SARA Project begins engagement on vacant Cato Street land

Southwick Altogether Raising Aspirations (SARA), which is based at Austin House on Shakespeare Street, Southwick, brings together Sunderland City Council, Northumbria Police, Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue, Northumbria Violence Reduction Unit, Adult and Children's services, housing, education and health representatives to rejuvenate Southwick, as well as help support residents in the area.

The project started up in 2020 following various multi-agency discussions on how to breathe fresh life into the area, including working together to tackle a range of issues including crime and disorder, mental health, and unemployment.

One of the projects that SARA is working on is to fill the vacant land on Cato Street with something that the whole community can enjoy. The land has not been used for over 20 years, and SARA are letting Southwick residents decide what they would like the land to be used for.

As part of the plans, SARA has been engaging with Southwick Primary School to find out what they would like to see.

Vicki Neal, a Community Engagement Worker at SARA, visited the school to ask them what they could imagine on the vacant land. Children then drew designs of their ideas, which included outdoor seating areas, a community garden and orchard, a little dribblers football skills area, arts space and much more.

The designs have now been placed on banners around the area, so that the wider community can see what the local children want and can also have their say. SARA hopes that people will volunteer to help bring the vision to life once the local community have decided what will be built on the land.

Vicki Neal said: "It was great to visit children at Southwick Primary School and listen to so many great ideas for Cato Street. It is so important that everyone in Southwick has their say on what goes on the land, so I encourage everyone to share their ideas. Leaflets and questionnaires have been posted to 800 houses around Cato Street so if you received one, fill it in and return it to us or fill it out online."

Fiona Brown, Executive Director of Neighbourhoods at Sunderland City Council, said: "The vacant land on Cato Street is a brilliant area to place something that will benefit the community in Southwick.

"The conversations that SARA have been having with residents as part of Sunderland City Council's Let's Talk programme is proving to be greatly beneficial to find out what the residents of the area really want. There have been some great ideas from the children of Southwick Primary School. I now encourage everyone else to get involved and help decide what happens in your community."

Find out more about the SARA Project, and have your say on the Cato Street vacant land at www.sunderland.gov.uk/LetsTalkSARA

You can get in touch with SARA directly by emailing LetsTalkSARA@sunderland.gov.uk or phoning 07867156667.

You can see Southwick Primary School's designs and follow SARA on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @LetsTalkSARA