Council & Community Links
The University's strategic aims include
working with the City of Sunderland and partners to raise the profile of the
City and the University and working with regional stakeholders to ensure
equality and promote diversity.
The University is a member of the Local
Strategic Partnership, the objectives of which include the creation of a more
prosperous, culturally inclusive City. Through groups such as Community Cohesion
and Capacity Building, we are working with local partners to help build a
confident city where differences are valued, there is a shared sense of
belonging, and people from all communities feel able to play a positive role in
developing Sunderland's vision for the future.
The University has had discussions with the Council in order to stress the importance of reducing the fear of crime in their efforts to ensure that the City is a welcoming and tolerant one in which to study and live. Some of our international students have met with Council and Local Partner organisations to provide an insight into student life and experience.
Creating Inclusive Communities
As an active partner in the Local Strategic Partnership and the Community Cohesion Group, the University played an integral role in formulating and supporting the Creating Inclusive Communities theme of the Sunderland Strategy 2004-07.
This aims for Sunderland to be a city where people from all backgrounds and communities:
- Have equality of opportunity, where everyone can reach their potential, access similar opportunities and expect good quality of life (Working Towards Equal Opportunities)
- Are respected, valued and celebrated (Working Towards Social Inclusion)
- Feel that they belong to Sunderland, and can develop strong and positive relationships within neighbourhoods and in work, education and leisure (Working Towards Community Cohesion)
- Feel able to participate in community life, be active citizens and play a positive role in developing Sunderland's vision for its future (Working Towards Active Citizenship).
Community & Partnership Videos
The video below is the Visit Sunderland video which is part of the 'Sunderland in a New Light' promotional campaign. The film is four minutes long and is approximately 12.5 Mb in size.
Sunderland Partnership TV Initiative
The University played a major role in the Sunderland Partnership TV initiative (SPTV). This is a network of television screens housed in a variety of locations across the City to keep residents informed of target achievements as set out in the Sunderland Strategy, which promotes the Partnership's long term vision.
Messages are specifically related to crime reduction and community safety, learning, housing, health, creating inclusive communities, economic prosperity, culture and an attractive accessible city. A selection of these videos can be accessed below:
- 5 a day
- Different Colours One Team
- Recycle
- Reducing Carbon Emissions
- Young Asian Voices
- Young People Victims of Crime
The University hosted the filming of three of the information videos that were featured in the SPTV launch.
The first video shows a mass open air Tai Chi event on the roof of the University's National Glass Centre. Participants included primary schoolchildren, the Age Concern Keep Fit Club, and University students and staff. The event was covered extensively by the region's media and portrays Sunderland as a cultural, international and healthy city.
The second promoted the healthy city and community cohesion agendas, filmed at the sports centre, and involved Young Asian Voices, a local community organisation with links to the University.
The third portrayed the University and the City as Fairtrade and inclusive, and was filmed at the University coffee bar.
Other Community initiatives include International Women's Day and the North of England Refugee Service.
