Commissioning Excellence in East Sussex: strengthening trust, transparency and partnership
Commissioning shapes the services and opportunities available to communities, yet it often operates under financial pressure, organisational complexity, and transactional relationships. The East Sussex VCSE Commissioning Excellence Programme – co-created by East Sussex County Council and the East Sussex VCSE Alliance (including Southdown, East Sussex Age UK and Care for the Carers) – explored a […]
What action will you take this Mental Health Awareness Week?
This week is Mental Health Awareness Week 2026, running from 11–17 May. The theme from the Mental Health Foundation is action. It speaks to the importance of taking steps that matter – for yourself, for someone else, for all of us. At Southdown, we believe everyone deserves to feel safe, well and connected, and supporting […]
Supporting communities in East Sussex understand and respond to trauma
Earlier this year in March, UOK East Sussex launched its Trauma-Informed Practice Test & Learn Programme 2026, supporting local voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations to embed trauma-informed approaches into their everyday work. Led by Southdown as the UOK East Sussex lead provider, the programme runs from March to September 2026 and has awarded five […]
Join us for football, movement and good company this Mental Health Awareness Week
To mark this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week 2026, we’re starting with something simple: coming together. On Monday 11 May, UOK is hosting a free football and wellbeing session in partnership with the Brighton & Hove Albion Foundation. The session takes place at Brighton Youth Centre Sports Hall from 10am to 12.30pm. This isn’t about […]
Opening doors to care careers through community recruitment in Brighton
As the largest not-for-profit provider of care, support, and housing in Sussex, we value ourselves on being responsive to the needs of our services and our communities. Last month, we enhanced our current online recruitment process by holding an event in the centre of Brighton where members of the public could apply for a job […]
Reflecting on five years of Transition and Resettlement Support service
After five years, Southdown’s Transition and Resettlement (T&R) Housing Support service has come to an end. As the funding for the service closes, we wanted to take a moment to reflect on what the team built, and the difference it made. The Transition and Resettlement team supported hundreds of people to move on from homelessness […]
How Chit Chat Corner sessions are creating meaningful connections for our clients
Southdown’s Chit Chat Corner initiative, launched in 2025, is already helping clients from our learning disability services across Sussex form meaningful friendships and stay connected. The sessions provide a supportive space where people can meet, chat over refreshments, and exchange contact details. The initiative addresses a significant gap in quality of life for many people […]
Southdown’s Financial Inclusion team recognised at Parliament event
Members of Southdown’s Financial Inclusion team were invited to the National Association of Welfare Rights Advisers’ (NAWRA) 50th anniversary celebration at the Houses of Parliament last month, marking five decades of work to improve access to welfare rights across the UK. Craig and Lea from the team attended the reception on the historic Parliament terrace alongside MPs, […]
Building apprenticeship pathways at Southdown
To kick off National Apprenticeship Week, we’re delighted to introduce Anna Burgess, our new Apprenticeships and Qualifications Lead. Anna has joined Southdown at an exciting time, as we continue to strengthen our commitment to learning, development, and creating meaningful career pathways for colleagues across the organisation. Below, Anna shares plans for the year ahead: “As […]
Southdown celebrates 25 years of Investors in People gold status
Southdown has reached a remarkable milestone, achieving 25 consecutive years of Investors in People (IiP) accreditation whilst also retaining our Gold status. What the accreditation recognises Investors in People is an independent assessment that examines how organisations invest in their people. The accreditation process involves reviewing policies, speaking with staff at all levels, and evaluating […]
We are looking for a new Chair of the Board
Southdown is recruiting for a new Chair of the Board to lead us through an exciting next phase. For over 50 years, we’ve been supporting people across Sussex to live safe, well and independent lives. Today, we help more than 11,700 people each year through our housing, mental health, care, homelessness prevention and employment services. […]
Brighton & Hove Recovery College Spring term enrolment now open
Enrolment is now open for the Brighton & Hove Recovery College Spring Term 2026, following a successful open day this week that welcomed people from across our communities to explore learning that supports their mental health and wellbeing. The Spring Term will run from Monday 26 January to Thursday 9 April 2026, offering a wide range of free, educational […]