Clarion Futures delivers a record £130m in social value

Clarion Futures is the charitable foundation of Clarion Housing Group, providing support, skills and opportunities to our residents nationwide, transforming lives and communities.

We are delivering one of the biggest social investment programmes in the country which focuses on three core areas: jobs and training, financial and digital inclusion and making Clarion estates and neighbourhoods more attractive and vibrant places to live.

Delivering social value

In 2019-20, Clarion Futures activity delivered £130m in social value1  to our residents and communities – an increase of £5m compared to the previous year.

Between April 2019 and April 2020 Clarion Futures:

• Supported 3,834 people into work.
• Placed 254 people into apprenticeships.
• Helped 69% of people to sustain their employment for more than six months.
• Delivered 15,013 digital skills support interventions.
• Supported 2,628 residents with one-to-one money guidance and energy advice.
• Helped to write off an estimated £11,326,783 in debt for residents accessing free debt advice.
• Awarded £255,033 in Community Grants to 63 projects across the country.
• Improved or upgraded 21,737m2 of communal land and buildings.
• Involved 308 young people in 21 Community Ambassador programmes across the country, contributing thousands of volunteer hours in our communities.

One of the people who accessed support in the last year is Graham. Graham was referred to Clarion Futures when he was homeless and unemployed having been released from prison. He had no phone, email address or fixed abode which presented barriers to his job search and he was lacking self-confidence, unsure how to move forward.

We worked with Graham to provide employment support, creating an action plan to help him find work and assisting with job applications. A local charity gave him a phone and clothing, and a shelter provided Graham with temporary accommodation so that he had an address to include on job applications. We organised support to improve his mental health and wellbeing and explored options to find him a home.

Graham is now a Clarion resident and has a job he loves as a recycling operative.

He said: "When I was referred to Clarion Futures, I was homeless and unemployed. Thanks to the support I received, I have now got a career and a roof over my head. I’m proud to say I’m a Clarion resident – to think a housing association helped me with finding employment, as well as giving me confidence is just amazing."

Phil Miles, director of Clarion Futures, said: "Our mission is to help people access the support, skills and opportunities they need to thrive and live well and it’s a testament to the hard work of our teams that we’ve delivered £130m in social value to our residents and communities over the last year."

"With the coronavirus pandemic continuing to affect us all, we’re committed to working with partners to help people through these difficult times. Through our Emergency Support Fund we’ve awarded grants totalling more than £120,000 to organisations across the country, including food banks, community groups and local charities."

“And we’re considering ways to adapt our services to ensure we can continue to provide people with the support, advice and guidance they need, no matter what the future holds."

Social value is calculated using the HACT (Housing Associations Charitable Trust) Social Value Bank.