Clarion Housing Group announces shortlist for The William Sutton Prize 2018

13 projects have been shortlisted for the first ever William Sutton Prize, after more than 80 applications were received over the summer.

Launched in May by Clarion Housing Group, the William Sutton Prize encourages individuals and organisations to present a new concept, service or idea that will benefit social housing residents and their community.

Seven projects* will compete for the ‘William Sutton Prize for Social Entrepreneurship and Innovation’.

A further six projects** will compete for the ‘William Sutton Prize for Excellence in Social Housing Design and Placemaking’.

 Innovation for public good 

There is a prize fund of up to £20,000 on offer for both categories. The money will be used to further develop the idea and help to maximise its impact. The funding is provided by Clarion Futures, the charitable foundation of Clarion Housing Group.

The two winning entries will be chosen by a five-person panel and announced at an awards ceremony on the 22 November. The panel members are:

• Clare Miller, Group Chief Executive, Clarion Housing Group
• Greg Reed, Clarion Housing Group Board member and CEO of HomeServe Group
• Peter Fortune, Clarion Housing Group Board member and deputy leader of the London Borough of Bromley
• Biljana Savic, Director of The Academy of Urbanism
• Peter Holbrook CBE, CEO of Social Enterprise UK

Clare Miller, Group Chief Executive, said:

"This is a truly inspiring shortlist. For the first year of the William Sutton Prize, it is brilliant to have such a range of projects, all with genuinely innovative ideas for delivering public good. Picking two winners is going to be a difficult task!”

 *Shortlisted projects for the Social Entrepreneurship and Innovation Prize

Active Ageing E-Bikes

Applicant: Sustrans |Project Location: Birmingham

To reduce social isolation in older adults and increase physical activity by trialling the establishment of a volunteer-run electric bike loan scheme in a social housing community.

Amazing Mattresses

Applicant: FRC Group |Project Location: England-Wide

To establish the first mattress reuse operation through ‘ultra-cleaning’ second hand mattresses, helping families (including social housing residents) struggling to afford mattresses.

Encouraging Her

Applicant: Inner-Strength Network |Project Location: London

To support women and families fleeing domestic violence, by offering support from the point of refuge entry to through to transitioning to a new home.

Community Cohesion App

Applicant: London Village Network (LVN) |Project Location: London

Creating an App to match mentors with disadvantaged young people and create a local platform for access to youth services. Holistic approach to integration for LGBTI asylum seekers and refugees

Applicant: Micro Rainbow International |Project Location: London & West Midlands

To support LGBTI refugees and asylum seekers with a focus on safe, supported housing and a suite of dedicated services to enable increased social integration.

Football Beyond Borders North West

Applicant: Football Beyond Borders (FBB) |Project Location: North West England

To re-engage disadvantaged young people with learning and instil pride, belief and hope for the future, harnessing a young person’s passion for football as the key engagement tool.

Furniture with Soul

Applicant: We Make Places |Project Location: North West England

To develop a range of self-assembled ‘starter-pack’ furniture for care leavers moving into independent accommodation.

 **Shortlisted projects for the Social Housing Design and Placemaking Prize

Skyroom

Applicant: SKYROOM London Limited | Project Location: London

Skyroom provides high-quality, eco-friendly homes and gardens to London’s key workers, near to where they work, so that they have an opportunity to thrive in the cities they support.

Modular Microhomes

Applicant: Kashdan Brown Architects | Project Location: England-wide

The development of repeatable low-cost modular pods inserted into existing garages to provide a complete starter ‘micro-studio’ or 'micro-home' for one or two people.

PEACH Alternative Regeneration Plan

Applicant: PEACH, part of the Custom House and Canning Town Community Renewal Project | Project Location: London

To develop a new hybrid community organising design role to help in the regeneration process. The Architectural Organiser would support residents and communities effectively contribute to regeneration planning.

VeloCity team: car-free housing typologies for rural densification

Applicant: VeloCity team | Project Location: England-wide

Re-imagining of the village for the 21st century, focussing on new higher density housing typologies which promote car free environments and more diverse, self-supported communities.

Stonehouse Community Garden

Applicant: Millfields Community Economic Development Trust | Project Location: Plymouth

Designing a community garden with a difference, bringing together the different communities who live and work around the park’s edges to revitalise an underused public facility.

Hemp Clay for Zero Impact Social Housing

Applicant: Tom Woolley |Project Location: England-wide

To develop the use of hemp and clay to create insulated walling systems to create low cost highly insulated housing.