Clarion launch social housing innovation prize

Clarion Housing Group is welcoming applications for the second year of its social housing innovation prize.

The William Sutton Prize is available to individuals or organisations who come up with an innovative concept, product or service that will have a positive social impact on a community.

There is a prize fund of up to £20,000 on offer for each of the two categories, with the funding provided by Clarion Futures, the charitable foundation of Clarion Housing Group.

The winning entries will be determined by a panel of industry experts led by Clare Miller, Group Chief Executive of Clarion.

The two prizes are named after William Sutton, a 19th-century innovator and philanthropist who left in his will a fortune to improve the quality of social housing.

The two awards are:

• The William Sutton Prize for Social Innovation which will be awarded to an individual or organisation that has developed a ground-breaking new product, concept or service that will make a positive social impact on disadvantaged groups or communities.
• The William Sutton Prize for Placemaking and Affordable Housing Design which will be awarded to an individual or organisation that has developed a ground-breaking design concept that will improve the quality of life and support the wellbeing of residents and communities.

One of the winners of the inaugural William Sutton Prize was Micro Rainbow for their proposal to expand the number of safe homes available to vulnerable LGBTI asylum seekers and refugees.

Sebastian Rocca, Founder and CEO of Micro Rainbow, said: ‘The sexuality, gender identity and immigration issues we work to address can make organisations reluctant to provide support, but this was not the case with Clarion Housing Group.

‘Winning the William Sutton Prize has made such a difference, increasing our profile and injecting much-needed resources to support the growth of the project. We would very much encourage other social enterprises and charities to apply.

The other winner was VeloCity whose vision is to redesign villages for the 21^st century with higher density housing and a design that promotes physical activity and an end to car dependency.

Clare Miller, Chief Executive of Clarion Housing Group, added: ‘William Sutton’s legacy was to transform lives and communities and we believe this Prize can help do the same.

‘It is very rewarding to see the difference already being made by our inaugural winners and I am looking forward to supporting more innovative social entrepreneurs this year.’

To apply for the prize visit here.

Photo credit – Micro Window