What’s in a name?

Today BHT changed its name. Well, sort of. We changed how we are known on Twitter, from @BrightonHT to @BHT_Sussex. Now I doubt this will make the front page of the Argus. Nor will it even get a brief reference in the Hastings Observer or the Eastbourne Gazette. But it should.

The reason for this change is to reflect more acurately who we are and where we work. @BrightonHT gives the impression that we are a Brighton-centric organisation. I guess that comes from our actual name being Brighton Housing Trust!

But on Twitter we have changed our name. BHT started in Brighton and it remains the area where we do most. But other areas are increasingly important, not least Eastbourne (where we have been delivering services for 20 years or more) and Hastings where, in spite of being the new kid on the block, we now have services turning over almost £2.5 million each year. There is an excitingly development in Hastings, we are now setting up, in partnership with the Hastings Advice and Representation Centre (HARC) and Citizen’s Advice (CA1066) an advice and community hub.

So the change in name isn’t something earth shattering, but it is important that we are not seen in the wrong light outside Brighton.