car and up to 4 people (kindly donated by Stena Line Ltd.) and booby prize for lowest score!

To enter a team please call Sean O’Connor on 01348873081 or just turn up on the night.

A group of Bingo stalwarts have raised £1,000 for the new Phoenix Community Centre.

The Bingo players meet every Monday night at the old sports clubhouse and now plan to carry on raising more for the project.

 Their effort is one of a several fund-raising initiatives by the local community aimed at supporting the Phoenix project.

 Lorraine O’Brien, Fundraising Coordinator for the Phoenix Project said, “Now the Bingo group have raised the first £1,000 we intend pushing on for the next £1,000 and then we’ll be playing for the next £1,000 after that!

 “We play every Monday night and anyone wanting to join us is very welcome; eyes down at 7.30pm with all proceeds going to the new community centre.” 

 She added that Phoenix supporters were also setting up a number of other fundraising initiatives mostly based on the popular Buy a Brick scheme.

 The scheme has already raised over £9,000 in £5 per brick donations from local residents, community groups and businesses.

 “We have got brick sellers operating in a number of areas; alternatively you can now visit our website at www.phoenixcentre.info and purchase bricks direct online,’ she said.

Back Row; Left - Right
 Liz Jones, Lorraine O’Brian, Maureen Maddocks, Ann Reynolds, Mrs B Schorfield, Mrs E Harries

Front Row; Left - Right
 Mrs E bourne, Miss Sian Jones, Mrs Peggy Phillips

Phoenix Community Centre – Public Meeting 

• Friday 16 October
• 7.30 p.m.
• Sports Club, Wern Road, Goodwick. SA64 0AA.

We are delighted to announce that we now have enough funding in place to commence work on the construction phase of the new Phoenix Community Centre project, however fundraising needs to continue to ensure that all future costs can be met.

We will be giving details of how the new Phoenix Centre will operate and further information about the facilities and activities that may be provided. This will also be an opportunity for you to ask questions and to put forward suggestions.

Community fundraising for the project is continuing and please note that you/your Organisation would be very welcome to utilise the Club for fundraising purposes. For further information please ask on the 16^th or contact the Secretary Russell Jones.

We look forward to seeing you on 16^th October.

The Proposed building works

The Existing Club House building, is to be carefully demolished, predominantly with the kind help of expert volunteers.

A new bespoke, modern two storey building is to be built on the existing footprint of the old club house.

The new Phoenix Centre will provide the existing and future users accommodation needs and requirements, by enabling inclusive access and use for all, no matter of age, ability and capacity. The centre will provide the area with a much needed and wanted Community Centre, it will become a focal point and hub for the area, creating and catalyzing community spirit and interaction.

Phoenix Centre Concept

The building has been designed to provide a multi-purpose space, which will be future proofed, enable a huge array of different activities to take place simultaneously within and around the building.

The building design has undergone several evolving adoptions and amendments in response to input from the key stakeholders and community via a number of ongoing dialogues, meetings and presentations.

These groups all had and have specific requirements and needs, including a large multi-purpose room which can be used for a entire raft of things from indoor bowls, to jazz/music events, to wedding functions, to dance and evening classes. There is a commercial grade kitchen for catering, lots of storage so the users have specific and dedicated storage on site for things like judo equipment and mats.

New toilets and changing facilities are provided for the building users, including lots of showers, disabled toilets, baby changing area.

A lift is also included to enable easy circulation through-out the building.

The building has to be easily maintained, sustainable in both construction and running. This also means that future users are not saddled with high energy running costs. The new Centre is therefore designed with this in mind.