Principles met

  • We will develop systems that enable citizens to be equal partners in designing and commissioning public services and in determining the use of public resources.
  • We will embrace innovation in how we work with local communities to drive positive change.
  • In exploring new ways of meeting the priority needs of our communities we will encourage models, such as co-operatives and mutuals, which give greater influence and voice to staff and users. in designing and commissioning public services and in determining the use of public resources.

Sunderland City Council (SCC), has for many years worked in partnership with Sunderland’s Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS), most recently to support the delivery of Community Covid Hubs, Covid Champions, Household Support funds and provision of Warm Spaces across the city during the ongoing cost of living crisis. The voluntary sector’s funding grows those organisations’ capacity to ensure they can be active within communities and deliver, or enhance the delivery of, essential local services and activities to meet the needs of the most vulnerable within our communities.

Supporting residents who continue to live with the after-effects of the covid pandemic compounded by the cost-of-living crisis, and in doing so, those organisations are helping to grow the wider community support programme and social prescribing offer in the city. Tackling health inequalities and the wider determinants of health in the heart of communities. The Social prescribing model in Sunderland is not all about the GP prescribers and link workers but about the ‘offer’ and growth of capacity available within communities to enable residents to access the support and for those with additional support needs via the help of the prescriber/link worker.

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