Clarion Housing Group raises more than £50,000 for St Mungo’s in first year of partnership
Clarion staff have found creative ways to raise money for St Mungo’s.
Watch our video on Clarion and St Mungo’s first year of partnership.
After the first year of a three-year partnership, Clarion Housing Group has raised more than £50,000 for leading homelessness charity, St Mungo’s, as well as sharing expertise and working together to support vulnerable people off the streets and into homes.
The partnership was kick-started by a £20,000 corporate donation from Clarion to enable St Mungo’s to purchase digital devices for clients, ensuring they were able to access vital services and stay connected during the pandemic.
Despite limitations on fundraising activities imposed by the pandemic, Clarion staff have found creative ways to raise money that will help St Mungo’s to provide essential care and support to clients across the country.
In October, ten members of Clarion staff took on the ArcelorMittal Orbit in the Olympic Park, abseiling over 260 feet and raising more than £4,000.
And Peter Reynolds, who works in Clarion’s finance team, organised a virtual race to raise money for St Mungo’s. Teams of up to five people ran and cycled a 6,000km virtual route around the whole of the UK, raising more than £1,400.
Our partners at Countryside Properties made a generous £10,000 donation and Wates Group raised over £11,000 through their Charity Golf Day.
“This partnership is a clear example of the impact we can have when we work together with organisations to end homelessness and rebuild lives.”
Rebecca Sycamore, executive director of development at St Mungo’s
The partnership goes beyond fundraising. In November, Clarion finalised leasing arrangements for 26 flats in Brighton for St Mungo’s to use as short-term accommodation for people facing homelessness, with support provided by St Mungo’s thanks to Next Steps Accommodation Programme funding.
In addition, Clarion has agreed up to five Housing First placements in Hackney in partnership with St Mungo’s, providing vulnerable clients with a stable home.
Clarion staff have also volunteered with St Mungo’s, including spending time at the St Mungo’s Food Hub, helping to distribute much-needed food boxes across London. And in December Clarion launched a Secret Santa appeal, with staff donating more than 80 Christmas gifts to St Mungo’s clients including everyday items such as toiletries, warm hats and gloves, as well as some special festive items.
Remarkable achievements
Clare Miller, chief executive of Clarion Housing Group, said:
“Launching a new partnership during a global pandemic undoubtedly brought many challenges. We soon realised that the work of St Mungo’s was even more critical in the rapidly changing Covid landscape, so we mobilised our staff and suppliers and, despite the limitations on the activities we could undertake imposed by the pandemic, we are incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved in the first year of our partnership."
“We look forward to building on these achievements and continuing to not only raise vital funds for St Mungo’s, but also leverage shared expertise and resources to tackle the causes of homelessness and support people in their recovery.”
“We look forward to building on these achievements and continuing to not only raise vital funds for St Mungo’s, but also leverage shared expertise and resources.”
Clare Miller, chief executive of Clarion Housing Group
Rebecca Sycamore, executive director of development of St Mungo’s, said:
“We are delighted with what has been achieved in the first year of our partnership with Clarion Housing Group, from sharing knowledge and skills to providing vital funding for St Mungo’s services, as well as housing our clients in their properties. This partnership is a clear example of the impact we can have when we work together with organisations to end homelessness and rebuild lives."
“This last year was extremely challenging but saw some remarkable achievements as thousands of people were supported to move off the streets into emergency accommodation. We could only do this with the help of our partners across local authorities, government and housing associations, including Clarion."
“We are very excited to continue working with Clarion for the next two years and build on this strong foundation.”
For over 50 years, St Mungo’s has been at the forefront of efforts to tackle homelessness. Each night the charity’s outreach teams go out to help people sleeping rough to move away from the streets, providing a bed and support to 3,150 people - a figure that almost doubled during the pandemic. St Mungo’s works to prevent homelessness and support people at every step of their recovery from homelessness.