Brighton is a vibrant and thriving city that many students at Sussex are lucky enough to call home. But there are many in the area in need of support, and they rely on the hard work of the city’s local charities. Detailed here is information about some of Brighton’s best charities that are doing essential work for the community, and advice about how you can get involved as a student to help raise money and awareness. If you want to give back and support local good causes then here are some great ways to do so.

The Clock Tower Sanctuary is a charity which aims to help tackle the issue of homelessness in Brighton. The charities representatives state that ‘Brighton and Hove is struggling with the second highest homeless population in the UK next to Westminster’. The Clock Tower Sanctuary (CTS) is a local charity that ‘aims to prevent young homeless people (aged 16-25) from becoming part of the long-term homeless population’. A way to get involved with this charity and to help raise money and awareness is to organise your own fundraising event, which can be as fun and easy as a bake sale. More information about this can be found by contacting alison@thects.org.uk. There is also a great option to volunteer at the CTS centre. As students, it’s a great way to spend your spare time as well as understanding and helping other people. ‘79% of volunteers said that their experience with the CTS had a positive impact on their career’. In the last 2 years Sussex University Women’s Lacrosse Club, the Men’s Hockey Team, the Geography Society, the Economics Society and Sussex RAG week all supported the Clock Tower Sanctuary. If you would like to support them this year contact info@thects.org.uk.

Brighton is regarded as having a large LGBTU+ population, which The Allsorts Youth Project aims to cater for. The charity’s deputy director Katie Vincent states that its goal is to listen, support and connect children and young people under the age of 26 who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans or unsure of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity’ by offering one to one support and group support. Those who have received support through the charity say ‘Allsorts has helped my confidence’ and ‘it is a place that’s great for making friends’. To get involved with the project you can volunteer your own time to help support the youth workers facilitate their group work, organise fundraisers or donate directly; more information regarding this is available at www.allsortsyouth.org.uk.

Rockinghorse is a 51-year-old Brighton based charity that is dedicated to helping unwell children. The charity’s founder, Dr Trevor Mann, ‘recognised there was a real need for additional resources to improve healthcare services for sick children and babies. We are best-known as the official fundraising arm of the Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital in Brighton and are a vital supporter of the neighbouring Trevor Mann Baby Unit’. To assist this charity, you can host your own fundraising event, or get involved with one hosted by the charity itself. Through working with this charity, you can help to make their services ‘cutting edge and accessible for those who rely on them’, so go to www.rockinghorse.org.uk for more details about getting involved.

Many are often in need of assistance later on in life, so Age UK Brighton and Hove is a charity that provides help and support for the elderly population in the Brighton area. Sally, a representative of the charity, offers many ways that you can get involved and help support this charity such as volunteering, for which you can contact info@ageuk-bh.org.uk. Age UK Brighton and Hove also have shops in the city which are located on St James Street Brighton, and one on St George’s Road, Kemptown, which Sally says is a good place ‘get rid of unwanted clothes, books, DVDs etc.’ and that ‘any donations are gratefully received’. She says that a simple way for students to get involved is by ‘spreading the word by speaking to older relatives and letting them know that we are there to help’, so if you have any older family members in the city who are in need of support, this charity could be a great source of help for them.

Team Domenica, set up in 2016 by Rosa Monckton MBE, supports those aged 19+ with learning disabilities such as Down’s syndrome, autism, and various speech/language difficulties. Rosa’s belief is that ‘everybody needs to be valued and has potential’, so Team Domenica aims to help individuals with learning disabilities to realise their career potential. The charity has highlighted that ‘almost 94% of those with learning difficulties are unemployed’ as there are simply not enough opportunities of work experience available, and, crucially, there no other organisations are offering dedicated pre-employment training and high levels of ongoing support’. Through various programmes, the charity ‘achieved a 20%+ employment rate’ in their first year alone, and through their vital work have made ‘more job opportunities available to young adults with learning disabilities’, as well as helping ‘young adults with learning disabilities to feel less isolated.’ For more information, go to www.teamdomenica.com.

All these charities are what help to bring the community of Brighton together, and as students at the University of Sussex we could all make sure we do that extra bit to help the people around us. Please do take time to look at these charities wonderful websites where you will find personal stories, and gain a greater insight into what the incredible staff and volunteers do and see where you fit in with making a change!

With many thanks to the people at these charities for their information and cooperation: Alison Boyce, Jo Cook, Cheryl Piper, Sally Sharpe and Katie Vincent.

Tallulah Belassie                       
Features Editor
Co-Written by Mollie-Lindsay-Bush and Rachel Badham 

 

 

 

 

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