A Statement Responding To Proposed Changes To Disability Benefits System
Many of you will have heard the recent speech from the Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, on his intent to “reform the disability benefits system”, proposing changes to welfare benefits, fit notes, and work capability. We understand that this has caused a lot of worry for people in terms of what that means for their future […]
Listening And Learning From Our Clients And Tenants
Listening to our clients and tenants and creating opportunities for them to share their opinions and influence how we do things is important to us. So much so, it is one of our four strategic business priorities. Across Southdown, there are lots of great client involvement activities happening – within our support services across Sussex […]
Ewe OK Joins Fatboy Slim on Fundraiser!
Clients from our UOK Brighton & Hove mental health service, the Wellbeing Hub at Preston Park, joined Norman Cook aka Fatboy Slim, on his half-marathon walk across Brighton and Hove in aid of local hospice, Martlets. This month, residents and visitors to the city will have noticed some very colourful and unique Shaun the Sheep […]
One Year On – Reflections from the Chair of our Board
When I took over as Chair in September 2022, it was all change! I was the longest standing Board member with three years’ experience; one third of the Board had only joined that month. In addition, there were two new subcommittee chairs – Helen Tuddenham (People, Pay and Culture Committee) and Simon Nunan (Audit and […]
Southdown Named Top 30 Family-Friendly Employer in UK
We are delighted to announce that the national charity for working parents and carers, Working Families, has announced, for the eleventh year running, that Southdown has been awarded a place on its prestigious and competitive list of top family-friendly employers in the UK. Employers large and small from across the public, private, and third sectors […]
Government seeks views on learning disability and autism training
In the media, you may have seen news on a Government consultation, launched today, on new learning disability and autism training being developed for health and care staff nationally. The training is named after Oliver McGowan, a young autistic teenager with a mild learning disability who sadly died after having a severe reaction to medication […]
Supporting the Care, Support and Social Housing sectors as a local Councillor
Southdown’s Chief Executive, Neil Blanchard, publishes an open letter he sent to recently elected councillors in Brighton and Hove.
Southdown Sign Up To Together With Tenants
Southdown signs up to the National Housing Federation’s initiative called Together with Tenants to improve and strengthen the relationship between residents and housing associations.
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 […]
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.