Like many cities Sunderland is expecting its population to become increasingly aged, with residents aged over 60 projected to increase from 26% from 2018 to 30.60% over 60 in 2037. Greater numbers of older people continue in employment and plan for an active retirement. The contribution of older people to the community and economy is well evidenced and the contribution the environment plays in healthy ageing such as healthy towns, cities and settings is well recognised. Strong partnership working is evident across Sunderland and is embedded within key strategies.

Our Healthy City Plan is aligned with our City Plan 2019-2030 and informed by our Joint Strategic Needs Assessment. Our vision is for everyone in Sunderland to have healthy, happy lives with no one left behind. It sets out our key health challenges, actions that will be taken to address these challenges and what the Sunderland Health and Wellbeing Board (HWB) is looking to achieve by 2030. The City Plan sets out its expectations for all partners and communities to work together, so that the city and its people can achieve their full potential within a vibrant, dynamic and healthy city. We have strong and long-standing relationships with partners that are and will continue to be a source of resilience and innovation as we strive to support local people, providing them with opportunities and improving their life chances.

Sunderland City Council has a Health and Wellbeing Board (HWBB) where key leaders from Sunderland’s health and care system work together to improve the health and wellbeing of local people and reduce health inequalities. Through the Sunderland Care and Support Service (the city’s Social Care service) older people can access an enormous range of customer driven services that are flexible to their needs. HWB partners have identified healthy weight, mental health and healthy economy as priorities based on local poor health and wellbeing outcomes and responses to local engagement work (Sunderland Health Summit, 2019). During the period Sept 2019 – February 2020, over 50% of the residents of Sunderland, alongside specialist groups were consulted in the ‘Let’s Talk Sunderland’ consultation exercise. This has informed each of the Neighbourhood Investment Plans (NIPs) which links directly to the City Plan.