About Us
Who we are
Phoenix Enterprises is a Swindon-based mental health and learning disability charity and social enterprise, established in 2002. Each year, we provide a vital safety net for over 100 vulnerable adults who face significant barriers to employment, independence and social inclusion.
At the heart of Phoenix is a real working warehouse, where people undertake meaningful commercial work in a safe, supportive and inclusive environment. Alongside this, we provide individual, holistic support to improve confidence, wellbeing, life skills and employability, helping people to lead happier, healthier and more independent lives.
Our small, experienced team builds strong, trusted relationships with each individual. By working so closely with people, we are often able to identify changes in their mental or physical health at an early stage, helping them access appropriate support before problems escalate.
For many of the people we support, Phoenix is their only consistent social contact and a place where they feel valued, understood and part of a community.
Mission Statement
To alleviate poverty and reduce social exclusion by improving the wellbeing, independence and employment opportunities of adults in Swindon with mental health conditions and learning disabilities, through meaningful work experience and holistic support.
What we do
The people who attend Phoenix have a wide range of mental health conditions, learning disabilities and additional support needs. Many face multiple challenges, including social isolation, low confidence, poor physical and mental health, financial difficulties and significant barriers to employment.
Most are referred to us by GPs, mental health professionals, social care teams and other support organisations. Some attend for a relatively short period as they rebuild their confidence and move towards employment or other opportunities. Others need the stability, routine and support that Phoenix provides over many years.
Our approach is individual, practical and person-centred. We recognise that everyone has different abilities, aspirations and challenges, and we work alongside each person to help them achieve their own goals.
Meaningful work and a sense of purpose
Phoenix is a real workplace, not a training room or traditional day centre. Our people undertake genuine commercial hand-assembly, packaging and production work for businesses, making a valuable contribution to the income that helps sustain their charity.
This work provides structure, routine, responsibility and a sense of achievement. It helps people develop practical skills, improve concentration, work alongside others and experience the satisfaction of contributing to something worthwhile.
Just as importantly, Phoenix provides a welcoming community where people build friendships, develop social skills and feel accepted and valued.
Holistic support and independent living
We recognise that improving someone’s employability or wellbeing often means addressing wider challenges in their life. Our small, experienced team builds trusted relationships with individuals, providing practical and emotional support tailored to their circumstances.
This includes:
- Mental health and wellbeing: Providing day-to-day emotional support, helping people manage anxiety, build resilience and develop healthier routines.
- Physical health and healthy living: Encouraging exercise, healthy eating and participation in activities that improve both physical and mental wellbeing.
- Financial inclusion: Helping people understand and manage their finances, access benefits and address financial difficulties.
- Health and social care: Liaising with GPs, mental health professionals, social workers and other agencies to ensure people receive appropriate support.
- Housing and independence: Supporting individuals with housing concerns, landlord disputes and the practical challenges of independent living.
- Social inclusion: Creating opportunities to develop friendships, participate in community activities and reduce loneliness and isolation.
- Personal development: Building confidence, communication, teamwork, problem-solving skills and self-esteem.
Pathways into employment
For those who are able and wish to work, Phoenix provides a stepping-stone towards sustainable paid employment.
Many of the people we support have been out of work for years, while others have never had a job. Traditional recruitment processes and workplace expectations can present overwhelming barriers, even when individuals have the ability and motivation to succeed.
We help bridge this gap by:
- Providing genuine work experience in a supportive commercial environment.
- Developing workplace skills, reliability, timekeeping, communication and teamwork.
- Building confidence and helping individuals recognise their own abilities.
- Supporting job searches, applications, CV writing and interview preparation.
- Providing references and ongoing encouragement.
- Working with employment support organisations and local employers to identify suitable opportunities.
- Helping employers understand disability, overcome misconceptions and make reasonable adjustments.
- Supporting individuals as they move into employment, helping them settle into their roles and sustain their progress.
Our growing partnerships with local employers, including Amazon, demonstrate what can be achieved when businesses are willing to adapt their recruitment and working practices. Through supported employment opportunities, shorter working hours, tailored inductions and ongoing support, people who might otherwise have been excluded from the workplace are successfully moving into paid employment.
