Community Champion Awards go to BHT care home volunteers!

This Mental Health Awareness Week, BHT is celebrating Sheila Nuttall and Peter Taylor, who volunteer at our mental health care homes in Hove and who have won Covid-19 Community Champion Awards in recognition of the work they are doing to support the vulnerable. The awards have been organised by the Mayor of Brighton and Hove and celebrate the efforts of local people to offer direct and practical help to others during the pandemic. The two care homes where Peter and Sheila volunteer form BHT’s Archway project, a residential service providing intensive mental health support; both care homes have been rated … Read more

BHT’s supporters get creative and raise more than £3000!

BHT’s supporters joined people from across the UK to take part in the ‘2.6 challenge’, a campaign to help charities that have lost funds due to the Covid-19 pandemic. BHT’s creative supporters dreamed up some imaginative challenges and have so far raised more than £3000, which will help the charity continue to run its services for those facing homelessness, addiction and mental ill health. The idea behind the ‘2.6 challenge’, which was launched on 26 April 2020 to coincide with the planned date of the cancelled London Marathon, was to support charities who have had to cancel their fundraising events … Read more

Useful resources during lockdown

From using online health services to staying safe, from Food Banks to puzzles, and from reading groups to tools for staying in touch with friends and family, we have pulled together some relevant links to websites which could help you during these challenging times. Stay safe.   Practical COVID 19 advice Information on COVID-19 from Government Information on COVID-19 from NHS Citizens Advice Bureau guidance on COVID-19 Information on COVID-19 from Which?   Universal Credit/benefits advice Understanding Universal Credit – government advice   Getting Online Advice from Citizens Online for getting set up online Further online support resources from Citizens … Read more

Virtual Choir launched for homeless people in Brighton

The Choir with No Name Brighton has launched a ‘virtual choir’ online, as part of efforts to make sure its members can stay connected during the coronavirus pandemic. This choir for people who have experienced homelessness and marginalisation is run in partnership between the national Choir with No Name charity and BHT. It is a vital support network for some of the most isolated members of the community. The Choir with No Name Brighton used to meet to sing every Monday at One Church in the city centre, with each rehearsal followed by a hot meal, cooked by a team … Read more

VE Day activity packs for tenants

We’re helping our tenants and clients celebrate the 75th anniversary of VE Day with special activity packs. We’re offering these packs to our tenants and clients to help them celebrate the 75th anniversary of VE Day in lockdown. The anniversary of Victory in Europe Day on 8th May was set to be a significant occasion with the May bank holiday moved and largescale events planned to commemorate the landmark. We’re working with the Royal British Legion, National Memorial Arboretum and Citizen to help people mark the anniversary from their home by reading about VE Day and taking part in activities. … Read more

Join Team BHT for the 2.6 challenge – a ‘lockdown-friendly’ fundraiser for everyone!

At BHT we are continuing to run our services throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, but we need your help. We have had to cancel our major fundraising events for the year, and urgently need to raise funds so that we can carry on supporting people who are relying on us now more than ever. This is where you come in! The organisers of the biggest mass-participation sports events across the country have come together to create a new campaign to help UK charities like us. The 2.6 Challenge will launch this weekend on Sunday 26 April – what should have been … Read more

Sussex Oakleaf launch new online mental health support platform

Sussex Oakleaf, a local provider of mental health services which merged with BHT in April 2020, has launched a new online platform. It is aimed at providing advice, information, support, and resources to people who are struggling with their mental health. The platform, which can be accessed through the Sussex Oakleaf website at www.sussexoakleaf.org.uk/onlinesupport/will allow visitors to chat one to one, through any internet enabled device, with one of Sussex Oakleaf’s trained mental health Recovery Workers. Visitors can ask questions, share their concerns, or receive guidance on how best to manage their mental health or the mental health of a … Read more

BHT wins bronze at Charity Film Awards

BHT has won a bronze award in the prestigious 2020 Charity Film Awards, for a powerful film about homelessness. These awards celebrate the effective use of video by the third sector to change mindsets, raise awareness or fundraise. BHT’s film was made without charge by Hove-based Big Egg Films, and generously donated to our Christmas fundraising campaign. The gala ceremony that was planned for the awards night was replaced with a live streamed version on 21 April where the winners were announced. 400 films were entered in the awards and winners were decided by a combination of a public vote, … Read more

New edition of Lighthouse magazine out now!

The Spring 2020 edition of Lighthouse Magazine, our quarterly magazine for clients and tenants, is out now. Articles cover a variety of topics, including the changes we have made to our services to keep you safe during the coronavirus pandemic, and an update on the official merger of BHT and Sussex Oakleaf, which happened on 1 April 2020. It also contains an update from the Tenant Scrutiny Panel, which is putting together its findings on the impact of Universal Credit on BHT tenants and, on a lighter note, details of how to get involved in the next BHT in Bloom … Read more

BHT and Sussex Oakleaf complete merger

As of today 1 April 2020, BHT successfully completed its merger with Sussex Oakleaf, a specialist provider of mental health services. This has been achieved in spite of the coronavirus pandemic and has followed eighteen months of negotiations. Both organisations have long histories of providing effective front-line services to those who need it most, and by joining together can support more people and have a greater impact. Andy Winter, Chief Executive of BHT, is staying on to lead the newly merged organisation. He said: We are truly excited for the opportunities that this merger will bring, not just to the … Read more

Feature on Fulfilling Lives research published in top journal

Kerry Dowding, Research and Evaluation Officer for Fulfilling Lives South East, has had an article published by the journal Social Research Practice. Her article looks at co-production in research, and how the Fulfilling Lives project applies this approach in practice with people who have experienced multiple and complex needs. The aim is to encourage social researchers across the UK to work more co-productively. Kerry has drawn learning from her work supporting the Fulfilling Lives Peer Research Network, a dynamic group of volunteers and staff with lived experience of multiple and complex needs, who conduct research within the project. They are … Read more

Skip to content