Making a difference for 125 years and beyond

We can’t do this without recognising a challenge that is perhaps the greatest we’ve faced – climate change. That’s why I’m proud that, in May, after 18 months of baselining, stakeholder engagement and collaboration, we became the first housing association in the UK to publish our Climate Transition Plan, setting ambitious targets alongside tangible actions to reduce our environmental impact.     

Progress against our plan is measured by reductions in carbon emissions, but the main objective is to enable healthier, warmer, more energy-efficient homes for our residents, ensuring they’re experiencing the clear benefits in the transition to net zero. We’ll be providing updates in our Making a Difference report each year, continuing to share challenges and learnings as part of our commitment to transparency, and sharing best practice.  

“In May, after 18 months of baselining, stakeholder engagement and collaboration, we became the first housing association in the UK to publish our Climate Transition Plan”

Collaboration is a huge part of our pathway to net zero, and our partnership with Octopus Energy is one that’s gone from strength to strength in the last year. Building on our work to create the first “Zero Bills” homes in the UK available through affordable rent and shared ownership, this year we went further, teaming up to retrofit ten of our existing homes in Kent with cutting-edge technology to make them eligible for Octopus’s innovative Zero Bills tariff.  

Looking at the bigger picture, as we strive to build homes to the highest sustainability standards, we’re also making sure we integrate them into vibrant communities – communities strengthened and supported by our charitable foundation, Clarion Futures, which helps people into work and training, improves digital skills and financial resilience, and transforms life chances.  

In the last year, we’ve reached a major milestone, delivering £1bn in social value. This is in no small part due to the work of Clarion Futures, which delivers one of the largest social investment programmes in the UK.  

Since 2016, through Clarion Futures, almost 70,000 people have been supported into jobs and training. This year, we’ve ramped up our work to support people into green jobs, providing opportunities for our residents, while helping to tackle the skills shortages that threaten to curtail our retrofit ambitions and delivery.  

Behind the numbers are lives changed for the better, including Reinaldo, whose story is featured in our Making a Difference report. He’s a great example of the power of Clarion Futures, securing his dream role as a retrofit and domestic energy assessor thanks to a programme of tailored support that helped him tackle the barriers that stood in his way.   

“We’ll continue working in partnership across the sector and with government to ensure that ambition is matched by action, and that we stay on course to deliver against our long-term goals”

As well as supporting individuals, through Clarion Futures we also provide funding to our network of grassroots partners working in communities nationwide to support our residents. Community gardens and art classes, well-being spaces and digital skills workshops are just a few examples of projects that we’ve supported, providing opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds to learn new skills, improve the places they call home and meet new people from all walks of life.  

Looking ahead, we’re under no illusion about the complexity of the environment we operate in. While we’ve made important strides, significant challenges remain – from economic uncertainty and rising regulatory demands to growing pressure on resources. 

Our mission now is to remain focused and proactive. We’ll continue working in partnership across the sector and with government to ensure that ambition is matched by action, and that we stay on course to deliver against our long-term goals. 

There’s no quick fix – but we’re in it for the long haul, and are determined to lead with transparency, share what we learn, and show what genuine environmental and economic sustainability looks like in practice.  

I’m proud to be part of the team leading Clarion today, and I hope that with our careful stewardship we’ll be able to ensure Clarion can continue making a difference for another 125 years and beyond. 

Clare Miller, chief executive, Clarion Housing Group