Approved Communities and Place projects

Below are details of the 11 projects being delivered under the Communities and Place Investment Priority. Should you require any further information, please contact us at ukspf@sunderland.gov.uk

Project Name: Sunderland Digital Health Hubs Programme

Delivery Organisation: Sunderland City Council

Delivery Partners: Sunderland City Council on behalf of health, VCS and multiple local partners

In 2025/26, the project will focus on three main workstreams: Strengthen, Establish, and Bespoke.

Strengthen: This involves enhancing five existing Digital Health Hubs (DHHs) by investing in additional mobile digital devices. These devices will facilitate outreach digital sessions in new community buildings, thereby expanding our reach and impact. The Links for Life initiative will continue collaborating with existing providers, encouraging them to reflect on their practices and support successful strategies. Provider network meetings will be maintained to strengthen connections across the system.

Establish: Five new DHHs will be set up in communities with clear needs, ensuring more individuals have access to essential digital health services. Links for Life has successfully created vital connections between VCSE organisations and referrers, such as social prescribers and Adult Social Care. It also promotes collaboration with integrated initiatives in communities of need, like Community Mental Health Hubs, to ensure access to broader community resources.

Bespoke: This initiative targets individuals experiencing or at risk of homelessness, including ex-offenders, young people, and women at risk. It provides tailored support and resources, offering personalised assistance from information and signposting to referrals to Linkworkers whodevelop individualised plans. The project aims to complement support provided to people in supported accommodation and those at risk of homelessness through both commissioned and non-commissioned housing providers, aligning with the Council's Supported Housing Improvement Plan (SHIP).

Contact:

Nicol McConnell (Digital Health Hubs) - nicol.mcconnell2@sunderland.gov.uk

Leah Codner (Links for Life) - leah.codner@sunderland.gov.uk

Weblink: Links for Life Sunderland | Links for Life Sunderland

Project Name: Connecting and Catalysing Our Culture, Creativity and Engagement

Delivery Organisation: Sunderland City Council

Delivery Partners: Sunderland Culture, The Cultural Spring, Minerva Arts and Wellbeing

This cross-sector partnership project will deliver critical investment into the city's cultural, heritage and creative organisations to maximise the impact of transformational investment in culture led regeneration, enable an excellent city-wide offer, and grow participation in local arts, cultural, heritage and creative activities opening up opportunities across all of our communities. 

During 2025/26, partners will deliver a high-quality programme enhancing the cultural offer within the city and its accessibility, increasing engagement and participation levels across the city, opening up cultural and heritage volunteering opportunities, bringing together heritage partners and driving visitors to maximise economic impact.

Contact: Leanne Littlewood - leanne.littlewood@sunderland.gov.uk

Project Name: STEFs Community Hub

Delivery Organisation: Sunderland Training & Education Farm Ltd (STEFs)

Sunderland Training & Education Farm Ltd will continue to deliver a programme of activities, opportunities and events chosen by residents meeting their needs and improving community engagement and cohesion. The activities, opportunities and events will deliver a range of benefits, including signposting residents to benefits, financial, housing and job search support, improving participants' mental health through engagement in exercise and the outdoors, and developing new skills and confidence.

Contact: Jeanette Chapman - stefjc@hotmail.co.uk

Weblink: https://sunderlandfarm.co.uk/

Project Name: The Table @ St George's Community Café & Hub

Delivery Organisation: St George's Church, Fatfield

This project will support the ongoing running and development of the new community café and hub.

The Tableis a community café, providing a warm welcoming, inclusive and safe space for all, serving ethically sourced, high-quality food, love and prayer at 'The Table'. The project aims to show love and grace to everyone and open its doors to the local community and support its needs. Specifically, it aims to support lonely isolated and vulnerable people, by providing a warm place to meet. It will also aim to develop volunteers from all walks of life, whether young, disabled, retired or just interested in helping others. The projectisalsoa digital health hub, offering free Wi-Fi and laptops to use on-site. It will support local schools in their mission to develop young people, not least through modelling low waste and healthy cooking, utilising organic and ethically sourced ingredients where appropriate. The Tableaims to grow as a social enterprise and help people into work as well as employ additional staff once funds allow.

Contact:

Nick Barr-Hamilton - vicar@stgeorgesfatfield.co.uk

Nadine Spence - thetable@stgeorgesfatfield.co.uk

Doug Green - treasurer@stgeorgesfatfield.co.uk

0191 415 4200

Weblink: https://stgeorgesfatfield.co.uk/

Project Name: Mowbray Park - How does your Garden Grow!

Delivery Organisation: Sunderland City Council

Delivery Partners: OASES (Outdoor and Sustainability Education Specialists)

Building on our successful community garden programme, "How does your Garden Grow!" is a new phase to further embed the Mowbray Park Community Garden by expanding into learning and participation. We will drive forward how community gardens can transform urban areas, linking food production, peoples' relationships with food, positive connections and demonstrating how spending time in nature can impact our health and wellbeing.

From April 2025, this intergenerational project will invite communities across Sunderland to engage in a yearlong programme of activity specifically tailored to be interactive and educational providing a fun way to learn about our natural environment and the benefits of nature and growing. This is not a one size fits all programme; we will tailor a growing programme for our varied audiences and design activities that are interactive, participative and joyful. The project will bring together likeminded people with different skills and cultures to offer the next generation of growers a safe, interactive and sustainable green space in the city.

