Housing association celebrates festive season with Christmas market

A not-for-profit housing association celebrated the entrepreneurial spirit of its Bromley residents with a Christmas market last week.

Clarion Futures, the charitable arm of Clarion Housing Group, hosted the event at Anerley Town Hall, where members of the charity’s business start-up programme showcased their products and services.

The programme, Enterprising Futures, is aimed at Clarion’s residents and features a variety of courses and mentoring to help refine ideas, build business plans and apply for grants and further funding.

Among the stallholders was Niyah, the founder of NJ Twist, an event catering business. 

During her time on the programme, Niyah completed business training courses covering everything from tax and legal affairs to social media and digital marketing. 

Phil Miles, director of Clarion Futures, said: “The Anerley Christmas Market is a wonderful chance to showcase the hard work of these entrepreneurs and celebrate the difference they’re making—not only to their own lives but to the Bromley community as a whole.”

Clarion Housing Group is a member of the G15, a group of London’s largest not-for-profit housing associations. With budgets under increasing pressure, the G15 is calling for long-term Government backing through a decade-long rent settlement, access to the Building Safety Fund, and a rent convergence mechanism. 

Fiona Fletcher-Smith, chair of the G15 and chief executive officer of of L&Q Housing said: “These measures are essential to ensuring that not-for-profit housing associations can continue meeting their responsibilities to existing residents whilst also supporting the Government’s target of building 1.5million new homes.”

Pictured top: Niyah of NJ Twist (Left) at the Clarion Christmas market (Picture: Jessica Edwards)