Partners join forces to help out community
A ground-breaking new partnership has been established to help communities in an area of Sunderland.
Northumbria Police and Sunderland City Council have joined forces with a range of partners across Wearside to launch the SARA Project.
The project will see a number of key organisations and support services work together under one roof in a bid to boost those living and working in Southwick.
SARA – Southwick Altogether Raising Aspirations – aims to tackle issues like crime and disorder, mental health and unemployment.
Based at Austin House on Shakespeare Street, the team will support those who reside in Southwick – from supporting victims of crime to providing education in schools dissuading impressionable teenagers away from a possible life of crime.
Chief Superintendent Sarah Pitt, of Northumbria Police, said: “A lot of hard work h a s go n e i nt o ge tt i n g t h e SARA Project up and running and I’m delighted that the doors are now open.
“We c a re p a s s i o n at e l y about the issues most important to the communities we serve, and this project is all about helping those who live in Southwick by having all the key organisations under one roof so important and real-time decisions can be made effectively to benefit the whole area.”
Southwick councillor Alex Samuels, who is involved with the initiative along with fell ow c ou n c i l l o r s , s a i d : “A s s o m e o n e wh o re p re s e nt s the people of the Southwick ward, I care deeply about this area and want our residents to be proud of where they live. I think this project has the potential to make a real difference to the area.”