Jo Evans, community champion from the Tesco Exeter Vale store and colleagues from the store team went along on the day to hand out a variety of refreshments.

The Wonford Community Centre is a charity that provides activities, clubs and events for the benefit of the local community. Since Devon Youth Services ended the Phoenix Youth Centre had been empty. The Trustees of Wonford Community and Learning Centre have now taken on the lease of the building and made improvements to the premises. The Phoenix Suite now has a central café space and has been made to make it suitable for all ages. The Phoenix Suit will also be utilised as a vital community hub space community groups and organisations able to hire the rooms or the whole suite.

Jo Evans, Community Champion at the Tesco Extra Exeter Vale store, said: “Wonford Community Centre & Learning Centre provides a whole host of events and activities for local people and we were delighted that it has been able to expand with the new addition of the Phoenix Suite.

She added: “The store team really enjoyed being able to donate the refreshments on the day – they went down a treat with everybody!”

Bernice Endacott, who will be overseeing the running of the Phoenix Suite said: “We are really pleased to be opening the Phoenix for such a strong and amazing community. The aim is that the Community Hub will be run for the community by the community.

We would like to thank everyone that supported us in achieving this.”