Manager at Wellbeing Hub at Preston Park

Creativity and mental health take centre stage

As part of the Brighton city-wide Festival in May, our Wellbeing Hub at Preston Park is opening its doors to the local community to highlight how the arts can have powerful and lasting effects on health.

Photo of group of students and tutor around a table with one student showing an album of photos to the others

Introducing Brighton & Hove Recovery College’s Summer term

Brighton and Hove Recovery College offer FREE educational courses and workshops as a route to recovery from mental health challenges. Courses and Workshops are designed and delivered by people with lived experience of mental health challenges, together with clinical staff and other professionals. The College is provided in partnership with the Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation […]

A white man is holding adapted bathroom equipment whilst a white client in a wheelchair watches him. The lighting is low and atmospheric.

Southdown Responds To Decrease In Social Care Funding

In a white paper on adult social care reform published in December 2021, ministers pledged to invest “at least £500m over the next three years to begin to transform the way we support the social care workforce”. However, the Department of Health and Social Care said on Tuesday that plans for a “new care workforce […]

an animated image with a blue loud speaker and the words 'Speak Up' in white.

Freedom To Speak Up Guardian Appointed

Southdown Board Member, Tara Osbourne-Wallace, has been appointed as Freedom To Speak Up Guardian as part of our commitment to a ‘speak up’ culture in the organisation. Tara tells us why speaking up is important and how employees, tenants, clients, family members and carers can raise any concerns they have through an independent channel: Southdown […]

Funding Awarded To Upgrade The Energy Efficiency Of Homes Across The Country

As part of a consortium of social housing providers, led by the UK’s largest housing association, Clarion Housing Group, we have been awarded funding to upgrade the energy efficiency of our supported housing across Sussex. In total, the consortium was granted £48.9million as part of the Government’s £3.8bn Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF). The grant […]

A beautiful old courtyard with some plants and shrubs

Board Members Visit Learning Disability Support Service

A few weeks ago, two Board members accompanied Southdown’s CEO, Neil Blanchard, to one of our Learning Disability Support services in West Sussex. Our Board comprises 12 people with many years of collective experience in strategic management, housing, health, and social care. They meet regularly to ensure that Southdown continues to run well, delivers on […]

A man wearing a checked shirt holds hands of a woman dressed in a bright pink dress

Southdown Increases Base Pay Above Real Living Wage

Southdown increases base pay above Real Living Wage.

Photo of mental health worker and client sat at table holding a visual document

Fair Funding & Contractual Arrangements For Community Mental Health Services

On behalf of the Voluntary Community and Social Enterprise sector across Sussex, appointed reps including our Chief Executive, shared the challenges facing the mental health sector.

A client wears a pink cardigan and she is hugging a blanket. She sits next to a Support Worker in blue dress and dark pigtails.

Fair Funding for Fair Pay

Our Chief Executive shares a letter he sent to commissioners asking for fair funding for fair pay.

Group photo of Recovery College staff and volunteers sitting and standing and smiling

Introducing Brighton & Hove Recovery College’s Spring term

Brighton and Hove Recovery College, offer educational courses as a route to better mental wellbeing. All their courses are FREE and designed and delivered by people with lived experience of mental health challenges, together with clinical staff and other professionals. The College is provided in partnership with the Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and as […]

Director of Housing and Business Services

Southdown Responds To Coroner’s Verdict On Death Of Child From Mould In Social Housing

In the wake of the very sad case of Awaab Ishak’s death from respiratory problems caused by the mould in his social housing flat, our Director of Housing and Business Services, Jim Aspdin, shares what Southdown are doing to ensure this couldn’t happen to any of our tenants: “I’m sure that many of you will […]

Photo of two Support Officers sitting either side of a client in a bus shelter looking at paperwork together

New ‘Rough Sleeping Initiative and Complex Needs Homeless’ service in East Sussex

Launched on 1st October, Southdown’s new ‘Rough Sleeping Initiative and Complex Needs Homeless’ service supports people in East Sussex who are sleeping rough or at imminent risk of being homeless. The five East Sussex housing authorities were successful in bidding to the Department for Levelling Up to continue the work of the Rough Sleeping Initiative […]