Up to £10,000 for Charities & Social Enterprises Tackling Homelessness – DPS Social Commitment Programme

The School for Social Entrepreneurs (SSE), in partnership with The Deposit Protection Service (DPS), is offering grants of up to £10,000 to charities and social enterprises helping people access and maintain secure housing across England and Wales.

The DPS Social Commitment Programme combines grant funding with specialist training, mentoring and business development support to help organisations strengthen their services, increase income and tackle the causes and consequences of homelessness.

Here's what you can expect:

• Up to £10,000 in grant funding

• Two programmes supporting early-stage and established organisations

• Specialist accelerator and business development training

• Eight group learning sessions

• Four peer coaching sessions

• Personalised one-to-one business coaching

• Support with fundraising and generating sustainable income

• Guidance on leadership, business planning and measuring social impact

• Networking with other social entrepreneurs and sector specialists

• Access to SSE's community of more than 7,000 fellows

• Opportunities to connect with potential customers and partners

Two funding programmes are available:

1. Activate – Up to £7,000

Designed for early-stage organisations that have started delivering activities but need support developing their business model and expanding their impact.

• Up to £7,000 in grant funding

• Generally suited to organisations with annual income below £100,000

• Support with developing and testing business ideas

• Training to strengthen financial sustainability

• Funding paid in three instalments, subject to programme requirements

2. Scale – Up to £10,000

Designed for more established organisations ready to expand their services and reach more people.

• Up to £10,000 in grant funding

• Generally suited to organisations with annual income above £100,000

• Support with organisational growth and expansion

• Guidance on developing sustainable income streams

• Specialist leadership and business development support

The £100,000 income threshold is a guide rather than an absolute cut-off. Organisations close to this amount can contact SSE for advice.

What projects can be supported?

The programme supports organisations addressing homelessness and housing insecurity, including:

• Homelessness Prevention: Helping people avoid losing their homes

• Housing Advice: Supporting tenants with housing rights and tenancy issues

• Employment & Training: Helping people develop skills and access employment to improve housing stability

• Financial Support: Providing debt, budgeting and benefits advice

• Mental Health & Wellbeing: Helping individuals overcome challenges affecting their ability to maintain housing

• Domestic Abuse Support: Supporting survivors with safety, stability and accommodation

• Refugee Integration: Helping refugees and people seeking asylum access housing and community support

• Rough Sleeping: Supporting people experiencing homelessness into more stable accommodation

Who can apply?

Eligible applicants include:

• Registered charities

• Community Interest Companies (CICs)

• Social enterprises

• Community Benefit Societies

• Co-operatives and other eligible social-purpose organisations

• Constituted community organisations with appropriate governing arrangements

Important eligibility requirements:

• Organisations must be based in England or Wales.

• The majority of beneficiaries must be located in England or Wales.

• Activities must help people access or sustain housing, including private rented accommodation, or reduce homelessness and rough sleeping.

• Organisations must already be active and have an appropriate governing document or legal structure.

• Applicants must be willing to participate in the training and development programme.

• A senior organisational leader must participate in the programme.

Organisations working on wider issues such as employment, financial hardship or mental health can apply where there is a clear connection to preventing housing insecurity.

What can the funding cover?

Grants can support organisational development and activities related to housing stability, including:

• Staff salaries

• Project delivery costs

• Equipment

• Improving organisational systems

• Applying learning from the programme

• Developing and strengthening services

Funding: Up to £7,000 for Activate or £10,000 for Scale

Programme Dates: April–December 2027

Application Deadline: 🚨 16 November 2026 at 12:00pm UK time