Southdown
Southdown is Sussex's largest not-for-profit care, support and housing provider, founded in 1972, delivering mental health, learning disability, homelessness and housing services to over 11,000 people annually via ~£32M of Local Authority and NHS-commissioned contracts.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1972
- HeadquartersLewes, United Kingdom
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Southdown does
Southdown Housing Association Limited is a UK not-for-profit exempt charity and registered society under the Co-operative and Community Benefits Societies Act 2014, established in 1972 in Sussex and headquartered in Lewes. Operating as Sussex's largest not-for-profit care, support and housing provider, Southdown delivers a portfolio of 60+ services across the South coast corridor (Chichester to Hastings) and inland to Crawley, Horsham and Lewes, serving more than 11,000 people annually with a workforce of 850-1,000+ employees across three offices (Lewes, Brighton, Hailsham). Its four core service lines are Housing (supported housing for ~570 tenants and shared owners), Housing Support (homelessness prevention and tenancy sustainment), Mental Health and Employment Support (including lead-provider status for the 23-partner UOK mental health network in Brighton & Hove and East Sussex), and Learning Disability Support (registered care homes and supported living). Underpinning all services is the proprietary Southdown Beacon framework, launched in 2023, which provides a clinically reviewed psychologically informed approach with three domains and nine beams.
The business model is fundamentally a public-sector commissioned services model rather than a commercial SaaS or product model. The vast majority of income derives from contracts with East Sussex, West Sussex and Brighton & Hove Local Authorities and the NHS Sussex Integrated Care Board, supplemented by tenant rent and service charge income, individually commissioned care packages, and central-government grants such as the DWP-funded Connect to Work programme. All services are free at the point of use for eligible adults (18+, some from 16+), and any surpluses are reinvested into service development under the charity's regulatory framework (RSH, CQC, FCA, ICO). Distribution is referral-driven through Adult Social Care assessments, Housing Options waiting lists, NHS Talking Therapies and self-referral, with no direct-to-consumer sales motion. FY ending 31 March 2025 turnover was £32 million.
Southdown firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Southdown
- Legal name
- Southdown Housing Association Limited
- Website
- https://southdown.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1972
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- Southdown is Sussex's largest not-for-profit care, support and housing provider, founded in 1972, delivering mental health, learning disability, homelessness and housing services to over 11,000 people annually via ~£32M of Local Authority and NHS-commissioned contracts.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Southdown industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Social Care and Supported Housing Services
- NAICS
- Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Other Community Housing Services (624229), Other Residential Care Facilities (623990), Temporary Shelters (624221)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Post-Discharge Non-Medical Transitional Support (after hospital/SNF) (HLADAGAJ)
Keywords
Where Southdown is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Lewes
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
Southdown business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Commissioned contracts: Contracts with Local Authorities and Clinical Commissioning Groups for East and West Sussex and Brighton and Hove. Most of income comes from these public sector commissioning relationships.
- Rent and service charge income: Income from approximately 570 tenants and shared owners across Sussex for housing services.
- Commissioned packages of support for individual clients: Individual care packages commissioned for specific client support needs, particularly for learning disability services.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Annual | Free services for eligible clients |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
Southdown product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Southdown provides specialist care, support and housing services across Sussex, operating four core service lines: Housing (supported housing for approximately 570 tenants and shared owners), Housing Support (homelessness prevention), Mental Health and Employment Support, and Learning Disability Support (registered care and supported living). All services are free to eligible adults aged 18+ and are primarily funded through commissioned contracts with Local Authorities and NHS Sussex.
Product overview
Southdown is a not-for-profit care, support and housing provider offering a comprehensive portfolio of services across Sussex. The organization operates as a portfolio of distinct service lines rather than a single unified product. Core services include Housing (supported housing for approximately 570 tenants), Housing Support (homelessness prevention), Mental Health and Employment Support, and Learning Disability Support. These are complemented by specialized sub-services including the UOK Wellbeing Service (redesigned community mental health), the HOLD Shared Home Ownership Scheme, crisis support services (Staying Well, The Lighthouse), employment support programs (Connect to Work, Work and Wellbeing, Work in Mind), housing pathways (Pathways Home, Southdown Moves, Southdown Steps), and care home/supported living options. The Southdown Beacon framework provides a consistent psychological support approach across all services. Services span from Brighton & Hove to Hastings along the South coast and inland to Crawley, Horsham, and Lewes.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Housing Supported housing service providing affordable accommodation for approximately 570 tenants and shared owners across Sussex, with support to help individuals manage their tenancies and maintain their homes.
