Nicki Morgan

An innovative pilot scheme from BHT Sussex is trialling an alternative respite service for people in Brighton and Hove who are thinking about suicide. Suicide rates in the city are significantly higher than average rates in England and existing services to support people are overstretched. This new approach presents an alternative which can also take some of the pressure off local clinical services. This pilot service is called Respite@Shore, and it provides a short term, comfortable, non-clinical and caring space to support those thinking about suicide to regain stability and control over their lives. Respite@Shore is based within an existing … Read more

Be OK, our free mental health service for 16-25 year olds in West Sussex, continues to evolve to meet increasing demand and emerging needs. The number of new referrals to the service more than doubled in the year up to April 2021, compared to the previous year. This service supports young people who are struggling with their mental health in any way, offering one-to-one support from peers and professionals, as well as groups and activities. Since the pandemic began, we have adapted and moved a lot of our support online. We have actually found that many people who are struggling … Read more

After a year off in 2020 due to the pandemic, BHT Sussex’s flagship fundraising event, Bike It Brighton, is back this year on Sunday 11 July 2021. The event is now in its fourth year and is made up of three unique cycling routes, a 60- and 30-mile cycling challenge across the South Downs and a family-friendly ride at Preston Park Velodrome. It is a great day out for the whole family, with food and entertainment available throughout the day at the velodrome. Juliet Hinton-Smith, Community Fundraising Officer at BHT Sussex said: We are so excited to be back with … Read more

This month we officially changed our name from Brighton Housing Trust to BHT Sussex, to reflect the work we undertake in many parts of Sussex. Last April, we merged with a mental health care and support charity, Sussex Oakleaf, that provides services in North West Sussex including in Burgess Hill, Haywards Heath and Crawley. We already delivered services in Brighton and Hove, Lewes, Eastbourne and Hastings. BHT Chief Executive, Andy Winter, explained the reasoning behind the change:   The name ‘Brighton Housing Trust’ doesn’t reflect the broad nature of our work. We work well beyond Brighton and Hove, and while … Read more

Clients of specialist mental health service Route One were the latest BHT clients to receive Covid-19 vaccinations last week, when a mobile clinic visited one of our properties in Hove. They join a growing group of vulnerable people who had not initially been prioritised for the vaccine, but who have now been reached thanks to collaborative efforts between Arch Healthcare, St John Ambulance, Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust, Justlife, Here and BHT. BHT’s Route One service provides supported accommodation for sixty people with complex mental health needs. Staff at the project worked with local healthcare provider Here to secure vaccines … Read more

In the twelve months leading up to the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, BHT’s advice centres in Brighton, Eastbourne and Hastings prevented 927 households from becoming homeless. We welcomed the government’s decision to put a moratorium on evictions during the pandemic.  That didn’t mean, however, that people were not becoming homeless.  People lost their accommodation for many reasons including relationship breakdowns, being asked to leave during the lockdown while sofa-surfing, and not being able to afford the cost of their homes, because they had lost their jobs or their income was otherwise reduced. Some of these people will have ended … Read more

Up to the outbreak of Covid-19, First Base was supporting around 70 people each day who were sleeping rough on the streets of Brighton and Hove. The City Council, supported by various charities, did a phenomenal job getting well over 400 homeless people into temporary accommodation, at least half of whom became homeless after the first lockdown. First Base supported these efforts, becoming the main hub in the city for the completion of Covid-19 related referrals to emergency accommodation. As a result of the pandemic, First Base has reviewed and updated what it offers. Although the number of people sleeping … Read more

The following update was compiled for the Community Works March 2020 newsletter. BHT provides specialist legal housing advice in Brighton (as well as in Hastings and Eastbourne), from specialist solicitors and advisers who have years of knowledge and experience in this field. The focus of BHT’s Housing Advice Service is to prevent homelessness; we aim to help clients to remain in their own home or ensure they are rehoused. Last year the BHT Housing Advice Services across Brighton & Hove and East Sussex prevented 927 households from becoming homeless. Under our contract with the Legal Aid Agency, advice can be … Read more

New high harm domestic abuse perpetrator unit launched in Sussex BHT is part of a new multi-agency unit, led by Sussex Police, that has started work this week to tackle some of the county’s most prolific and harmful domestic abusers. With £402,000 Government funding secured by Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne, the new High Harm Domestic Abuse (DA) Perpetrator Unit will seek, identify and target the most active and dangerous serial perpetrators of DA, uncovering and addressing the reasons why they offend. It will aim to change their behaviour and reduce re-offending. PCC Katy Bourne, said: “I’m delighted … Read more