Nicki Morgan

The Choir with No Name Brighton, a choir involving people who have experienced homelessness and marginalisation, is returning to Brighton Dome on Tuesday 6 December for The Big Christmas Singalong. This year the Choir with No Name will be joined at the unique feel-good event by special guests SK Shlomo, Sambaoke and Rock Choir. The Choir with No Name’s Big Christmas Singalong at the Dome has become an annual highlight in the Brighton Christmas calendar, with audience members coming back year after year to enjoy festive favourites, from ‘All I Want for Christmas is You’ to ‘White Christmas’ and everything … Read more

My Choice Homes, a group of nine children’s homes and two schools based in Sussex and Surrey, are putting together backpacks of essential items to donate to homeless charities across Sussex this Christmas. BHT Sussex is delighted to be one of their chosen charities, and we will pass on the packs to clients of our First Base Day Centre. The centre provides vital services, support and advice to people who are rough sleeping or vulnerably housed. Terri Meade, Charity and Events Co-ordinator at My Choice Homes, said: Our mission is to engage our children in charity work and giving to … Read more

BHT Sussex is delighted to announce that we have been awarded Gold accreditation from Investors in People. Investors in People is a well-recognised national award and gold accreditation is only given to organisations which can demonstrate excellence in the way they develop and support people. Paul Devoy, CEO of Investors in People, said: We would like to congratulate BHT Sussex. Gold accreditation is a fantastic achievement for any organisation, and places BHT Sussex in fine company with a host of leading organisation’s that understand the value of people. Daniel O’Connell, Head of People and Learning & Development at BHT Sussex, … Read more

BHT Sussex’s Archway project consists of two mental health care homes in Hove that have been rated ‘Outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission. The Archway project is currently piloting a Step-Down service which supports people who are clinically ready to leave hospital but require intensive support to do so. This service has just been awarded £4,700 from the National Lottery Community Fund to help transform the project’s garden into a therapeutic space. Staff, clients, and volunteers plan to work together to develop a sensory space in the garden, planting flowers and shrubs with different textures and fragrances, adding decorative stones … Read more

BHT Sussex has appointed David Chaffey as its new Chief Executive to succeed Andy Winter who is standing down in the new year after 20 years in the post. David has been the organisation’s Director of Housing and Property Services since 2017 having joined from the largest housing association in the country, Affinity Sutton (now Clarion) where he was Head of Resident Involvement. David began his career in 1987 at Mid Sussex District Council as a Housing Officer. The Chair of the BHT Sussex Board, Kelvin MacDonald, said: We attracted a very strong field of candidates from around the country. … Read more

Last week saw the long-awaited return of our ‘Getting Ready for Work’ event, which more than one hundred people attended. It took place at the Friends Meeting House in Brighton and was organised by our Accommodation for Work project, with a guest appearance from the Choir with No Name! The event brings together clients and keyworkers of homeless services with work and learning providers in the city, it has been successfully running for many years but had to be paused during the pandemic. The Accommodation for Work project aims to help homeless people off the streets and into employment, and … Read more

BHT Sussex is seeking to recruit a new chief executive to succeed Andy Winter, who is to retire in January 2023 after 37 years with the organisation, 20 as its chief executive. BHT Sussex is a dynamic and inclusive organisation with a rich history of inspiring and changing people’s lives spanning 54 years. The organisation is looking for a successful leader, ideally from an organisation of comparable complexity and scale, with experience of working in social housing, charities, the public sector or in mental health services. The Chair of the Board of Trustees, Kelvin MacDonald, said: This is a very … Read more

This month the Choir with no Name Brighton performed alongside musicians from the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra for the world premiere of a brand-new song written especially for Brighton, in celebration of the Women’s EURO football tournament. The performance took place on Monday 11 July at an official Fan Party in Brighton’s Victoria Gardens. The Choir with no Name Brighton is a choir for people who have experienced homelessness and marginalisation, run in partnership with BHT Sussex. BHT Sussex Chair, Kelvin MacDonald, who attended the event, said: There is always such a buzz when the Choir with No Name Brighton is … Read more

You are warmly invited to join musicians from the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the Choir with no Name Brighton for the world premiere of a brand-new song written especially for Brighton, in celebration of the Women’s EURO football tournament. The event will take place on Monday 11th July, 16:30-17:00 at Victoria Gardens, 12a Marlborough Pl, Brighton BN1 1WN. It is free to attend. In July 2022, Brighton & Hove Community Stadium is one of ten stadiums in England hosting the Women’s European Football Championship tournament. In the lead up to the tournament, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) have been working … Read more

BHT Sussex is appealing for donations of men’s clothing, sleeping bags, jackets, trainers, underwear and socks, to help people we support in Brighton and Hove. BHT Sussex runs First Base, the largest resource centre for homeless people in Brighton and Hove. Throughout the pandemic we have continued to offer practical essentials such as food and drink, showers and clean dry clothes, alongside in-depth advice and support to move people away from homelessness for good. Guy Hayes, Operational Manager at First Base, said: Things like warm clothes and shoes make such a difference to people facing homelessness, and we are in … Read more

The below is a message from the team at our Fulfilling Lives South East project which closes today, leaving an incredible legacy behind it.     Thank you and farewell from FLSE Here we are, at the end of the eight year Fulfilling Lives South East Project, and what an incredible journey it’s been. The project has involved many people and we have learned and achieved so much. We have forged new partnerships and connected with like-minded people right across Brighton & Hove and East Sussex. We have developed innovative projects, forged a model of co-production that others wish to emulate, … Read more