Contact:

Jennie Morris - jennie.morris@sunderland.gov.uk

Trina Murphy - trina.murphy@sunderland.gov.uk

Project Name: Sunniside Animation and Activation

Delivery Organisation: Sunderland Business Improvement District

Building on the original UKSPF initiative, this continuation project aims to sustain Sunniside's transformation into a vibrant, inclusive and safe area within Sunderland city centre. The initiative will drive footfall, dwell time, and investment through cultural and community-driven activities aligned with the Sunderland City Plan. The project will engage and benefit a range of stakeholders, including local residents, businesses, regional visitors, young people, underrepresented groups, and those experiencing social isolation.

Key Activities include:

• Retained Events: Sunniside Food Markets, Lunar New Year, Sunniside Nights, Urban Fest.
• New Initiatives:
  •  'The Social Side of Sunniside' - Strengthening local connections through community engagement.
  •  Frames: Art & Culture Festival - City-wide creative storytelling and artistic interpretation.
  •  Expanded Christmas & Seasonal Installations - Enhancing festive displays to boost local pride.

Expected Impacts:

• Increased Footfall & Dwell Time: Engaging events and activities attracting more visitors and encouraging longer stays.
• Community Cohesion: Inclusive events fostering civic pride.
• Support for Vulnerable Groups: Free, accessible activities increasing cultural participation.
• Enhanced Safety & Wellbeing: Positive activation of public spaces to reduce crime and promote mental and physical health.
• Economic Growth: Increased visitor numbers supporting local businesses and investment.

Contact: Sharon Appleby - sharon.appleby@sunderlandbid.co.uk

Weblink: https://sunderlandbid.co.uk/

Project Name: Strengthening Communities

Delivery Organisation: Sunderland Voluntary Sector Alliance (SVSA)

With transition funding, the SVSA will continue to deliver the Strengthening Communities programme to the VCSE sector across the city of Sunderland. SVSA will continue to work closely with the VCSE sector, offering bespoke information, support and advice in order to sustain their current offer and build services where there is capacity to do so. The revised programme will focus on the following priorities:

• Maintain and grow the number of members and benefits they receive
• Support and upskill the sector with funding applications
• Develop tools for measuring good quality and compliance
• Facilitate the distribution of VCSE sector grants
• Continue to successfully distribute Social Value
• Increase the number of corporate volunteering hours with a focus on specialist skills and support

Key beneficiaries will include all micro, small, medium and large VCSE sector organisations and we will target organisations who have not registered as members.

Contact: Lindsey Hall - contactus@sunderlandvsa.co.uk

Weblink:www.sunderlandvsa.co.uk

Project Name: Cost of Living Support in St Chad's, Silksworth and Barnes

Delivery Organisation: Youth Almighty Project

The project will continue to provide a targeted programme of support to residents in the Silksworth, Barnes and St Chads wards of Sunderland West to address the cost-of-living crisis. Activities will include support with reducing energy costs, promotion of the priority services register, behaviour change, skills development, employment support, access to social activities, winter wellness, listening ear service, budget management, signposting to specialist services, pop up events, and partnership working.

Contact: Joanne Laverick - joanne@youthalmighty.co.uk

01915238000

Weblink: https://youthalmighty.co.uk/

Project Name: Co-Creating Access to Creativity

Delivery Organisation: Theatre Space North East

Theatre Space North East Will work with community, schools and groups across the city to create, celebrate and explore creativity. Supporting access to arts and theatre for the city, without barriers to access. Activities will include free to attend youth and community theatre groups, the summer of Shakespeare, theatre in education work and pop-up performances around the city.

Contact: Corinne Kilvington - corinne@theatrespace.org.uk

07960 838434

Weblink: https://theatrespace.org.uk/

Project name: Sunderland North Youth & Community Choices (SNYCC)

Delivery Organisation: Sunderland Community Action Group

Delivery Partners: Southwick Neighbourhood Youth Project, Northeast Sports and Community Opportunities.

Sunderland North Youth & Community Choices is a project aimed at strengthening current youth provision across the north of the city.  With a shared focus, and by adopting the same systems and values, the partnership aims to deliver a universal, structured service that meets local need.  Young people will gain information, appropriate support and needs-based assistance from a team of dedicated Youth Workers. Young people will be able to access a wide range of enrichment activities, while being encouraged and supported along their journey into adulthood.

Across the north, this partnership project will continue to deliver a wide range of youth provision, providing safe and nurturing spaces that promote personal and social development, social inclusion, community cohesion and growth for positive change.

Lessons and feedback from the project will continue to be shared with youth work projects across the city to enhance and support Sunderland's universal youth offer.

Contact Details:

Richy Duggan - sunderlandcommunityactiongroup@hotmail.com

Jude Britton - judebrit_scag@hotmail.com

Weblink: https://sunderlandcommunityactiongroup.com/

Project Name: Expo Sunderland

Delivery Organisation: Siglion Developments LLP

Delivery Partners: Sunderland City Council

Expo Sunderland will deliver a series of events reflecting the dynamic ambitions, regeneration, and redevelopment of Sunderland City Centre and Riverside Sunderland. The project will continue to build upon the newly established Expo Sunderland brand, raising awareness and knowledge and creating opportunities for businesses and residents to engage in Expo Sunderland and the Riverside Sunderland development.

Contacts:

Marian Chapman - marian.chapman@sunderland.gov.uk

Clair Cogdon - clair.cogdon@sunderland.gov.uk

Weblink: https://www.exposunderland.com/