For organisations tackling housing insecurity
Develop and grow solutions that help people access and maintain secure housing through a tailored learning programme.
Up to £7k in funding
Get a grant to support your learning and the development of your social enterprise or charity.
Create a resilient and growing organisation
Learn to generate income and strengthen your project through specialised learning, expert advice, coaching and mentoring.
Ready-made network of support
Connect and grow with others like you. Help each other stimulate ideas and overcome challenges. Learn from each other and the experts.
About the programme
Help people find or sustain a stable home through a specialist accelerator programme.
Open to anyone addressing the causes and consequences of homelessness in England and Wales, this programme will help you build a resilient business model through a tailored learning programme and grant funding. You’ll learn from experts and each other to grow both your organisation and its impact on those facing housing insecurity.
What you get on the programme:
Learning & development
You will come together with seasoned experts, our experienced facilitators and other social sector leaders to develop skills to build resilient organisations.
You develop skills to:
What you get in the learning programme:
- An initial diagnostic to identify your organisation’s context, business model, and development needs.
- Eight cohort-based learning sessions tailored to your stage and sector.
- Four peer coaching sessions where you will connect in small groups, support one another to work through challenges, and share ideas.
- Bespoke one-to-one wrap-around support from business coaches.
- A market-making event, bringing you together with potential customers and partners to build skills, knowledge and networks.
- Access to the SSE Community: On-demand digital learning and resources you can access whenever suits you.
Some of the topics we are likely to cover are:
- social business model canvas
- identifying customers
- developing a business model
- developing pricing strategies
- leadership skills and mindset
- designing digital solutions
- measuring and communicating social impact
- approaches to piloting and testing
- leading with impact and building an effective team
- strategy for reaching target markets
- managing finances
The programme is open to organisations anywhere in England and Wales.
Most learning takes place online; however, you will be expected to attend three in-person learning days and a market making event in one of the following areas:
- The Midlands (in-person sessions will meet in Birmingham)
- The South West and Wales (in-person sessions will meet in Bristol or Cardiff)
- North West England (in-person sessions will meet in Manchester)
- South East England (in-person sessions will meet in London)
Connect and grow with others like you. Share your burdens, help each other stimulate ideas and overcome challenges.
We bring people together who are at similar stages of their journey because the support, insight and connections that can be gained from the group has proved invaluable on all the courses we have been running for the last 25+ years.
Grant up to £7k
Your organisation will also receive a grant of up to £7,000. This grant can be used flexibly to support your learning and the development of your work in tackling housing insecurity.
The total grant available is £7,000. This will be paid in three instalments; an upfront payment of £3,000 at the beginning of the programme, £2000 at the midpoint of the programme and £2000 at then end of the programme, as long as attendance and reporting requirements have been met.
You must use your grant to support your learning and to put that learning into practice through supporting the development of your work to help people access or sustain a home. You can use it for your salary or staff salaries, project costs, equipment, improving systems etc.
We will ask you to describe how you want to use the grant as part of the application and you will be required to report on this at the end of the programme.
Who can apply
You can apply if your organisation meets all of the following criteria:
- Is based in, and has a majority of beneficiaries in England or Wales.
- Its work:
- helps people access or sustain a home – some or all of which should be in the private rented sector.
or - reduces homelessness and rough sleeping.
- helps people access or sustain a home – some or all of which should be in the private rented sector.
- Is “early-stage” but has some activity in place, with a plan to grow and likely under £100,000 annual income (see below).
- For more established organisations with annual income of over £100,000 check out The DPS Social Commitment Programme Scale here.
If your organisation’s annual income is close to £100,000 please contact us to help decide which would be more suitable.
- For more established organisations with annual income of over £100,000 check out The DPS Social Commitment Programme Scale here.
Register interest and read the guidance notes for more details on eligibility.
We particularly welcome organisations led by and for Black and racially minoritised communities, deaf and disabled people, women, LGBTQ+ communities, and those in economically disadvantaged areas.
This could include organisations providing tenancy sustainment and advice, helping people manage debt or benefits in ways that support their ability to keep a tenancy, or supporting refugees, people in recovery, or people managing their mental health to build the stability needed to secure a home of their own.
Examples of the type of work eligible organisations are carrying out may include:
- Preventing homelessness – early intervention
- Helping tenants know and use their rights
- Helping tenants get a fair deal on housing standards
- Reducing exploitation and unfair treatment
- Building the stability people need to take on a tenancy
- Helping people rebuild stability so they can keep a tenancy
Your organisation is likely to be early stage with a business model which has been piloted and needs support to develop further. It will be at a point where you are growing your business idea, but it still needs some refinement and help to get to market.
It is likely to have an annual income of under £100,000 in the last financial year. We mean all income, including grants, donations and trading income. Don’t include loans or equity investments.
The threshold is a guide to help you choose between ‘Activate’ and ‘Scale’ levels of the programme. You can find out about the Scale programme for more established organisations here.
If you’re close to the line or not sure which is suitable for you, get in touch and we can help you work out which level is the better fit.
Organisations with over £100k income
If you have a more established organisation with annual income of over £100,000 check out The DPS Social Commitment Programme: Scale.
Our impact
All programme participants in 2024-2025
43 %
Average growth in a participants skills
£ 59 m
in traded income generated by our social entrepreneurs
806000
Beneficiaries reached by participants
Programme partnership with The DPS
The DPS Social Commitment Programme is backing charities and social enterprises across England and Wales to develop and grow solutions that help people access and sustain private rented homes and reduce homelessness and rough sleeping.
