It’s the dawn of a new era as Sunrise opens its doors on a local Sunderland high street.

A sister site to the Sunshine Co-operative, which opened in High Street West in 2021, Sunrise has opened on Villette Road in Hendon.

Sunshine Co-operative have opened the new Sunrise shop on Villette Road, Hendon supplying the local community with fresh food and other good quality foods with HR training manager Andrea Clayson and programme manager Claire Wayman. | Sunderland Echo

placeholder image — Sunshine Co-operative have opened the new Sunrise shop on Villette Road, Hendon supplying the local community with fresh food and other good quality foods with HR training manager Andrea Clayson and programme manager Claire Wayman. | Sunderland Echo

A social enterprise shop, it combines food and drink retail, with cookery workshops for all and employment opportunities for people who face barriers to employment.

“It’s about shopping with purpose,” said Claire Wayman, programme manager at Sunshine Co-operative.

On the retail side, Sunrise sells loose fruit and veg, jams, tinned goods, pastas. lentils, broth mix and refills for eco-friendly toiletries and liquid detergents to help reduce single-use plastics.

The shop is part of wider aims to improve the local high street | Sunderland Echo

Moving forward, Sunrise will also be offering healthy sandwiches and lunches.

The team was approached by Hendon charity Back On The Map who are working to revitalise the local high street, including purchasing neglected properties and restoring shop fronts.

Sunrise is situated in a large unit formerly occupied by The Workshop and it’s given them plenty of space for retail, as well as worktops for cookery workshops.

The shop sells grocery-style items | Sunderland Echo

“Back On The Map asked residents what they wanted to see on the street and one of the main things they asked for was a place to buy fruit and veg,” said Claire. “So this shop is giving people what they asked for. We sell produce loose, so people can get as much or as little as they like.

“Not all shops will do that, but, as a social enterprise, we’re about putting people first. The news is still getting out there that we’re open, but the signage has just gone up and that helps.

The shop also sells refill detergents | Sunderland Echo

“People who have been in have given us good feedback, they’re pleased that their requests were listened to. Our prices are cheaper here than at the Sunshine Co-operative, but we want people to be able to access fruit and veg at an affordable price and to make sustainable shopping easier.

“It’s the same concept as Sunshine Co-operative, but more affordable.”

There's also workshop space at the shop | Sunderland Echo

Claire added: “It’s about community. In Aldi, they almost rush you out, but here we believe in slow shopping and chatting to people. We use retail as an avenue for change: promoting ethical produce, eating healthily and community.”

Workshops are already taking place at Sunrise, including a pizza-making course with Raising Dough CIC.

Thanks to National Lottery funding, Sunrise will also be hosting Rising Loaf workshops, where people can learn to make breads from countries and cultures around the world.

Sunshine Co-operative has also received funding from Rank Foundation, including Time to Shine funding for a leadership programme.

*Sunrise, Villette Road, is open Tuesday to Friday from 10am to 4pm and Saturdays from 10am to 2pm.