Working together to make a difference across Sussex

Posted on 18 September 2026

This week, we welcomed around 45 colleagues and guests from across housing, health, social care, local government and the voluntary sector to our Strategy Showcase & Networking Event at Isetta Square in Brighton.

The event was an opportunity to showcase some of Southdown’s recent housing work, but it was about much more than presentations. It was about opening our doors, making connections and having conversations about how we can work with others to find solutions for people across Sussex.

We heard from Genette Laws, Corporate Director for Homes and Adult Social Care at Brighton & Hove City Council, about some of the pressures facing the city and the opportunities for housing and adult social care. We also heard directly from one of our tenants about their experience of housing and support.

Neil Blanchard, our Chief Executive, and Jim Aspdin, Director of Housing and Assets, then shared more about Southdown’s housing work, what we have learned through recent developments, and some of the partnership opportunities we are pursuing.

The majority of the event though was dedicated to networking and informal conversations – giving colleagues and guests the chance to share ideas, understand more about each other’s work and explore where we might be able to work together.

Neil Blanchard, our Chief Executive said, “The event brought to life an important part of our five-year strategy: Southdown is open to collaboration, wants to find practical solutions and is ready to work with others to make a difference. Thank you to everyone who helped make the afternoon such a warm, welcoming and positive event – and particularly to colleagues who represented Southdown and helped us make the most of the conversations and connections.”

“The next step is to turn those conversations into action, following up on the ideas, opportunities and relationships that came out of the afternoon.”

– Neil Blanchard, CEO

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