Grant News
The School for Social Entrepreneurs has opened applications for two DPS Social Commitment Programmes, offering grants and specialist support to charities and social enterprises tackling homelessness and housing insecurity in England and Wales. The programmes are funded by Computershare, which operates The Deposit Protection Service.
Activate targets earlier-stage organisations, generally with annual income below £100,000. It provides grants of up to £7,000 plus support to build sustainable business models, generate income, test ideas, strengthen leadership and financial resilience. Participants receive cohort learning, peer and one-to-one business coaching, and access to SSE’s learning community. Most sessions are online, with three regional learning days.
Scale supports established organisations with tested business models that are ready for significant growth. Applicants will typically have income above £100,000, although this is not a strict threshold. Grants of up to £10,000 are available to organisations seeking to expand geographically, replicate their model, grow substantially or explore approaches such as social franchising.
Key highlights:
- Applicants must be based in England or Wales.
- Work must address housing insecurity or homelessness.
- Both programmes run from April to December 2027.
For both programmes, applicants must be based in England or Wales and have a majority of beneficiaries there. Their work must help people access or sustain a home, with at least some connection to the private rented sector, or reduce homelessness and rough sleeping.
Organisations do not have to work solely in housing: related services such as debt advice, mental health support, or support for refugees and people seeking asylum can qualify where there is a clear link to housing stability.
Grant funding can support salaries, project costs, equipment and improvements to organisational systems. The application deadline is 12 noon on 16 November 2026.
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