Youth groups play a unique and valuable role, providing healthy, positive activities for young people that increase health, wellbeing, aspiration and engagement levels; youth groups also provide a space for young people to be themselves and explore new activities with their friends. With the help and support of John Lyon’s Charity, over the last three decades youth clubs across the Charity’s Beneficial Area have thrived and delivered high quality, innovative youth work to vast numbers of young people. One example of this is the work of musical youth group – Phoenix Rising.
In 1996, Phoenix Rising was known as St Michael’s Youth Project which delivered educational, musical, personal development, sport and leadership activities for young people to help improve their life chances and help them recognise and seize opportunities. St Michael’s Youth Project became best known for its steel pan band but provided a range of other fantastic activities to support children and young people within the community. The youth group became an essential asset to the borough of Brent. However, despite its successes, the trustees of St Michael’s Youth Project had to officially close in 2017.
Patrick McKay, Founder of Phoenix Rising, said: “When St Michael’s Youth Project closed the young people said no, and I think I was more than duty bound to continue in the form of Phoenix Rising. The name was taken from a speech that was given by one of our young people in defiance to this decision. That statement was: “We may be down, but we are not out. We may seem defeated or beaten, but we will never be defeated. And like the phoenix from the ashes, we will arise”. And that’s where we got our name from. We were clear about why we were doing this. And so, that transition from St Michael’s Youth Project to Phoenix Rising wasn’t just clear to our young people, but it was clear to the community as well.”
When Phoenix Rising was officially born, Patrick worked around the clock with a pool of talented, locally based, youth workers and teachers, all of whom had been doing community and youth work in Brent for over 20 years. Although based in Brent, mainly operating within the NW10 postcode area, Phoenix Rising also now works with children and young people across Brent and neighbouring boroughs. The Youth Club has grown by developing an excellent reputation for high quality delivery and has gained a large amount of recognition and respect from the local community. It has also formed relationships with other local and statutory agencies through the projects and activities, accessible and relevant to local need and ultimately run for the benefit of local children and the wider community.
John Lyon’s Charity has always been a firm supporter of Phoenix Rising’s work (and its predecessor, St Michael’s Youth Project), granting over £425,000 since 2004. Patrick continues: “It’s hard to describe what JLC’s funding has meant to Phoenix Rising – simply look at our achievements over the past few years and how cohesive our community engagement activity has been. Not only that, look at the successful outcomes achieved during this period and the impactful change in our community. Our relationship has grown to be one that is strong, respectful, supportive and celebratory, our success is JLC’s success.”
Over the past 10 years, 300+ children and young people have now completed University or gone into gain full employment having participated in activities at Phoenix Rising. This is due to the continuity of support made available through John Lyon’s Charity and its funding Phoenix Rising has also been recognised and commended, winning awards such as Best Band on the Road, Best Conventional Band and Best Youth Band at the Notting Hill Carnival, as well as receiving the Pride of Brent Award. Patrick himself was awarded a special award by the Mayor of Brent in 2023, acknowledging his exceptional work and commitment to the community. However, Patrick has always remained humble when talking about his experience with both St Michael’s Youth Project and Phoenix Rising, saying: “It’s not about me. That’s the bottom line. I am pleased, I am thrilled. On occasion I’ve received awards and some recognition, but it’s never been about me. It has and will always be about our children and our young people. And when a community can simply celebrate the successful outcomes of our young people. Then that’s it for me. I’m happy.”
John Lyon’s Charity is very well aware that despite his modesty, projects like Phoenix Rising simply do not happen without an inspirational leader like Patrick, motivating others to get involved, encouraging funders to offer support and engaging with the wider community to deliver a high-quality offer for young people.
It’s been incredibly inspiring and brave to see Phoenix Rising rise from the ashes from St Michael’s Youth Project and stand on its own two feet. John Lyon’s Charity wanted to be a part of its journey because it was clear the journey was worth investing in. In the words of Beethoven – “music can change the world” and Phoenix Rising is on track to do just that.