We are building on this approach by developing further employer partnerships, creating repeat opportunities for people to progress from Phoenix into sustainable work.
Helping everyone achieve their potential
Success means different things to different people. For some, it is securing their first paid job, gaining financial independence or moving into their own home. For others, it is having the confidence to leave the house, make a friend, attend regularly, manage their mental health or simply feel that they belong.
We believe every one of these achievements matters.
Our focus is always on what people CAN DO, rather than what their disability means they cannot do.
By combining meaningful work, trusted relationships, practical support and opportunities for progression, Phoenix helps people overcome barriers, recognise their own worth and build more fulfilling lives.
We want everyone who comes through our doors to have the opportunity to learn, contribute, develop and achieve, regardless of the challenges they face.
Outcomes
In the year to 31 March 2026 107 people attended Phoenix. Our impact goes far beyond the warehouse. Through meaningful work, individual support and strong community partnerships, we help people improve their wellbeing, build friendships, gain independence and achieve things they may once have thought impossible.
- 84% felt calmer and less anxious, 72% reported improved mental health and 63% improved physical health.
- We provided a safe, supportive environment where people could build confidence, manage anxiety and improve their wellbeing.
- We accompanied individuals to GP, hospital and mental health appointments, helping them access appropriate care and treatment.
- We carried out regular wellbeing assessments, identifying concerns and taking action where additional support was needed.
- We encouraged healthier lifestyles through healthy eating courses, exercise and activities promoting physical and mental wellbeing.
- 75% felt less lonely, 75% made friends and 75% felt part of a community.
- We provided a welcoming workplace where people attended between one and five days a week, developing friendships, confidence and a sense of belonging.
- For many, Phoenix was their only consistent social contact, providing structure, routine and a reason to leave the house.
- We organised social activities including football, countryside walks, beach trips, visits to Westonbirt Arboretum and seasonal celebrations, helping people build friendships and enjoy new experiences.
- 8 people progressed into paid employment (8%), overcoming significant barriers to entering the workplace.
- 81% felt more confident about progressing into employment, volunteering or training.
- 25 people completed training courses (25%), developing new skills and improving their future opportunities.
- We supported 42% of participants with CV writing, interview preparation, job searches, training opportunities and volunteering placements.
- Through meaningful commercial work, people developed practical skills, reliability, timekeeping, communication and teamwork.
- Our partnership with Amazon created supported pathways into paid employment, with adapted recruitment, shorter working hours, tailored inductions and ongoing support helping people settle into and sustain their jobs.
- We continued developing relationships with local employers to challenge traditional recruitment barriers and create further opportunities for sustainable employment.
- 88% felt better able to cope with everyday life, reflecting greater confidence and independence.
- We supported individuals at social care meetings and assessments, helping them communicate their needs and secure appropriate support.
- We accompanied people to Jobcentre appointments and DWP assessments, helping them obtain and retain the benefits to which they were entitled.
- We provided practical assistance with housing difficulties, landlord disputes and other complex personal circumstances.
- We offered one-to-one budgeting and financial guidance, helping people manage their money, reduce financial pressures and improve financial stability.
- Through trusted relationships and practical advocacy, we helped people feel more confident, secure and in control of their lives.
- We demonstrated that people with mental health conditions and learning disabilities can make a valuable contribution in a real commercial workplace.
- We worked with local employers, including Amazon, to challenge misconceptions about disability and demonstrate the benefits of inclusive recruitment.
- We helped employers adapt their recruitment, induction and working practices to make employment more accessible.
- We encouraged individuals to recognise their abilities, build confidence and pursue opportunities they may previously have considered beyond their reach.We promoted a culture where everyone was valued for their contribution and potential, rather than defined by their disability.
Promoting Equality and Inclusion
Our people range in age from 18 to over 55, with approximately 70% male and 30% female. We are committed to making Phoenix a welcoming and inclusive environment for everyone, regardless of age, gender or disability. We recognise that women, particularly those with autism and other neurodevelopmental conditions, can face additional barriers to diagnosis and accessing appropriate support. We continue to work with local organisations, including women’s support services, to reach those who may benefit from Phoenix but are not currently accessing our services. Our aim is to ensure that everyone who needs our support has the opportunity to benefit from it.