Sunday Brunch featured soundbites from the above ‘Sussex & Surrey Soapbox’ podcast episode…. to skip chapters click on the 3 horizontal lines (left in the above player). Have your say via WhatsApp (bottom right) or join the conversation in our Facebook Group HERE.

We sit down with special guests Michelle Harfield, Turning Tides and Ian Wilkins, Crawley Open House for a candid, eye-opening conversation about the real causes of homelessness across the SUSY area — and why the story we often hear barely scratches the surface. In the next episode we will tackle escaping homelessness and the services provided by Turning Tides and Crawley Open House.

Together, we challenge common assumptions, moving beyond the narrow image of rough sleeping to uncover a far more complex reality. From the quiet instability of unsafe housing to the long, uncertain stretches in temporary accommodation and hostels, we trace the real pathways into homelessness — shaped by childhood experiences, trauma, sudden financial shocks, and a cascade of life events that rarely happen in isolation.

In Part 1 we explore:

• your 500 comments in 48hrs to our blunt Facebook post across a number of local groups ‘Why are so many homeless in this town?’ 
• why “homelessness” extends far beyond life on the streets 
• how it’s rarely a single cause, but a compounding series of setbacks 
• the often-hidden role of childhood trauma and adverse experiences 
• addiction as both a coping mechanism and a consequence — not a simple cause 
• how Crawley Open House maintains clear boundaries to keep residents safe 
• how Turning Tides uses harm minimisation to reduce risk and support recovery 
• the scale of hidden homelessness in Crawley — and why “temporary” housing can last for years 
• the impact of evictions, the Renters’ Rights Act, and the shift from Section 21 to Section 8 
• why early support — from families to children’s mental health services — is key to long-term prevention 

In Part 2 we move onto what truly helps people move beyond homelessness—and why simply offering a roof, without long-term support, can sometimes do more harm than good.

Together, we unpack homelessness as a complex, non-linear journey—more “snakes and ladders” than straight path—and examine the structural and human realities that shape it. From the shortage of affordable housing to the unintended consequences of the benefits system, we look at why escaping homelessness is often far more difficult than it appears.

We discuss why stable accommodation must be paired with tenancy sustainment, life skills, and meaningful relationships; how digital exclusion and poor-quality temporary housing create additional barriers; and why models like Housing First—bringing support directly into the home—are proving transformative.

The conversation also explores harm reduction, addiction recovery, and the realities of relapse, including Iqbal’s powerful lived experience of addiction, prison, and recovery with the support of a Naltrexone implant. Along the way, we challenge the idea that people can simply be “fixed,” and instead highlight the importance of long-term, person-centred support.

We also look at innovative approaches like Skywaves in Worthing, where self-contained flats are paired with 24/7 support, and reflect on the critical role of employment, purpose, and positive relationships in rebuilding lives.

Finally, we turn to what members of the public can do—offering practical, thoughtful ways to help that protect dignity and increase safety. From small acts of kindness to using tools like StreetLink to connect people with outreach teams, we explore how compassion, when paired with understanding, can make a real difference.

We also share ways to support organisations like Turning Tides and Crawley Open House through donations, volunteering, and community involvement.

If this conversation resonates with you, follow us on Spotify, Amazon Music, or Apple Podcasts.

Roundtable Featuring:  Special Guests – Michelle Harfield (Turning Tides), Ian Wilkins (Crawley Open House), Iqbal Khan, Aga Es, Maureen Jones & Micaela Leal Host: Clive Hilton. 

Sunday Brunch featured soundbytes from the above ‘Sussex & Surrey Soapbox’ podcast episode…. to skip chapters click on the 3 horizontal lines (left in the above player). Have your say via WhatsApp (bottom right) or join the conversation in our Facebook Group HERE.

On SUSY Sunday Brunch we talk frankly about why life in Sussex & Surrey seems to get more expensive every month — from energy and water bills to rent, trains and the weekly shop. We share the everyday frustrations people are feeling and the practical ways households are trying to cope, cut waste and push back against rising costs.

In this episode we cover:

• Rising utility bills and the debate around Net Zero and infrastructure
• House prices, the rental squeeze and what it means for younger people
• Commuting costs and train fares that feel worse value each year
• Grocery inflation, shrinkflation and ways to reduce food waste
• Council Tax rises, public services and the wider cost-of-living pressures

We also have some fun myth busting:

• The optimal thermostat setting at home (and Peter the Heater)
• Our shopping habits & the fury at self-serve checkouts
• How ‘out-of-date’ would you eat a yogurt to save wastage? 

Roundtable Featuring: Graham Dearing (Special Guest), Maureen Jones, Georgie Lucas, Iqbal Khan & Aga Es. Host: Clive Hilton. 

Sunday Brunch featured soundbites from the above ‘Sussex & Surrey Soapbox’ podcast episode…. to skip chapters click on the 3 horizontal lines (left in the above player). Have your say via WhatsApp (bottom right).

HAPPY EASTER – resharing our most listened to episode to date…

A lively, honest debate on gentle parenting — what it gets right, where it falls short, and how to balance empathy with boundaries.

The panel tackles discipline, the evolving role of parents, and how to prepare kids for a tough adult world where not everyone wins. Thought-provoking, fun, relatable, and real.

Soundbites on SUSY Sunday Brunch from 10am AND again on the Midweek Checkin Wednesday Midday.

Roundtable featuring: Georgie Lucas, Iqbal Khan, Micaela Leal and Aga Es, hosted by Clive Hilton.

Sunday Brunch featured soundbytes from the above ‘Sussex & Surrey Soapbox’ podcast episode…. to skip chapters click on the 3 horizontal lines (left in the above player). Have your say via WhatsApp (bottom right) or join the conversation in our Facebook Group HERE.

One in four adults will face a mental health problem each year across the SUSY area, but numbers don’t capture the quiet part: the loneliness, the slow slide, and the moment someone realises they’re not coping. From the Red Lion & Cellar Room in Betchworth, Surrey, we talk plainly about mental health in Sussex & Surrey and why it’s showing up more in everyday life, workplaces, and friendships.

Maureen Jones, a psychotherapeutic counsellor, shares what she’s seeing more of: anxiety, depression, isolation after Covid, and that undercurrent of not belonging. We dig into early warning signs many people miss, like broken sleep, irritability, comfort eating, zoning out, and feeling emotionally numb. We also come back to one simple habit that can cut through all the awkwardness: asking “Are you okay?” and meaning it.

Our special guest Graham Dearing from Menshare Listening Group tells his story, from pushing through school and building a high-pressure finance career to hitting a point where “buckle down and work harder” stopped working. He talks candidly about imposter syndrome, unrealistic roles, trying different medications and therapies, and why empathy and confidentiality in peer groups can be the support that finally lands. We also discuss barriers to workplace help, concerns about privacy, and the bigger picture around crisis care, including NHS plans for mental health A&E and the need for proper follow-up and long-term talking therapy.

If you’re looking for support, we point to Menshare Listening Group and Sistershare across the area, and Maureen wraps up by sharing practical guidance on finding properly qualified private counselling through the Counselling Directory. 

Roundtable Featuring: Graham Dearing (Menshare Listening Group), Maureen Jones, Georgie Lucas, Iqbal Khan, Aga Es & James Tidy. Host: Clive Hilton.