Firefighters survived Bonfire Night without attacks in Southwick after scheme set up to tackle problems

Southwick Altogether Raising Aspirations (SARA) was launched earlier in 2020 with the aim of rejuvenating the area and supporting people living in those communities.

It involves a number of key organisations and support services all working together under one roof at Austin House, Shakespeare Street.

This includes representatives from the police, council, fire and rescue service, housing, education and health working closely with local voluntary groups and the community.

Southwick has been blighted by trouble during the bonfire period in the past, including firefighters being attacked when responding to calls.

Firefighters had to endure consecutive years of abuse in the neighbourhood, most notably in 2018 when children as young as ten were reported throwing bottles, bricks and fireworks at crews as they dealt with car fires.

However, the bonfire period in 2020 did not see a repeat of firefighter attacks in the area.

At a recent meeting of the city council’s North Sunderland Area Committee, praise was given to the SARA project and its positive impact around tackling antisocial behaviour issues.

“I just want to pass on my thanks to the fire service and say how pleased I am that this year was very different to previous years,” said councillor Alex Samuels, who represents the Southwick ward.

“The fire service are a key partner in the SARA project and the amount of work that went in very intensively around the Cato Street area in particular, where we have seen issues in the past, was significant.

“It might sound simple to people that it was a case of getting people to put bins away but it wasn’t simple like that at all, there was a lot of planning and work.

“The community engagement that has been generated through the SARA project has been fantastic, where people are taking in rubbish off the streets until the council can come and collect it and take it away in the run-up to Bonfire Night.

“That kind of ownership in making sure that we didn’t see scenes like we have in the past, has been really key in this.”

Cllr Samuels also thanked partners for their recent work in the SARA project, including council officers and police officers.

Shaun Makin, station manager at Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service, said he hoped the model could be rolled out to other areas.

He added: “I have only been in post within the north area for three years, this last year has been a revelation.

“I think that has got a lot to do with the investment that councillors are putting in and the council is putting in with the SARA project.

“I just hope that’s a model that we can lift and put in other areas because I’m also responsible for the area in Hendon.

“I think it’s a great model and I think the benefit outweighs the investment in that.”

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