Sunderland commits to ambitious 2035 strategy to ensure every resident can “thrive in an increasingly digital world”

Thousands of people in Sunderland are still being locked out of everyday opportunities because they lack access to digital skills, technology and support – and the city is taking bold action to change that.

Sunderland has set out one of the UK’s most ambitious plans to ensure that every resident can thrive in an increasingly digital world by 2035.

In Sunderland, digital exclusion is closely linked to wider inequalities – disproportionately affecting people on lower incomes, those with disabilities and those without qualifications. As most everyday services move online, exclusion can limit people’s access to education, employment, banking, healthcare, and human connection.

Sunderland’s newly unveiled plans build on impressive progress made in recent years. Since 2023, the city has helped more than 10,000 people online by launching 37 ‘digital health hubs’ in local communities, as well as rolling out full-fibre internet from 25% to 82% of households. In the past three years, the proportion of digitally excluded people in Sunderland has fallen from one-in-three to one-in-four.

Commenting on Sunderland’s progress, Baroness Armstrong of Hill Top, Chair of the government’s Digital Inclusion Action Committee, whose home city is Sunderland, said:

Sunderland has shown what is possible when inclusion is placed at the centre of digital transformation. It is leading the way in demonstrating how technology can serve people and communities — not the other way around.

There is, of course, more to do. Ensuring everyone can afford connectivity, access devices and build the confidence to use digital tools will remain at the heart of this mission. But the foundations laid here are strong, and the ambition of this city is unmistakable.

Through the new 2035 strategy, Sunderland City Council and its partners will take a fully joined-up approach to tackling digital exclusion — improving access to affordable internet, data and devices, building skills and confidence, and ensuring services are inclusive, easy to use and designed around people’s needs.

Cllr Alison Smith, portfolio holder for smart cities at Sunderland City Council, said:

Digital inclusion is about more than providing devices or internet access – it’s about building people’s confidence and skills to use technology safely and effectively.

Our commitment is clear: we want everyone to be able to take part and thrive in an increasingly digital world. And by working with partners across the city to deliver this strategy, we want to ensure no-one and nowhere gets left behind.

The city’s latest bold ambitions were unveiled at a digital inclusion roundtable hosted in Sunderland City Hall on March 19th, ahead of the strategy’s publication later in the month.

At the event, Liz St Louis, Sunderland City Council’s director of smart cities and enabling services, commented:

Digital inclusion is the key that unlocks many opportunities. It enables students to learn, supports people’s health conditions, helps households manage their finances, and opens the door to job opportunities. This strategy is a vital part of our plans to reduce inequality and build trust across the city.

For more information visit www.sunderland.gov.uk/GoOnlineSunderland