The programme is funded by Computershare Investor Services PLC. Computershare operates The Deposit Protection Service (The DPS), one of the government-approved schemes that protect tenancy deposits for landlords and tenants in the private rented sector in England and Wales.
Frequently asked questions
No. We’re looking for a clear connection to housing stability, but that connection can take different forms; from organisations working directly on housing and homelessness, to those working on related issues such as debt advice, mental health, or support for refugees and people seeking asylum, where there’s a genuine link to someone’s ability to find or keep a home. If you’re unsure, please get in touch before applying.
Only organisations based in England or Wales will be accepted, and a majority of your work and beneficiaries must be there.
Your organisation must be currently active, and have a constitution, set of rules or legal structure.
Your organisation may be a registered charity, a Community Benefit Society (CBS) or a Community Interest Company (CIC).
We can also accept other companies, co-operative societies or unincorporated associations, if they have certain clauses in the governing document, specifically
- a) a social purposes or objects,
- b) a restriction on distribution of profits, which means that most or all of profits are returned for social purposes and
- c) an asset lock or winding up clause which means that if the organisation is wound up, its remaining assets go to a charity, CIC or other asset locked body.
We mean all income, including grants, donations and trading income. Don’t include loans or equity investments. The threshold is a guide to help you choose between ‘Activate’ and ‘Scale’ levels of the programme.
If you’re close to the line, get in touch and we can help you work out which level is the better fit.
If you are an established organisation looking to scale and your annual income is comfortably over £100,000 you might want to check out the Scale programme here.
You can apply if you have attended previous SSE programmes and have applied to SSE before. You can also apply if you are on a current SSE programme which ends before April 2027.
This programme is specifically for you as a senior leader of your organisation, and the grant is given to your organisation. There is a requirement that you remain a leader of that organisation during the grant period. If this changes, please let us know – both the grant and the learning place may otherwise be withdrawn, though we will discuss any exceptions with you.
If you or your organisation is connected to staff or trustees of SSE or staff or board members of The Deposit Protection Service or Computershare, please contact us before making an application.
Previous participants of our programmes have included people who have criminal convictions, some of whom have used their experience to make a difference in their work. You do not need to let us know about previous convictions unless they are relevant to your application.
If you have unspent convictions for fraud, or convictions which may affect your ability to run your project – including working with children, young people or adults who are vulnerable – you must let us know.
We’re committed to making this programme as inclusive and accessible as possible. If you have any learning, mental health, or physical access requirements – we want to ensure you can take part fully and comfortably. A dedicated Access Fund, managed by SSE, is available to provide additional support where needed (for example: BSL interpretation, assistive tech, travel support, or other adjustments).
If you’d like to speak to someone confidentially about your needs or possible adjustments, please contact us.
If you work with children under 18 or vulnerable adults you will be required to provide a Safeguarding Policy.
The DPS Social Commitment Programme will run from April to December 2027.
Provisional delivery dates of all learning days will be provided well in advance of the programme starting. Three SSE-led in person Learning Days will take place at an accessible venue from 10:00-16:00. Five SSE-led online sessions will take place from 9:30-13:00 via Zoom. A market making event will be arranged separately with the date released well in advance.
The 1:1 coaching sessions will take place at times to suit you via MS Teams or Zoom (the latter can be arranged between you and your coach).
Yes. If you have registered interest and read the guidance notes and still have questions please don’t hesitate to reach out to us.
How to apply
Register interest
Register interest below and we will send you information about applying and a link to the application form.
Find out more
Read the information sent when you register interest, ask us questions or attend an optional info session. You must register interest to get guidance notes and info session links.
Get support
If you need support or have questions. Contact us. Please read the information as soon as possible so that there is time to give you support if needed.
Apply online
Apply using the online application form provided when you register interest before the deadline on 16th November 2026 at 12pm.
Register your interest
Register interest below and we will send you information about applying and a link to the application form.
Upcoming workshops
Instant booking for short, online, skills-based sessions.
- Workshop
Impact Storytelling
Practical storytelling tools to help your impact-led organisation shape and share stories that inspire action — for fundraising, media and community engagement.
- Online
-
October 20, 2026
More dates available - Duration: A few hours or less
- Workshop
Developing a Fundraising Strategy
A practical online course for people with some fundraising experience who want a clearer, more strategic approach to prioritising opportunities and building sustainable income.
- Online
- January 26, 2027 – January 27, 2027
- Duration: Just a day or two (short, one-off)
- Workshop
Introduction to Social Impact Measurement
A practical introduction to social impact measurement for beginners, helping you cut through the jargon and leave with a clear action plan to get started.
- Online
- Duration: A few hours or less
- Workshop
Sources of Funding for Charities and Social Enterprises
Explore a wide range of funding sources and leave with practical next steps to build diverse income streams for your organisation.
- Online
- October 20, 2026
- Duration: A few hours or less
Latest news & resources
- News
- News
200 grassroots organisations to receive funding and training in boost to government's fight against homelessness
The Deposit Protection Service (The DPS) and charity School for Social Entrepreneurs (SSE) have launched a nine-month accelerator, the DPS Social Commitment Programme.
- Videos & webinars
- Explore options / I’m not sure yet
Webinar: More than a roof - how can social enterprises help people find and keep a stable home?
Jerry During MBE, Ryan McKiernan and Pam Orchard discuss how social enterprises can tackle homelessness, address its wider causes and help people move from crisis towards lasting housing stability.
