Get Involved
BHT Sussex Housing Services are committed to engaging and involving tenants from all communities to help shape and improve our services, in Brighton, Eastbourne and Hastings.
We offer a menu of different opportunities, empowering tenants to influence services as we know one size doesn’t fit all, and are also continually looking at and developing new ways for our tenants to be involved with us.
Our tenant involvement work includes:
Every year we ask our clients and tenants to let us know what we are doing well and where we need to improve. We then publish a report on the survey, and follow up any areas of concern in focus groups to see how they can be resolved.Â
BHT Sussex is always aiming to improve performance and decision-making to provide for the needs of its tenants more effectively. To support this aim the BHT Sussex Tenant Scrutiny Panel was set up.
The panel provides a formal opportunity for tenants to critically analyse and challenge BHT Sussex processes and decision-making. It is a means to ensure that BHT Sussex’s frameworks for directing, accounting for, monitoring, assessing and reviewing its own direction and performance are based on the views and priorities of its own tenants.
If you are interested in becoming a member of the Panel, then please contact Anna via the details below.
The upcoming meeting will take place on Friday 9th August at 1pm - 3pm in Brighton.
If you are interested in becoming a tenant scrutiny panel member, please contact Anna at anna.kuzan@bht.org.uk or 07500 972 509.
A voluntary role to attend quarterly editorial board meetings with staff to help shape, design, write, provide artwork, and lead on choice of content for the newsletter.
You can also submit your photos for a chance to feature on the front cover of the summer edition of Lighthouse magazine. Share your summer themed photo with us for a chance to win a gift card. Send your pics to anna.kuzan@bht.org.uk by 31st May.
This is a volunteer role to rate and give feedback about the grounds maintenance service. We can’t be there to make sure that our gardening contractors are getting it right all the time, and the Inspectors act as our eyes and ears on the ground. They not only report on the state of the grounds but can also make suggestions for improvements. They fill out regular inspection forms and send them to Anna at the London Road Office.
There are quarterly meetings where the inspectors meet. Those who can’t make it into the office just send the feedback forms to the London Road office.
Inspectors are given training and ongoing support to make the most of their volunteer role.
Please get in touch with Anna on the contact details below for more information.
BHT Sussex is committed to client and tenant representation at all levels of the organisation.
In 2018, Gerry Main, current tenant and previous client of BHT Sussex was selected to join the Board of Trustees, following a recruitment process. In 2023, Mary Davies was also selected to join the Board. Mary is also a current client of BHT Sussex. Both bring a valuable wealth of lived experience and knowledge to the Board.
 Since their election, they have become heavily involved in representing the views of the tenants to the Board and thus contributing to a more efficient and effective BHT Sussex policy making process.
BHT Sussex is committed to client and tenant representation at all levels of the organisation. Watch this space for future opportunities to apply to the Board.
BHT Sussex hold focus groups that are open to all clients and tenants. The topics of these groups are determined by areas of concern raised in the annual tenant and client snapshot survey.
If you are interested in joining future focus groups, please get in touch with Anna through the contact details below.
Every year we hold a ‘BHT Sussex in Bloom’ gardening competition across all housing and client services.
This year’s categories are:
- Best communal garden
- Most environmentally friendly garden
- Best individual garden/best indoor plants
The closing date for entries is 5th July. Judges will be visiting the entrants on 12th July to pick the winners.
To enter in any category, contact Anna Kuzan anna.kuzan@bht.org.uk or 07500 972509. If you would like some free seeds to get started, also contact Anna.
Winners will receive a £30 B&Q voucher. Runners up will receive a £10 B&Q voucher.
BHT Sussex found me a permanent flat to live in after years of the uncertainty of temporary accommodation. When I heard they were looking for volunteers I jumped at the chance.
Over the past three months I have been on several helpful awareness courses encouraged by them. Also other projects and the opportunity to express my ideas and thoughts on their new blog. This has helped me gain confidence and knowledge into a field I can hopefully be employed in or simply just involved.
It’s a great local charity.
Anthony Carney, Client Action network volunteer and BHT Sussex tenant
Contact Details
For further information on any of the above, please contact Anna Kuzan, BHT Sussex Involvement Officer.
