Inclusive Communities E-Newsletter - Issue 2

Welcome to the second edition of the Inclusive Communities Newsletter. This bi-monthly e-newsletter is an opportunity for members of the Sunderland Partnership’s Inclusive Communities Group and Independent Advisory Groups to share information and provide updates.

Black History Month

October marks Black History Month and is a remembrance of important people and events in the history of the Africans - from when they were first transported across the globe from Africa. Since 1976, it is celebrated annually in the United States of America and Canada in February and the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland in the month of October.

The remembrance has its roots in 1926 by United States historian Carter G. Woodson as "Negro History Week". When the tradition of Black History Month began, many in mainstream academia had barely begun to explore the history of black people.

Activities that are being held by Sunderland City Council include the following:

• February 23, 1868:
  W. E. B. DuBois, important civil rights leader and co-founder of the NAACP, was born.

• February 3, 1870:
  The 15th Amendment was passed, granting blacks the right to vote.

• February 25, 1870:
  The first black U.S. senator, Hiram R. Revels (1822-1901), took his oath of office.

• February 12, 1909:
  The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) was founded by a group of concerned black and white citizens in New York City.

• February 1, 1960:
  In what would become a civil-rights movement milestone, a group of black Greensboro, N.C., college students began a sit-in at a segregated Woolworth's lunch counter.

• February 21, 1965:
  Malcolm X, the militant leader who promoted Black Nationalism, was shot to death by three Black Muslims.

• November 4, 2008: Barrack Obama won the presidency by winning 365 electoral votes to 173 that McCain received, to become to first ever African-American president.

If you :

• Feel that tensions are building up in the communities you live and work in
• Hear myths or rumours going round about particular groups of people or particular events
• See offensive leaflets or graffiti in your community or area

Please call 0191 561 1978 or email sunderlandarch@sunderland.gov.uk

Even if you are unsure whether what you are feeling or seeing is a tension, please let us know as other people may have reported similar things.

Live real time view of Roker Beach in Sunderland

Seafront Update

In Spring 2009 many groups were involved in the city-wide public consultation to find out what the people who live in, work in and visit Sunderland think should be the vision for the seafront at Seaburn and Roker.

The outcomes of this consultation have informed the preparation of a Seafront Regeneration Strategy, which identifies a vision for both Seaburn and Roker seafront.  The Strategy determines that Seaburn should be a family friendly resort offering indoor and outdoor facilities, whilst Roker should be somewhere to relax and enjoy the natural environment.

Alongside the strategy, a Marine Walk Masterplan was also prepared to offer more detailed planning and design guidance for this area of Roker.  Proposals for the area include a new events space, feature lighting, an interpretation trail and new gates to the Grade II Listed Roker pier. Both documents underwent further public consultation and were adopted in February 2010.

In November 2009 the council was successful in a bid to the Commission of Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE) Sea Change fund and was awarded £1 million. The funding (to which the council added a further £500,000) will be spent on the delivery of the first phase of proposals in the Marine Walk Masterplan.

In July 2010 the public were invited to comment on four design proposals for the Pier gates. The winning design ‘Lightwave’ was chosen and works are due to start on site next year. Further information on the Pier gates and other projects to be delivered through Sea Change Funding can be found at www.sunderland.gov.uk/roker.

Meanwhile for Seaburn, the City’s Area Committees have allocated £142,000 in funding to allow improvements to the promenade. In October work started on site to implement new street furniture and granite edging along the grass banks to create areas of informal seating. In addition £16,000 in funding has been allocated by North Area Committee for the installation of Vehicle Activated Signs along Whitburn Road.

In continuing to promote Seaburn as a tourist destination, a developer is being sought for the conversion of the Seaburn Shelter to provide a high quality café/ restaurant. In addition the Council is offering the use of the former fairground site for hire. Funding has also been secured to refurbish the Cat and Dog steps toilets.

In order to deliver the vision for Seaburn a draft Masterplan has now been prepared, to provide detailed development guidance for the Ocean Park and Seaburn Promenade areas.

The masterplan identifies: 

• A Leisure and Entertainment Core featuring a mix of family friendly tourism and leisure-led uses
• A residential development featuring a linear park to link with the seafront
• Upgrading of existing green space and measures to improve pedestrian and cycle movement
• A new equipped play area
• Public space improvements throughout the masterplan area

The City Council will be consulting on the draft Seaburn Masterplan between 19 October and 29 November 2010.

