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Clarion Housing Group is the largest social landlord in the country and we have more than 75,000 residents across London. As the cost of living continues to soar, we’re committed to doing everything we can to support our residents.
Through Clarion Futures, our charitable foundation, we collaborate with hundreds of partners to improve the lives of people living in Clarion homes and communities in London and nationwide.
Every year we award hundreds of thousands of pounds in grants to local community groups, social enterprises and charities, supporting projects that benefit everyone from pre-school children to older people.
In 2021/22, we awarded more than £450,000 in grants to organisations working in the capital, supporting everything from digital inclusion and financial resilience projects to new bike tracks and food pantries.
Cost of Living Emergency Fund
With the cost of living crisis biting, however, now is the time to do more. This week, we’ve announced a new national package of support totalling £500,000, more than doubling the value of our existing hardship fund that benefits residents in greatest need.
The additional funding will be distributed through grants programmes to partners working in Clarion communities nationwide to support low income households.
The £500,000 Cost of Living Emergency Fund will cover four key areas:
- Supporting warm hubs in our community centres
- The expansion of food pantries and other food-related projects
- The provision of ‘cooking on a budget’ classes and activities for children and families
- Warm packs for residents at risk of fuel poverty.
The Fund has been created in response to the latest figures from The Index, an annual survey of 2,000 Clarion residents, which found evidence of rising levels of financial instability.
According to The Index, 85% of Clarion residents are worried about increasing energy bills, with 65% having to cut back on household spending. In addition, 18% have gone without food in the last year because they couldn't afford it, and 12% of residents have used a food bank. It is our hope that this additional funding will help support those in such difficult circumstances.
Working with community panels
As well as awarding grants directly to partners, in addition to the Emergency Fund we also work with residents in several London boroughs to allocate funding to improve their neighbourhoods as part of community panels.
One example of this is the Merton Community Panel which comprises six Clarion residents, as well as other local representatives and nominated councillors, enabling residents to support local organisations and projects by awarding grant funding, making a real difference to their local community.
Non-financial support for partners
Our support for partners is not only financial. Through our Recovery and Resilience Programme we offer business development support and capacity building – a natural next step in our commitment to investing in grassroots organisations working in Clarion communities.
One of the organisations to have benefited from the Programme is the Ethnic Minority Centre (EMC) which aims to improve the quality of life of Black and minority ethnic communities in Merton.
EMC received support from a consultant who worked with them on a strategic approach to generating income as well as business planning. The support provided has been transformative, enabling EMC to move forwards with confidence and a clear sense of direction.
Our grants programme is always evolving, ensuring we can best support our partners and those living in Clarion communities. And collaboration is key, enabling us to make the biggest difference and reach more people.
To find out more about the grants available or how we could work together, email grants@clarionhg.com.
