The Independent Commission on Neighbourhoods visited Sunderland last month to hear from local residents, community groups, and stakeholders in the area.
Baroness Hilary Armstrong led the group, joined by Commissioners Matt Leach and David Halpern CBE. The visit began at City Hall, where ICON heard from local leaders what Sunderland is doing to strengthen community ties and increase engagement with local residents.
The group then headed to the Hetton Centre, a space central to the local community and the HALO project. The HALO project is a community safety partnership working to improve social infrastructure, strengthen social ties, and create safer streets in the local area. The project has been successful, observing a significant reduction in local crime and fostering an increased sense of safety in the community. The work of HALO has revitalised the local community, and ICON heard calls to embed more public services within neighbourhoods.
ICON is grateful to all who made the Sunderland trip possible. The visit will continue to inform ICON’s research and proposals in its upcoming final report.