A number of drop-in sessions where City Council staff will be on hand to discuss your views will be held at:

• Seaburn Centre on 26th October from 8am until 6pm; and 18th November from 11am until 8pm
• Sunderland Aquatic Centre on 2nd November from 8am until 6pm; and

25th November from 11am until 8pm 

• Hetton Centre on 28th October from 9.30am until 7pm; and 8th November from 9.30am until 7pm
• Washington Leisure Centre on 4th November from 8am until 6pm and 16th November from 11am until 8pm

• Sunderland Civic Centre 3rd floor reception during normal office hours

      by appointment, telephone 0191 561 2549.

Comments can be submitted in writing to: Freepost NT3105, Office of the Chief Executive, Seaburn Masterplan, Planning Implementation Room 3.98, Sunderland City Council, P.O. Box 102, Civic Centre, Sunderland, SR2 7DN, by email to implementation@sunderland.gov.uk or by completing an online comment form at www.sunderland.gov.uk/seaburn.  

Further information on the seafront regeneration project can be found online at www.sunderland.gov.uk/seafront.

HM Courts Service
Proposed Closures

On 23 June 2010 the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State, Kenneth Clarke announced the court reform estate programme. A consultation is taking place on closing 103 magistrates’ courts and 54 county courts across England and Wales.

An important part of this process will be to assess the potential impact on the communities within the jurisdiction of those courts and those with special needs and requirements.

The consultation period ran until 15 September and during which everyone with an interest in local justice services was able to give their views on the proposals. All the considerations will then be taken into account before the Lord Chancellor decides whether to close individual courts. In the Sunderland area the Houghton le Spring Magistrates Court is affected, IAG's and Community Groups are invited to give their views as detailed below.

The consultation documents can be found on http://www.justice.gov.uk. If you require any information or clarification please do not hesitate to contact Beverley Bowery on 0191 3751803 or beverley.bowery@hmcourts-service.gsi.gov.uk

BME - On 20th September, two members of the group met with Celia Samater, Sunderland Census Area Manager.  For every individual not counted on the Census, the city would lose £500.  In Manchester, this led to the city losing around £10 million per annum from its budget over the last ten years.  There is likely to be an undercount amongst marginalised and excluded communities (including black and minority ethnic people).  The IAG will consider hosting meetings to raise awareness of the Census and look at ways that communities can get support to complete the Census form.

The BME IAG will hold a future meetings as follows:

• 14th October - normal meeting
• November -  an open session for community members to get assistance with making their application for children’s places in nursery / reception classes for the September 2011 entry.
• December – meeting dedicated to the CENSUS

The IAG will also look again at the concerns that it has about the Sunderland Compact and find a way of working towards endorsing it for agreement by black and minority ethnic voluntary and community groups.
The IAG also seeks to work more closely with the Sunderland Interfaith Forum.

Sunderland Interfaith Forum - SIFF will hold its next meeting at The Friends House, Roker Park Road on October 4. The group will continue to work on a lunch event being proposed for next year. It has also managed to appear on a few more websites locally and nationally  in order to raise its profile. The group continue to look for new ways of recruiting more members and are also exploring opportunities of working with other IAGS, especially the BME, on any relevant project of mutual interest.

DIAG - The DIAG have moved meetings back to the central venue of North Moor Fire Station. Sue Cain has taken the position of co-chair alongside Liz Clark and will be attending Inclusive Communities meetings on behalf of the group.

Gender - The last meeting of the Gender Agenda (29th September) was focused around violence against women and girls. The group took part in a workshop where they came up with ideas for events that they could participate in it for International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (25th November) and International Women's Day (8th March) - some ideas were discussed and the group are looking to take forward the plan for a drama performance to highlight this issue. There is also now a Gender Agenda newsletter circulated after the meetings which covers topics discussed and anything else of interest - if anyone has any information they want including, please let me know.

FEEDBACK & ARTICLES - Any feedback you have on this newsletter would be most appreciated. If you have articles for any future newsletters please email equality@sunderland.gov.uk or phone Linder Pott – 0191 5611285.