Next steps agreed for nine-year plan to make sure 'Sunderland thrives in a digital world'
A new council strategy aiming to support more Sunderland residents to “thrive in a digital world” has taken a step forward, following a decision by city leaders.
Sunderland City Council’s cabinet of senior Labour councillors, at a meeting this month (February 12, 2026), discussed the “consultative draft” of the city’s Digital Inclusion Strategy 2026-35.
A report presented to councillors said the strategy is linked to a key objective in Sunderland’s City Plan around “reducing inequality, building trust and helping everyone share in the benefits of a connected city”.
It was noted that the council’s existing digital inclusion action plan is already “supporting the digital ambitions of the city, ensuring local people can benefit in a digital world and importantly, leaving no one and nowhere behind”.
The new strategy, which will be shared with “relevant stakeholders”as part of a consultation before a final draft is presented to the decision-making cabinet again in late-March, 2026, aims to “build on the [council’s] success to date” and improve digital access further.
This includes “supporting a digitally inclusive city where everyone, regardless of age, ability, income, or background, has the access, skills, confidence, and support they need to take part and thrive in a digital world.”
The strategy also outlines the groups “more likely to be affected bydigital exclusion”, including care-experienced children and young people, people living in poverty or low-income households, older people, people experiencing homelessness, people who speak English as an additional language and more.
The council’s vision set out in the consultative draft includes “digital progress to reduce inequality, build trust and help everyone share in the benefits of a connected city”, with the strategy envisioning Sunderland as a city where:
- Digital inclusion is “fair and equitable, supporting those who face the greatest barriers.”
- People have access to “reliable, high‑quality connectivity.”
- Digital skills and literacy “continue to grow at all ages and stages of life.”
- Residents “feel confident, safe and informed when using digital services.”
- Public services are “more efficient, effective and designed around people.”
- Digital inclusion supports “economic opportunity, health and wellbeing, education and employment and a more sustainable future.”
There are also five priorities in the plan which include “access for everyone” with “affordable, reliable internet, data and devices”, “building digital skills” with “essential digital skills and literacy for all ages” and the “confidence to connect”, with efforts to “make going online feel safe, simple and enjoyable”.
The remaining priorities in the strategy include “digital services that work for people”, with an “inclusive, accessible and community focused design” and “engagement” with work around “collaboration and delivering a unified approach.”
Sunderland City Council’s cabinet discussed the Digital Inclusion Strategy 2026-35 at City Hall on February 12, 2026, following a presentation by councillor Alison Smith, the local authority’s cabinet member for corporate services and equalities.
The senior councillor said that “engagement with groups and communities ensures the strategy reflects real experiences and emerging needs and has informed a set of clear priorities, outputs and deliverables that build on what has already been achieved”.
“We cannot underestimate the impact this is having on residents right across the city,” Cllr Smith added.
“We have been a digital city for a long time I think without residents actually realising their lives have been enhanced in so many ways […] we have 37 digital hubs across the city now so there’s access to free internet use for every resident of this city be it child, adult or old people.
“Everyone has the opportunity to learn and move forward and I’m delighted that they’re well used.
“Additionally, the ‘tech mates’ that are there within those hubs are volunteers within the local community and have the skills to coach and encourage people to use it, so it’s a massive step forward as far as I’m concerned.”
The strategy received positive feedback from members of the cabinet, including council leader councillor Michael Mordey, who described it as a “brilliant piece of work”.
“I think it’s going to have a big impact, we have seen the impact the digital hub model that we’re seeing across the city is having on some of our communities, not just upskilling people to be more digitally literate but enabling them to access jobs and training […] but also the social side of it as well,” Cllr Mordey said.
“I think this is brilliant and I think everyone who has been involved has huge respect from me.”
Councillor Beth Jones, the council’s cabinet member for communities, culture and tourism, added: “I would like to put on the record my thanks to Alison and the officers for this, it’s a phenomenal piece of work and an absolutely amazing strategy.
“But I’m also delighted that this strategy supports our council’s approach as a co-operative council as well.”