Clarion Futures supports record 4000 people into employment

Clarion Futures, the charitable foundation of Clarion Housing Group, has announced that it supported 4,009 people into employment between April 2018 and 2019.

The figure is a record for Clarion Futures and makes the housing association the largest provider of employment support amongst the G15. The figure includes 250 apprenticeships and 132 people supported to set up their own business. 

Clarion Futures’ Jobs and Training team provides a universal employment support service across the country and is free and open to all Clarion Housing residents looking for work, with an emphasis on offering bespoke and highly personalised support.

Clarion Futures is also the lead partner for Love London Working, a London-wide employment support programme funded by the Greater London Authority (GLA) and the European Social Fund and delivered through a partnership of housing associations.

Providing employment support across the country

Of the 4,009 people supported into work by Clarion Futures nationally in the last 12 months:

• 50% were from BAME (Black, Asian and minority ethnic) backgrounds
• 81% sustained their employment for at least 6 months
• 25% were aged 25 or younger.

Ann Tobin, 53, a Clarion Housing resident from Borehamwood, is one of the thousands of people who have benefited from the service this year.

Ann was out of work and on benefits but set up her own business following support from a Clarion Futures adviser. Her company, Village Arts, offers a range of art workshops and classes to adults and children. 

Ann Tobin said: 

“I’m an artist and have always dreamed of running my own business, sharing my passion with others."

“Thanks to the support of Clarion Futures I’ve been able to achieve this ambition and am now working with a number of schools to inspire creativity amongst their pupils as well as providing tuition to people living in the local area.”

Transforming lives and communities

Phil Miles, Director of Clarion Futures, commented: 

“We are delighted that in just one year we have supported more than 4,000 people into employment. This makes us one of the biggest providers of employment support in the country."

“It is a significant achievement for us and demonstrates the difference we are making in our communities. Our mission is to transform lives and communities and helping people into sustainable work is one of the most powerful ways we can achieve that.”

The news coincides with the launch of the Give us a Chance (GUAC) ‘Communities that Work week’ which celebrates the work of the social housing sector in helping people into employment.