Clarion Futures awards more than £36,000 to support digital inclusion projects
Clarion Futures, the charitable foundation of Clarion Housing Group, has awarded £36,115 in grant funding to organisations working to get Clarion residents online for good, by tackling digital exclusion and improving online skills and confidence.
This brings the total grant funding awarded through the programme to more than £100,000 in the last financial year, supporting 24 projects nationwide.
In this last round, eight organisations have received funding including:
- the Waltham Forest-based Natural Gardeners Club which will integrate practical digital skills into existing hands-on gardening and crafting workshops, with participants learning to use the internet for everyday tasks, from using email accounts, to managing online forms, shopping online, researching growing tips and creating simple digital designs;
- FACT Community Transport in Fenland who will be using the grant to establish an IT Hub providing free access to laptops and the internet for people who are digitally excluded, offering support in a small, welcoming group setting as well as providing transport for those who are unable to reach the hub due to a lack of public transport; and
- The Hangleton and Knoll Project in Brighton and Hove which is a project that seeks to address digital exclusion by providing access to free, community-based IT support through weekly two-hour drop-ins in Hangleton and Knoll and Portslade led by a qualified IT tutor.
This grants programme tackles one of the issues identified by Clarion’s annual residents survey, The Index, which in 2025 found that whilst 86% of residents use the internet, this figure drops to 44% of those aged 75+, with disabled residents and those needing tenancy support also less likely to be online. Confidence in using online services also varies widely across these groups, with barriers including low digital skills, perceived lack of need, and affordability.
Steph Noyce, Head of Money and Digital at Clarion Futures, said:
“By supporting grassroots organisations who understand their communities best, we’re helping to remove the barriers that prevent people from fully participating in an increasingly online world.
“These grants will ensure that residents of all ages and abilities can build essential skills, stay connected, and make the most of what the internet has to offer, confidently and safely. It’s fantastic to see how local groups are turning funding into real, meaningful impact for the people they support.”
Dun Kuti of Skillspool Training, a former grant recipient, said:
“Massive thanks to the team at Clarion Futures for all their support in reaching vulnerable individuals who have been digitally excluded.“This support has improved people’s access to devices, connectivity, and digital skills. Many participants have told us that they now feel more confident using technology to access essential services, stay in touch with family and friends, and pursue employment opportunities. For some, this has been a vital step toward greater independence and inclusion in an increasingly digital world.
“The grant has made a tangible difference, not only by addressing immediate barriers to digital access, but also by empowering people with the confidence and skills they need for the long term. We are incredibly grateful for your commitment to reducing digital inequality and for the trust you have placed in our work.”
Through the Clarion Futures digital grants programme, organisations can apply for grants of up to £5,000 to support projects that help Clarion residents and the wider community to get online, and safely and confidently use the internet as an everyday tool.
To find out more about the digital and community grants available through Clarion Futures, visit www.myclarionhousing.com/community-grants.
The full list of projects supported is as follows: