City 'healing' as torched advice centre reopens

The building is reopening more than a year after it was burned out during the riots

The reopening of a Citizens Advice building which went up in flames during last year's riots will show that a city is "healing", a mayor has said.

The Sunderland site was burnt out last year and repair work has been ongoing ahead of its reopening next month.

Speaking at an unveiling party, Sunderland Mayor Ehthesham Haque said it was "excellent news" for the city that the branch could operate at full capacity again.

Branch manager Denise Irving said it had been a "difficult" year but that the new office would now be able to help twice as many people.

She said: "We didn't expect it to be as lovely as it is."

As well as the building's unveiling, the team was also belatedly celebrating 85 years since the founding of the Citizens Advice Bureau.

The anniversary was last year but due to the building's condition the celebration was pushed back.

To mark the anniversary staff dressed up in costumes from past eras.

The mayor said the building's reopening was "a sign of the city healing".

He said the people attending the reopening made up the "silent majority" in Sunderland.

"This place serves working class people who just need some advice," he said.

The Citizens Advice office in Sunderland was set on fire during riots in 2024

While the site was being repaired, the team had to work in a smaller office with just three interview rooms, Ms Irving said.

This meant some rooms had to be booked two or three weeks in advance.

The new office has six interview rooms.

"It gives us an opportunity to see more people and have more appointments," Ms Irving said.

Joanne Clark said it was great to have everyone back in the same office

Wellbeing advisor Joanne Clark said it was great to have everyone back in the same office.

"I think it just gives everybody a sort of stable workplace," she said.

Ms Irving said the cost of the restoration had been covered by insurance and a fundraising page set up by local resident Sharyn Smiles.

She said she hoped the team would be able to start seeing people in early November.