
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 […]

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 […]

Southdown Increases Base Pay Above Real Living Wage
Southdown increases base pay above Real Living Wage.

Fair Funding & Contractual Arrangements For Community Mental Health Services
On behalf of the VCSE (Voluntary Community and Social Enterprise) sector across Sussex, appointed Reps, including Neil Blanchard, our Chief Executive, wrote to mental health commissioners to share the current challenges facing the sector and to ask that they are considered when planning and funding decisions for the 2023/34 financial year. The letter is part […]

Fair Funding for Fair Pay
Our Chief Executive, Neil Blanchard, shares a letter he sent last week to Commissioners of our Learning Disability Services across Sussex, as well as relevant Councillors, asking them to support fair funding for fair pay. Market position update 2023 – Southdown’s Learning Disability services As we start the New Year, as I have done for […]

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 […]

Southdown Recognised As A Top 30 Employer For Working Families
We are really proud to announce that Southdown has, for the tenth year in a row, been recognised as a Top 30 Employer for Working Families! Last month, the national charity for working parents and carers, Working Families, announced that Southdown has been awarded a place on its prestigious and competitive list of the top […]

Southdown Publishes New Business Strategy
We are pleased to be able to share our new Business Strategy for 2022-27. This new five year strategy has been developed by Southdown’s Executive and Senior Leadership team with input from our Southdown Voice network and feedback from our latest employee survey. Chief Executive, Neil Blanchard, says, “To realise our ambitions and maximise our […]

The Wellbeing Hub Exhibits At Brighton Photo Fringe
Thirty creatives who access support from The Wellbeing Hub at Preston Park have each submitted a photographic image for the tenth biennial Brighton Photo Fringe this year! The Brighton Photo Fringe is a key event in the city’s cultural calendar and we are proud to be involved in such an exciting festival. Open seven days […]

New ‘Health and Wellbeing Service’ Opens In West Sussex
Launching from mid-July onwards, the Health and Wellbeing Service is a social prescribing service, working in partnership with GP practices across West Sussex. Southdown already successfully provides this Service across East Sussex and Brighton and Hove and Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. The service will support people aged 18 or over who have a diagnosis […]

Southdown Signs The Menopause Workplace Pledge
Women make up nearly half of the UK workforce, but around 900,000 have quit their jobs because of the menopause. Signing the Menopause Workplace Pledge shows that we have committed to making Southdown a supportive and understanding place for employees going through the menopause. If people affected by menopause feel supported at work, it can […]

“The Covid-19 Employment Support Service has been a real life saver”
The Covid-19 pandemic has affected all of our lives over the last two years. For many people, it has impacted on their mental wellbeing and their employment status with businesses forced to close, making staff unemployed. In response to these huge challenges, we launched the Covid-19 Employment Support Service in May 2021. Funded by Local […]