UOK Brighton & Hove commences services under new contract with expanded partnership
Posted on 2 October 2025
Building on six successful years, Southdown is leading the next chapter of UOK Brighton & Hove, which has now commenced services under a new contract with an expanded partnership of trusted local charities, community groups, and experts. This strengthened collaboration continues to provide accessible mental health and wellbeing support for adults across Brighton & Hove.
A partnership built on collaboration
On 24 September 2025, our partners gathered at Platf9rm in Brighton to officially launch this next phase of the UOK partnership. The morning brought together organisations committed to a shared vision: making mental health support accessible, compassionate, and inclusive for everyone in the city.
As one partner reflected after the launch event: “I was very pleased by how engaging the meeting was, and there was a lot of space for conversation with other partners.” Another noted, “It was great to get to know services and have an in-person chat with the people that run them.”
The launch event showcased the values that underpin this partnership – curiosity, active listening, authenticity, care, patience and collaboration. Through interactive workshops, partners explored what success looks like for the communities we serve, envisioning services that are easy to access, feel safe, and truly meet people’s needs.
“After six successful years we’re really excited to relaunch our partnership that is your connection to local mental health and wellbeing support,” said Brooke Joyce, UOK B&H Partnership Lead. “Our partners are all expert organisations who truly care about our communities and understand what works best for them. We all need help sometimes, so please don’t hesitate to reach out for support for yourself, a loved one or someone you’re caring for.”
What UOK offers
UOK Brighton & Hove provides free mental health and wellbeing support for anyone aged 18 or over living, working, or studying in Brighton & Hove. The service brings together a wide network of organisations, making it simple to access:
- Direct access to friendly advice and guidance
- Community groups, events, and peer support
- Easy pathways to professional mental health services
- Personalised, free and anonymous digital mental health and wellbeing support via Qwell
Everything we offer is free of charge, funded by NHS Sussex and Brighton & Hove City Council.
A strengthened partnership
The expanded partnership includes Southdown alongside more than a dozen active voluntary sector organisations: Allsorts, Amaze, Bridging Change, Brighton Women’s Centre (BWC), The Carers Centre, Dad La Soul, Friends, Families and Travellers (FFT), Grassroots Suicide Prevention, The Hangleton and Knoll Project, Impact Initiatives, Money Advice Plus, Possability People, Qwell, Rethink Mental Illness SOS, SEDs Connective, St Luke’s Advice Service, Sussex Interpreting Services (SIS), Switchboard, Together Co, Trust for Developing Communities (TDC), and YMCA Downslink Group (Youth Advice Service/YAC).
At the heart of the partnership is a commitment to co-production and lived experience. The Lived Experience Advisory Group (LEAG) ensures that the voices of those who use services shape how support is delivered, keeping person-centred care at the core of everything we do.
Free webinars in October
To mark this new chapter, UOK is hosting a series of free webinars for professionals and members of the public to learn more about what’s on offer and how to access it:
- For members of the public: 20 October and 22 October
- For professionals: 21 October and 29 October
How to access support
Reaching out is simple:
- Call: Freephone 0808 196 1768 (Monday–Friday, 9am–5pm, excluding bank holidays)
- Email: chat@uok.org.uk or referrals@uok.org.uk
- Request a callback: www.uok.org.uk/talk-to-us
- Find out more: www.uok.org.uk (including digital support via Qwell)
