The South Forum gives our membership the platform to have their voices heard and raise any community issues they feel are important to them. This provides a contact point for statutory agencies to share information and consult directly with residents of the area to ensure that services are linked to local need.

Message from Jeanette Harold, Trustee of Urban Forum

Dear Colleague

Urban Forum are calling for support in respect of Community Reinvestment Proposals and have published the following on theirs site.  As members of the Urban Forum and supporters of this proposal we would ask that you read the following and use the following link to visit the Urban Forum Web Site:- http://www.urbanforum.org.uk/community-reinvestment/calling-for-community-reinvestment

Toby Blume, Chief Officers writes:-

“At Urban Forum we, like everyone else, are worried about the recession and the impact it is having now, and in the future, on communities – particularly poorer ones.

And yet, despite the difficult times ahead, we feel there is a genuine opportunity to look beyond the immediate hardship to think about life beyond the recession.

The global financial crisis raises fundamental questions about the sort of society and institutions we want in the future and offers a chance to fundamentally change things for the better. With so much doom and gloom filling our newspapers and TV screens, we're asking ‘how do we make sure we learn the lessons from what's happened and not make the same mistakes again?'

The huge amount of public money put into banks to prevent them from collapsing has so far offered very little obvious benefit to citizens and communities – although we are the ones who will be paying it back. We believe things must change and that fundamental reform of the banking system is needed urgently.

We are calling on political parties, civil society groups, entrepreneurs, opinion formers and the financial services sector to embrace the concept of community reinvestment and establish a new system of banking with a social purpose. A system that offers a return on the public investment made – people-centred finance.

Find out more about our proposals in our Community Reinvestment report 

The problems we face:

• Financial exclusion – eliminating the ‘poverty premium' that low income households pay
• Availability of finance to support social and community enterprise – more ‘mission related' investment
• Sustainable sources of grants for community benefit – Community reinvestment

• Restore public confidence in banks and the banking sector – People-centred finance

  What we are calling for:

• A commitment to community reinvestment and to reform of the financial services sector to establish clear social purpose within the banking system
• The introduction of a Community Reinvestment Act to eliminate discrimination in financial services and support community-development finance
• The establishment of community reinvestment banking as a vehicle for people-centred financial services

What you can do to get involved?  Sign the petition , speak to your elected representatives at all levels start discussions within your organisation and any other forum you attend. As well as input suggestions to Urban Forum.

We're truly excited about the possibility of achieving something positive out of these difficult times and we really hope this is something you will want to lend your support to joining the local and national organisations who have already signed.”

Remember if we want change we need to act.

Kind regards

Jeanette Harold

Trustee of Urban Forum

It’s your Sunderland, your neighbourhood, your decision

Things are changing in Sunderland…

Sunderland residents are now going to be able to play a much bigger part in the future of the city.  There will be more effective ways for people to give their views and influence the decisions that affect you and your local area.

The City Council has established Local Area Committees across the city to provide a further link between residents, councillors and the council and to ensure that local views are represented.

Every area of the city is different.  People who live in Hetton or Hendon might not want the same things as people who live in Southwick or Seaburn, so the council is asking local people to tell them what they think are the priorities for the future for their community.

The City Council has already consulted residents about their overall priorities for the city.  Now the council is looking at local areas in detail.

The potential issues, challenges and opportunities in each area have been researched as a base to find out whether the priorities are the right ones or whether residents believe there are other priorities. 

It’s an opportunity for everyone to get involved, have their say and make a difference. Your views do count, and will be fed back to the City Council through the Local Area Committees. Specific plans for services, facilities or projects will then be made for each area.

You can have your say by attending one of the roadshows across the city in January and February. Pop in and talk to council officers and councillors about the plans for your area, see what is already being done and have your say. Please click here for details regarding Ward Visits and Roadshows.

You will also be able to find out more information and fill in a questionnaire on the council’s website at www.sunderland.gov.uk, at any library or Sunderland Customer Service Centre, or by post on request. 

More information can be found at www.sunderland.gov.uk/consultation under Local Area Plans, by calling 0191 561 1162 or emailing acsp@sunderland.gov.uk