A vital community centre on the outskirts of the city is "weeks away" from financial collapse.

Leaders of the Phoenix Centre, in Mile Cross Road, have revealed it is in financial crisis and are appealing for help to keep its services open.

An emergency meeting was called last week at the venue, by the chair of the charity, due to its current state.

Norwich Evening News: The Phoenix Centre, in Mile Cross, NR3The Phoenix Centre, in Mile Cross, NR3 (Image: Archant)

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One of the people to attend the meeting was Colin Lang, the former chief executive of Nelson's Journey, who founded the SOS Bus in Norwich.

He said: "Unless funding can be found within the next few weeks the centre is likely to have to close.

"Families queue to receive groceries, food and lunches for their children during the holidays.

"The probability is some children would go hungry if these were not provided.

"So if the centre was to close it would be a disaster for the people of Mile Cross and be greatly missed."

Norwich Evening News: Colin Lang MBE said there's just a matter of weeks to save the Phoenix CentreColin Lang MBE said there's just a matter of weeks to save the Phoenix Centre (Image: Newsquest)

On December 15, 2012, a fire caused £60,000 of damage to the centre, which two schoolboys were later found guilty of starting as a 'schoolboy prank' brought serious consequences. 

In August 2022, the site's emergency foodbank service had to close after its funds ran too low to continue.

Mr Lang set up a JustGiving page to try and help raise £10,000 in order to keep the service open.

Norwich Evening News: The Phoenix Centre has previously been used as a food bankThe Phoenix Centre has previously been used as a food bank (Image: Submitted)

Freddie Bull, treasurer for the charity, added: "Mile Cross is one of the most deprived boroughs in the country, so there's a lot of people who need our help.

"We've always tried to help people, doing the best we can with the resources we have.

"However when energy prices began spiking across the winter period, we sort of knew we'd be in a financial crisis.

Norwich Evening News: The Phoenix Centre on Mile Cross Road was badly damaged in a fire started by two schoolboys, on December 15, 2012The Phoenix Centre on Mile Cross Road was badly damaged in a fire started by two schoolboys, on December 15, 2012 (Image: Steve Adams, Archant)

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"We finance ourselves from donations but because of the current state of things, people just don't have money to donate.

"So with our donations dropping and outgoings rising considerably, we're in the danger zone.

"We'll soon have to start thinking about making some unpleasant choices which we don't want to do."

History of the Phoenix Centre

A campaign for youth facilities that started in 1985 proved successful three years later as a group of local parents opened the Phoenix Centre in Peterson Road.

However, 10 years later the centre was among a raft of community centres facing a cut in funding from the county council.

Norwich Evening News: The Phoenix Centre was based in temporary buildings in Peterson Road in Mile Cross until 2006The Phoenix Centre was based in temporary buildings in Peterson Road in Mile Cross until 2006 (Image: Newsquest)

The Mile Cross Phoenix Children's Project was formed and in August 1998 an agreement was reached for the centre to be handed over to community leaders.

This happened in March 1999 and the project became a registered charity in the same year.

Norwich Evening News: The Phoenix Centre moved to the former Baptist Church in Mile Cross Road in 2006 after raising £500,000 in fundingThe Phoenix Centre moved to the former Baptist Church in Mile Cross Road in 2006 after raising £500,000 in funding (Image: Newsquest)

After successfully becoming established a nine-year campaign to move out of mobile buildings into the former baptist church in Mile Cross Road proved successful.

The former St Marys Sunday School rooms were bought and refurbished with £500,000 in funding as the Phoenix Centre moved to a permanent position in the heart of Mile Cross.