Logo of Involve Kent, our new partner

Southdown announce Involve as new UOK East Sussex partner

Southdown is excited to announce that, following a competitive tender process, Involve have been appointed as the new provider for our UOK East Sussex Wellbeing Service. Following due diligence, Involve will take over the direct delivery of the service from 1 September 2025. Southdown will continue as the lead provider of UOK East Sussex mental […]

People gathered indoors and outdoors at Bradbury Court’s annual garden party, with colourful bunting, Union Jack flags, and handmade decorations hanging from the ceiling. Tables are set up with cakes, crafts, and refreshments. The atmosphere is lively and welcoming, with clients, staff, and family members chatting and enjoying the event together.

A day of joy at Bradbury Court’s Garden Party

The garden at Bradbury Court, one of our West Sussex-based learning disability support services, came alive last week with laughter, creativity, and community spirit, as we hosted our much-loved summer garden party for clients, staff, families, and friends from across our services. Of course, there was lovely tea and cake, but what made it special […]

Open letter: Southdown’s Response to the Universal Credit and PIP Bill

Yesterday, the Government announced a new Bill concerning Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment (PIP). At Southdown, we believe this proposed legislation will have damaging consequences for the people we support and for many others across our communities, and we feel compelled to speak out. We have today written to MPs across Sussex to share […]

a representative image showing empowerment

Southdown achieves major reduction in restraint use in Learning Disability Services

Keeping clients and staff safe is a priority in our learning disability support services. One of the ways we do this is through training our Support Workers and Service Managers to understand challenging behaviours and create supportive strategies to help enhance a client’s quality of life.  Over the last three years we have seen a […]

A group of five people from the Milchester Players theatre group, including clients and Support Workers from an East Sussex service, are dressed in colourful sea-themed costumes on stage. They are smiling and posing together in outfits such as a fish, mermaid, ship captain, lobster, and shark. A "Learning Disability Week 2025 – Do You See Me?" badge appears in the corner of the image.

Do You See Me?: Celebrating the Milchester Players this Learning Disability Week

For Learning Disability Week 2025, we’re celebrating the amazing Milchester Players – our East Sussex theatre group led by clients and Support Workers at Southdown.

UOK Brighton and Hove logo in a white font, on a bright pink rectangle which is a brand pink. in the background is a light blue and white wavy background.

Exciting News: Southdown-led partnership wins mental health support services contract in Brighton & Hove  

We’re pleased to share that a Southdown-led partnership has been successful in securing the contract to deliver community-based mental health support services in Brighton & Hove for another five years. This means we will continue working alongside local partners to provide support to people across the city, including some of the most marginalised and underserved […]

A man in a navy padded jacket sits at a table holding up a colourful poster with photos and blue rosettes. He leans slightly forward and looks directly at the camera. Next to him, a woman with long curly hair, glasses, and a black-and-white striped top sits closely, looking at the poster with a calm, supportive expression. The image is from a Southdown client involvement session.

Southdown’s new involvement charter and strategy to centre client and tenant voice

At Southdown, our clients and tenants are at the heart of everything we do. We know that the best services are built with, not just for, the people who use them. That’s why we’ve created a new Involvement Charter and a refreshed Client and Tenant Involvement Strategy. They are our promise to work with you, […]

Illustrated banner with colourful wildflowers along the top and bottom edges, and a teapot and teacup graphic above the text: 'Join us for a fun Garden Party at our Bradbury Court (Learning Disability) service.

Join us for a garden party at our Bradbury Court learning disability support service

This June, clients and staff at our learning disability support service, Bradbury Court, are inviting friends, families, and everyone to join them for a very special afternoon. On Saturday 14 June, from 2pm to 4pm, the service will be hosting a Garden Party – a joyful event that brings people together to celebrate community, creativity, […]

A mental health talk in progress, delivered by Daniel Wilsher, to a seated audience in a community hall. A large screen behind him reads 'Building Community Through Service' and a UOK banner stands nearby, displaying the message 'It's OK to need help, we all do sometimes.'

UOK Hosts Inspiring Mental Health Talk on Community and Connection

Following from Mental Health Awareness Week, UOK hosted a Mental Health talk around the theme of Community at the Brighthelm Centre in the heart of Brighton. The event brought together community members, mental health professionals, and advocates for a unique conversation about vulnerability, connection, and the ripple effect of small acts of kindness. We extend […]

Promotional materials from the UOK event for Mental Health Awareness Week, including wellbeing tip cards, UOK leaflets, pens, mints, and bookmarks encouraging mental health check-ins.

Celebrating Community: UOK Hosts Frontline Workers for Mental Health Awareness Week

To mark Mental Health Awareness Week 2025, our UOK frontline workers across Brighton & Hove came together on Tuesday, 13th May, at Southdown’s office in Isetta Square for a gathering hosted by UOK. The event provided a valuable opportunity for those working on the ground in mental health, wellbeing, and community services to pause, connect, […]

This Mental Health Awareness Week, we’re celebrating Community

It’s Mental Health Awareness Week and this year we are celebrating the power and importance of community for our mental health. Neil Blanchard, our CEO, reflects on what community means: “For me, community is not just about the places we work in or the people we support. It is also about the way we show […]

Promotional banner for a live talk on mental health awareness by Daniel Wilsher, TEDx speaker and finalist of Channel 4’s The Piano. The image shows Daniel on stage in front of a seated audience, with a microphone and keyboard in the foreground. The UOK and Southdown logos are displayed at the top of the banner. The talk's theme is - Building community through service.

‘Building community through service’: UOK Brighton & Hove to host mental health talk

Building on the momentum of Mental Health Awareness Week 2025 (12-18 May), UOK Brighton & Hove is continuing the conversation by hosting a powerful in-person talk exploring how lived experience and community service can transform lives.  On 21 May, UOK Brighton & Hove is hosting a community mental health talk at the Brighthelm Centre. The […]