Enjoying the hospitality of the Phoenix Community Association

Since my election I've made a point of trying to get to as many community group meetings as possible.

They're where you get a real feel for the issues that are on people's minds.

They're also places where you see a tremendous amount of energy from people who are passionate about their community and local environment.

They are part of what makes our city such a dynamic and community spirited place.

A wonderful example of this is the Phoenix Community Association which runs a community centre just off the Level park in central Brighton.

I paid a visit to them last week. It serves residents who live in the Phoenix Community Estate and other people living in the surrounding area.

Built on the site of an old brewery in 1998, the estate has over a hundred properties of mixed size and includes some social housing provided by the Hyde Group.

The Community Association holds regular residents' meetings, making decisions on community issues such as play areas and refuse as well as social events.

The Phoenix Community Centre is a non-profit community run-building which provides low cost space to community groups and organisations.

There are after school activities for children and they also run community projects for the residents of the Phoenix Estate.

Tenants of Phoenix Estate had a big input in the set up of the community centre and are involved in how it is run.

In these times of devastating cuts it's vitally important to fight the corner for those in social housing; I hope the Phoenix Centre and its users will join with other community groups to call for the protection of services for vulnerable people.