Phoenix Centre in Sandwich closing after Covid pandemic lockdowns
16:14, 01 February 2021
updated: 14:11, 02 February 2021
A community hub has become another economic victim of the pandemic.
The Phoenix Centre in Sandwich is shutting down due to loss of income following the three lockdowns over the last year.
A statement on its Facebook page said: "With much regret the Phoenix Centre's trustees have decided that we will be not re-open after much soul searching and hard work after the end of the latest lockdown.
"Like many venues, businesses both small and large, we have struggled to remain viable in the face of the Covid pandemic and the resultant lockdowns.
"We never dreamed that we would face this situation; who did? We have fought very hard for the last year to secure funding and support to remain open."
The trustees said that despite grants from groups such as councils the centre's income had tumbled and it was now down to 10% of its pre-pandemic hirings.
The trustees will wind up the charity and return the building to the control of its owners, Dover District Council.
The council and all hire groups were weeks earlier told of the closure.
Trustees explained that the shutdown has had to happen despite funding from central government and grant-giving trusts.
There was even money from Sandwich's Tollbridge Fund, from where surplus cash goes to local causes.
The trustees expressed gratitude for all the support, including from DDC and Kent County Council
The statement concludes: "We hope that this award-winning building can be given a new lease of life in the future when we as a nation have got through this terrible crisis.
"With sincere best wishes to you for the future, please stay safe."
A spokesman for Dover District Council said “We can confirm that we are set to take back possession of the Phoenix Centre in Sandwich at the request of the trust running it.
“This was a decision taken by the trust, and we are reviewing future use of the site.
“The centre was let at a peppercorn rent.”
The Phoenix Centre, in Jubilee Road, has won awards such as Village Hall of the Year.
Groups that have hired space there including Slimming World, Sure Start and the Food Bank plus people running yoga and pilates classes and children’s parties.
The building began as Sandwich Youth and Community Centre in 1967, opened by Sandwich Town Council.
The Phoenix has been run in its present form since 2004.
Over a phased period, from 2006 to 2010, the building was refurbished and extended.
During that time, in 2009, the management got £350,000 from the Big Lottery Fund to make it more eco-friendly.
