A Southdown client with a learning disability sits on a sofa playing an acoustic guitar and smiling at the camera. Opposite him, Anita Beverton, Southdown’s Head of Learning Disability, wears a face mask and floral blouse while playing the violin. They are seated in a cosy, personalised living space filled with sports memorabilia, posters, and certificates, sharing a music practice session that reflects connection, confidence, and creativity.

“Building genuine connections is at the heart of what we do”

In this story, Anita Beverton, Head of Learning Disability services, shares what drives her passion for people to be listened to and to be at the centre of their own lives.

“Being understood at work is having a positive impact…”

Becky, our Service Manager who is neurodiverse, describes her journey of applying for Access to Work support.

A woman with glasses and shoulder-length dark hair sits at a wooden table in a café. She is wearing a burgundy blouse with ruffled sleeves and a matching bow at the collar. She has a confident and calm expression as she looks directly at the camera. The background features large windows with reflections of the outside environment. In the upper right corner, there is a logo for Neurodiversity Celebration Week, consisting of a lightbulb icon with a colourful brain inside.

“I don’t know who I would be if I wasn’t autistic.”

Eden, a peer tutor at the Brighton & Hove Recovery College shares how embracing her neurodiversity has shaped her journey and why representation and understanding matter.

A woman with shoulder-length grey hair and light skin is standing in a kitchen, smiling warmly at the camera. She is wearing a white button-up t-shirt and holding an egg in her hand while washing it under the sink. The kitchen has wooden cabinets, a white tiled backsplash, and various kitchen items, including a slow cooker, bottles, and washing-up liquid, on the counter. The atmosphere is bright and homely.

“There is a huge need for services like this”

Diane, a Support Worker at one of our Supported Living Learning Disability services, shares what makes her role so meaningful and why she loves what she does.

A woman in white tshirt smiles looking at the camera. There is sea in the background, and pebbled beach in sight.

“Employment support bridges a gap”

Southdown’s Employment Specialist outlines what her role includes, what this job means to her.

A woman, dressed in pink cardigan and blue tshirt, smilingly looks while she kneels beside her pet dog.

“The adjustments have made an ENORMOUS impact on my wellbeing”

Deputy Team Manager for Work in Mind Employment service shares how reasonable adjustments at work has enormously helped her mental health and wellbeing.

Tracy, Southdown's Housing First Worker wearing a grey dress and looking into the camera with a smiling face, while sitting on a red couch.

“Every day is different depending on the client”

Tracy, our Housing First worker, shares what her job involves and the difference it makes in clients’ lives.

Our Move On Worker, Lauren, supports people at risk of rough sleeping. In this story she tells us what her role involves.

“When we house clients, it can change their lives forever”

Our Move On Worker, Lauren, supports people at risk of rough sleeping. In this story she tells us what her role involves.

“We support clients to be in control of their life.”

Jamie, manager of one of our Supported Living learning disability services, shares his experience of working at Southdown.

Southdown's Client and Tenant Lead is smiling at the camera, whilst sitting in a room at our Preston Park Wellbeing Hub Service.

“At Southdown, I felt I could be a human”

We spoke to Rebecca, our Client/Tenant Lead about her career journey at Southdown and what she is looking forward to in her new role.

A Southdown employee is sat in the garden and is smiling at the camera.

“Support work helps a client live their best life”

Viv is a Deputy Manager at one of our Learning Disability Support Services, we spoke to her about her role and team.

“This experience is helping me learn and develop”

Luke is a Team Manager for our Staying Well Brighton & Hove service, which provides out of hours mental health crisis support. In this story, Luke tells us what his role involves and why he enjoys it.