Last week the Economic Inactivity Inquiry Panel members visited The Phoenix Centre, Townhill and the Canolfan Centre in Gorseinon. As with the previous site visits, the intention of visiting these two centres was to find out what work is being carried out to promote economic activity and to support the local community.
The Phoenix Centre
This centre was opened in March 2001 by Prime Minister Tony Blair, as the first community economic development centre of its kind in Wales. The aim was for the community development trust to use the building to meet community needs and at the same to time to generate an income.
Notice board for job vacancies
The centre houses a number of conference rooms, which are used by a wide variety of organisations, such as Swansea University, Careers Wales, Foster Swansea and Prince’s Trust Cymru. It also offers many sporting facilities, including a ¾ all weather, floodlit football pitch, as well as an IT Suite (with 15 work stations), a well equipped nursery, a library and a cafeteria, which not only offers low cost meals, but also teaches about nutrition and cooking skills.
The Canolfan Centre
The Canolfan Centre provides a state of the art eco building and is managed by the Gorseinon Development Trust.
It Provides:
- A healthy living café & juice bar
- A full child day care facility
- Spaces for new businesses
- Conferencing facilities
- Community Cinema
- A modern practical arts training facility run by SwanseaCollege.
Both centres actively support the local community and have been driving forces in helping those who are economically inactive to become more active. This has been achieved by providing training, which has enabled service users to go on and seek employment, as well as services and facilities for people to use, to learn new skills, become socially active and to integrate within the community.
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