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In West Sussex, there is a two-tier local authority structure made up of seven district and borough councils and a county council.
If you wish to speak to someone about things like bin collection, housing or local planning permission you would need to contact your district or borough council – Adur, Arun, Chichester, Crawley, Horsham, Mid Sussex or Worthing.
West Sussex County Council has responsibility for wider services which cover the whole county, such as adult and child social services. It is also responsible for other areas, such as education, transportation (like local bus services or public highways) and the West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service. Most of your council tax goes to the County Council to support these services.
For more information on the different sorts of councils in the UK, please visit the Local Government Association website.
Local Authority Website:
Please visit West Sussex County Council website where you will be able to find official updates, services, and community information.
Destitution
As a HK BN(O) if you encounter severe financial difficulties, you might meet the local authority criteria for short term destitution support whilst you apply to have your No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) visa condition lifted (see this page for more details on lifting the NRPF condition). You are more likely to meet the local authority’s destitution criteria if you have children or are an adult with care or mental health needs. If this happens to you please visit the West Sussex County Council Social Care Support website which will be able to advise you as to next steps.
ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages):
A funding is made available to local authorities to enable HK BN(O) to access ESOL courses of up to £850 for free. Please see the below for the contact information of local authority ESOL provider and also access our ESOL page to learn more.
West Sussex local authority County Council
Email: Refugee.Resettlement@westsussex.gov.uk
Telephone: 01243 777100
Local Citizen Advice:
Citizens Advice is an independent organisation in the United Kingdom specialising in providing free, confidential advice to assist people with legal enquiries, debt advice, employment, consumer rights, housing and other problems.
Please see the contact information below for Citizens Advice in West Sussex, on their homepage you will be able to search for your local Citizens Advice if you want to speak to someone in person:
Citizens Advice West Sussex
Website: https://www.advicewestsussex.org.uk/
Phone：0808 278 7969
Online contact form: https://www.advicewestsussex.org.uk/contact-us/email
Alternatively, SESPM pays for immigration case work support from Citizens Advice North and West Kent (CANWK) for any Hongkonger in the South East. You can visit this link or contact email them through hkbnosupport@nwkent.cab.org.uk for more information.
Business:
To access business support, you can contact your local authority, which often has dedicated business support teams or economic development units offering guidance on licensing, permits, local grants, funding, business rates, and more. Additionally, consider connecting with Chambers of Commerce, Growth Hubs, industry associations, and local universities for advice, networking or collaboration opportunities.
Visit the County Council’s business webpage to explore further information on these topics.
You can also see SESPM’s own business page to access our handbook on starting a business in the UK, how to write a business plan, determine different legal business structures, finding finances to start a business and business licences and support.
Employment:
The National Careers Service provides career information, advice, and guidance. You can also consult their career advisers online or over the phone. Their website features tools for skill assessments, details on a wide variety of career roles, and information on progression routes. For more details, visit National Careers website.
Local authorities also provide information, advice and guidance in relation to employment — check out the ‘Supported Employment West Sussex‘ webpage for resources about jobs and employment.
You can also see SESPM’s own employment page which has information on converting your professions from HK to UK equivalent for popular professions (Teaching, Nursing, Social work, Physiotherapy, Counsellors) as well as information on where you can volunteer as a path into employment.
Libraries:
It is free to join and enter public libraries in the UK. Apart from borrowing books, using computers and accessing Wifi, you may also find different activities and resources.
There are 36 public libraries in West Sussex, and you can find your local one on the West Sussex Libraries website.
Here are some of the online resources offered by the West Sussex libraries:
Theory Test Pro: An online resource that help you prepare for the Driving Theory Test
Sports Clubs/Facilities:
Visit the ‘Events, activities and venues’ section on the County Council website to learn more about sports clubs and facilities catering to different interests and abilities in the area.
Volunteering Opportunities:
You can find and apply for volunteering opportunities on the County Council website.
Hongkongers Diaspora Organisations:
Connect with fellow Hongkongers and explore activities organised for Hongkongers through your local Hongkongers Diaspora organisations
City Life Church Southampton
Website: https://hk.hkwelcome.org/events/
Email: elaine@citylife.org.uk
Councils for Voluntary Service support: Services To Support Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprises (VCSEs)
Councils for Voluntary Service (CVS) are organisations that work with the ‘voluntary and community sector’ groups on organisational development, fundraising and business planning. Here is your local CVS in West Sussex:
Organisation: West Sussex Voluntary and Community Sector Alliance
Website: https://www.vaac.org.uk/wsvcsi/
