Residents can nominate a local hero as part of new cultural venue opening

Sunderland residents are being invited to nominate people who make a real difference to life in the city as part of the opening celebrations for Culture House Sunderland. 

Those nominated could become part of local history when the landmark venue officially opens on Saturday 12 September. 

The venue is looking for up to 52 individuals from across Sunderland to take part in a unique, large-scale ribbon-cutting ceremony, ensuring local people are at the heart of this major civic milestone. 

Organisers expect to receive a huge number of nominations from across the city. To help select the final 52 representatives, a panel of people from across Sunderland will review submissions and identify those whose stories best reflect the city's spirit, pride and sense of community. 

Following the opening, the stories of 52 local heroes will continue to be celebrated, with one individual featured each week over the following year in Culture House Sunderland's Local Studies space, creating a lasting record of the people who help make Sunderland special. 

Cllr Ciera Hudspith, Portfolio Holder for Culture, Tourism and Heritage at Sunderland City Council, said: 

"Culture House is for the people of Sunderland, so it feels only right that residents from across the city should be front and centre when it opens. 

"We know there are countless individuals in our city who go above and beyond for others, often without recognition. This is an opportunity to shine a light on those people and celebrate the positive impact they make, day in and day out, in Sunderland. 

The team at Culture House Sunderland is looking for nominations for people who have made a positive contribution to their community or the wider city, whether through volunteering, creativity, community action, education, business, sport, culture, charity work or simply through acts of kindness and commitment that make Sunderland a better place.

Organisers are particularly keen to hear about individuals whose efforts may not always receive public recognition but who make a meaningful difference to those around them.

Residents can nominate someone by providing the name of the nominee and a short statement explaining why they should be chosen, via email to [email protected].