- Housing Support Homelessness prevention and housing support services across East Sussex, West Sussex and Brighton and Hove, addressing issues such as poverty, mental health challenges and domestic abuse.
- Mental Health and Employment Support Free community-based mental health services across Sussex supporting adults to get well, stay well, and prevent crisis, including specialist employment support services.
- Learning Disability Support Specialist accommodation and support services for adults with learning and physical disabilities in Sussex, including registered care homes and supported living options, all registered with the Care Quality Commission.
- HOLD Shared Home Ownership Scheme Home Ownership for people with Long-term Disabilities (HOLD) is a government-backed shared ownership scheme helping people with disabilities buy a home on the open market.
- UOK Wellbeing Service Redesigned community mental health service delivered by Southdown as lead provider of the UOK partnership, providing one-to-one support, peer support groups, social and community activities, and connections to specialist services for adults aged 18+ across Brighton & Hove and East Sussex.
- Registered Care Homes Residential care services where accommodation and support are provided together as a full package of care for people with learning disabilities.
- Supported Living Services where an individual owns or rents their own home and has control over the support they receive and how they live their lives, for adults with learning disabilities.
- Assertive Outreach & Move On Service Support for people who are sleeping rough or at imminent risk of being homeless in East Sussex.
- Discharge to Assess Support and accommodation for people ready to leave mental health inpatient settings in Brighton and Hove.
- Emotional Wellbeing Service Mental health information, advice, guidance, and support available at GP surgeries across Brighton and Hove and East Sussex.
- Staying Well Out-of-hours crisis prevention mental health support services in Brighton, Eastbourne and St Leonards-On-Sea.
- The Lighthouse Specialist support service for people who have complex emotional needs in Brighton and Hove.
- Thinking Well Dedicated service for people with a diagnosis of complex emotional needs living in East Sussex.
- Pathways Home Short term, goal orientated housing support for single people and families in West Sussex.
- Southdown Moves Accommodation, housing management and support for people with low support mental health needs in Brighton and Hove.
- Southdown Steps Accommodation, housing management and tenancy support for people who have been homeless or living in temporary or supported accommodation.
- Brighton & Hove Recovery College Mental health education service supporting people to become experts in their own self-care and mental health recovery.
- Connect to Work DWP-funded supported employment programme in East Sussex helping people with employment support.
- Work and Wellbeing Specialist employment support for people with mental health challenges across Sussex.
- Work in Mind Employment support for people accessing Health in Mind mental health services in East Sussex.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 11,000 people supported annually across 60 services
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Southdown
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Southdown technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Southdown partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- UOK PartnershipcoreSouthdown is lead provider of the UOK partnership, bringing local mental health and wellbeing support together into a clearer, more joined-up service across Brighton & Hove and East Sussex. UOK is a network of 23 community services working together to support good mental health and wellbeing.
- Local Authorities (East Sussex, West Sussex, Brighton and Hove)coreMost of Southdown's income comes from contracts with Local Authorities across Sussex. They commission housing, care, and support services.
- Clinical Commissioning Groups (Now NHS Sussex Integrated Care Board)coreCommissioned services for community mental health transformation and other NHS-funded care and support across Sussex.
- Sussex Health and Care PartnershipcoreSouthdown's Chief Executive Neil Blanchard is an elected representative supporting delivery of the Sussex Health and Care Partnership Mental Health Community Transformation Programme. Represents VCSE sector in Sussex-wide and local governance structures.
- Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation TrustmajorNHS partner in mental health transformation across Sussex, part of the Sussex Health and Care Partnership Integrated Care System.
- National Housing FederationmajorSouthdown is a member and works to their best practice standards. Jim Aspdin, Director of Housing and Assets, chairs the South East Supported Housing Group.
- East Sussex VCSE AlliancemajorNeil Blanchard is a founding member and Mental Health Strategic Rep. The group aims to promote and expand the role of VCSE in shaping and delivering non-clinical mental health services across Sussex.
