# Clarion Futures launches new grant programme

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2025/05/27/clarion-futures-launches-new-grant-programme/
- Published: 2025-05-27T08:13:46+01:00
- Author: Howard Lake

**Clarion Futures, the charitable foundation of Clarion Housing Group, has launched
a new grant programme to mark the housing association’s 125th anniversary.**

The Making a Difference Fund will award grants of **up to £5,000** to partner organisations
delivering projects that will “draw people together, sharing hopes, skills and passions
for the places Clarion residents call home”.

Applications that show “meaningful and engaging ideas to connect and celebrate communities
will be prioritised”, such as murals and art projects, gardening clubs and social
inclusion initiatives.

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## 125th anniversary

The grant programme forms part of celebrations to mark Clarion Housing Group’s 125th
anniversary. In 1900 entrepreneur William Sutton left his fortune to build some 
of the first social housing in London.

Clarion Housing Group is now the UK’s largest provider of affordable housing. With
more than 350,000 people “call[ing] a Clarion home their home” the social business
focuses on tackling the housing crisis, both as a social landlord and developer 
of new housing.

Phil Miles, Director of Clarion Futures, said:

> “As we mark Clarion’s 125th anniversary, we wanted to make sure our residents 
> are at the heart of celebrations. That’s where the idea for the Making a Difference
> Fund came from, working with our fantastic network of partners to have a meaningful,
> long-term impact on our communities.
> “It’s about reflecting with our residents on where they live and celebrating what
> makes their neighbourhoods unique, as well as exploring ways to leave a lasting
> legacy for generations to come, and I’m excited to see what creative ideas are
> put forward.”

![Celebrating 125 years of making a difference. To the right an image showing multiple
key people in moments in Clarion's history.](https://wfay6x.infiniteuploads.cloud/
2025/05/clarion-making-a-difference.jpeg)

Image: Clarion Futures

## Two funding opportunities this year

This first phase of the Making a Difference Fund will award £50,000 in grants, with
a second phase to follow later in the year with an additional £75,000 available,
bringing the total to £125,000.

The **second phase** will fund projects that encourage physical activity and sport,
helping to improve wellbeing in Clarion communities.

Residents will play a role on the judging panel and help choose the projects to 
receive funding, in order to ensure that community voices are at the heart of the
decision-making process.

Applications for the first phase of the [Making a Difference Fund](https://clarion125.com/making-a-difference-fund)
close at midday on **25 June 2025**.

 * **[Applications open for Clarion Housing Group’s William Sutton Prize](https://fundraising.co.uk/2021/08/09/applications-open-for-clarion-housing-groups-william-sutton-prize-2/)(
   9 August 2021)
 * **[William Sutton Prize opens for applications with £20k grants available](https://fundraising.co.uk/2020/07/31/william-sutton-prize-open-for-applications-with-20k-grants-available/)(
   31 July 2020)
 * **[Clarion Housing Group and NSPCC announce three-year collaboration and more corporate partnership news](https://fundraising.co.uk/2024/06/18/clarion-housing-group-nspcc-announce-3-year-collaboration-more-corporate-partnership-news/)(
   18 June 2024)**