Editor

Happy New Year to our wonderful community! As we step into 2024, we find ourselves in a period of reflection and preparation, gearing up for an exciting year ahead.

January has been a quieter month for us at the Phoenix Project, giving us the valuable opportunity to plan and envision the future of our initiatives.

This month, I had the pleasure of joining the monthly video call with Nourishing Norfolk, an inspiring session that reaffirmed our commitment to nurturing community welfare and sustainability. Engaging with like-minded individuals and groups continues to fuel our passion and ideas for the Phoenix Project.

Although the anticipated North Norfolk Youth Project Forum meeting was unfortunately cancelled, we remain eager to take part in future meetings. These meetings are a cornerstone of our mission to foster collaboration and support among youth leaders across North Norfolk. Stay tuned for updates on this front, as we are keen to reconvene and share ideas and initiatives that will benefit our youth and wider community.

As we look forward, let’s carry the spirit of collaboration and community into the rest of the year. The quieter moments are often the ones that allow us to plan the most thoroughly and dream the biggest. We’re excited about the projects and partnerships on the horizon and can’t wait to share more with you.

Thank you for your continued support and belief. Together, we’re building something truly special for North Walsham and beyond.

Wishing you all a peaceful and prosperous start to the year.

As the festive lights twinkle and the year draws to a close, we at the Phoenix Group take a moment to reflect on the journey we’ve undertaken over the past twelve months. It’s been a year of challenges and triumphs, of building and growing, and most importantly, of community.

From the initial steps of our project, through the milestones of safety checks, renovations, and community engagement and many other challenges, we’ve moved steadily forward, driven by our vision for a space that brings us all together. Thanks to the dedication of our team, the expertise of partners like Trident Fire Ltd, Kings and Banhams, AMA associates, many others and the support of our community, we’ve made significant progress.

This Christmas, we want to express our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has been a part of this journey. Your support, encouragement, and belief in our mission have been the greatest gifts of all.

As we look ahead to the New Year, we’re excited for the next chapter in our story. With a foundation of solidarity and shared purpose, we’re ready to face the challenges and seize the opportunities that 2024 will bring.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all. Here’s to continuing our journey together, towards a bright and promising future.

In our latest update, we’re focusing on the important strides we’ve made in safety. As we prepare for the future opening of our facilities, ensuring the safety of both our contractors currently working on the project and future visitors remains a top priority.

We’ve worked with Trident Fire Ltd and Kings and Banhams, whose expertise has been instrumental in bringing our safety measures up to standard. This collaboration has led to the successful installation and testing of our fire alarm and detection systems, as well as our emergency escape lighting. These systems have been rigorously checked and have passed all necessary tests, setting a solid foundation for the safety of the building.

The fire alarm and detection equipment are designed to provide immediate alerts, while the emergency lighting ensures that, in the event of a power outage or fire, paths to safety are clearly illuminated. Regular weekly tests are conducted to maintain these systems.

As we continue with the renovations and safety enhancements, we’re mindful of the future community impact our efforts will have. These steps are not just about compliance, but about creating a secure environment for everyone who will walk through our doors.

We look forward to sharing more updates as we progress and thank Trident Fire Ltd and Kings and Banhams for their support in these essential safety initiatives.

In a significant milestone for the Phoenix Group, we are delighted to announce that we have received a Certificate of Completion for a portion of the renovations and transformations undertaken so far. This achievement marks a pivotal moment in our ongoing efforts to revitalise the former Barclays Bank building.

The certificate, issued under the authority of the Building Control Manager, confirms compliance with critical aspects of the Building Regulations 2010 (as amended), particularly concerning fire safety standards. This endorsement reflects our commitment to ensuring the highest safety and regulatory standards are met, acknowledging the hard work and dedication that has gone into reaching this stage.

This milestone is not just a testament to our team’s resilience and dedication but also to the support and patience of our community. As we continue to work on the remaining elements of the project we are reminded of the importance of this centre as a space for connection, creativity, and growth.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone involved in this project, from our diligent team members and contractors to the local authorities and, most importantly, you, our community, for your ongoing support and encouragement. This certificate marks one more step in our collective journey, and we look forward to sharing more updates as we progress further in bringing the full vision of the community centre to life.