- Sussex Mental Health VCSE Strategic Leadership GroupmajorNeil Blanchard chairs this group formed of all VCSE mental health representatives across Sussex, aiming to promote and expand the role of VCSE in mental health services.
- Sussex Learning Disability VCSE CEO GroupmajorSouthdown chairs this group which urges local councillors and commissioners to grant minimum 8% fee uplift for learning disability residential services across Sussex.
- Health In MindmajorNHS Talking Therapies East Sussex provider, partner in mental health services and Work in Mind employment support programme.
- Department for Work and PensionsmajorFunder of Connect to Work supported employment programme in East Sussex.
- Change Grow LiveminorDrug and alcohol recovery support provider in Brighton & Hove and West Sussex. Southdown provides Substance Misuse Employment Service for their clients.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Southdown competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Look Ahead Care and Support: Provider of supported housing, mental health, and learning disability services across southern England, commissioned by Local Authorities and NHS. Direct peer in supported housing and community mental health, with overlapping regional footprint in southern England.
- Hft (Home Farm Trust): National charity supporting people with learning disabilities, including registered care, supported living, and Positive Behaviour Support. Direct peer in learning disability care home/supported living, the most comparable specialism to Southdown's core LD services.
- Turning Point: UK social enterprise providing mental health, learning disability, substance use, and housing support services. Direct peer given overlapping service lines, NHS/Local Authority commissioning model, and similar not-for-profit structure.
- Change Grow Live: National social enterprise delivering substance use, mental health, and criminal justice services. Southdown's listed partner in Brighton & Hove and West Sussex for Substance Misuse Employment Service, and a direct peer in VCSE community services delivery.
- United Response: National charity providing supported living, residential care, and community support for people with learning disabilities, autism, and mental health needs. Direct peer across learning disability and mental health support delivered through commissioned contracts.
- Dimensions UK: National specialist social care provider for people with learning disabilities and autism, operating registered care homes and supported living services. Direct peer in BILD-certified Positive Behaviour Support and learning disability care delivery.
- Brandon Trust: Charity supporting people with learning disabilities through supported living, residential care, and day services. Direct peer in learning disability registered care and supported living models with similar commissioner relationships.
- Together UK (Together for Mental Wellbeing): National mental health charity delivering community-based support, housing, and recovery services. Direct peer in the mental health community support and supported housing categories where Southdown also operates.
Broad incumbents
- Peabody: One of London's largest housing associations and a broader provider of supported housing, care, and community services. Broad incumbent operating in the same supported housing category as Southdown but at significantly larger scale and wider geographic scope.
- Optivo: Large UK housing association providing general needs and supported housing across the South East. Broad incumbent with overlapping supported housing capability in Sussex-region geographies where Southdown operates.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Southdown social profiles
Digital presenceSouthdown compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance12 records
Southdown financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Southdown leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles17 records
Southdown funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Southdown M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Southdown
What does Southdown do?
Southdown provides specialist care, support and housing services across Sussex, operating four core service lines: Housing (supported housing for approximately 570 tenants and shared owners), Housing Support (homelessness prevention), Mental Health and Employment Support, and Learning Disability Support (registered care and supported living). All services are free to eligible adults aged 18+ and are primarily funded through commissioned contracts with Local Authorities and NHS Sussex.
Is Southdown a public or private company?
Southdown is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Southdown founded?
Southdown was founded in 1972. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is Southdown based?
Southdown is headquartered in Lewes, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Southdown make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Commissioned contracts are the primary driver. The others are rent and service charge income and commissioned packages of support for individual clients.
Who are Southdown's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Look Ahead Care and Support, Hft (Home Farm Trust), Turning Point, Change Grow Live, United Response, Dimensions UK, Brandon Trust and Together UK (Together for Mental Wellbeing). Broad incumbents are Peabody and Optivo.
Does Southdown have an API?
No public API is recorded for Southdown.
What industry is Southdown in?
Southdown's product category is Social Care and Supported Housing Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAEAB, Housing Assistance & Homeless Services, with a secondary code of HLADAGAJ, Post-Discharge Non-Medical Transitional Support (after hospital/SNF). Its NAICS code is 624190 and its SIC code is 8300.