Request for Proposals: DPS Social Commitment Programme (UK)

Deadline: 16-Nov-2026

The DPS Social Commitment Programme: Scale offers an accelerator learning programme and grant funding for established organisations in England and Wales working to address the causes and consequences of homelessness. Delivered by the School for Social Entrepreneurs in partnership with The Deposit Protection Service (The DPS), the programme supports organisations developing sustainable solutions that help people access and maintain secure housing, particularly within the private rented sector.

The DPS Social Commitment Programme: Scale is designed for established and scaling organisations working to tackle housing insecurity and homelessness.

The programme combines specialist learning, one-to-one support, peer learning, networking opportunities, and grant funding to help organisations strengthen their work and scale their impact. It focuses particularly on solutions that enable people to access or sustain secure housing and address homelessness and rough sleeping.

Participating organisations can receive grant funding of up to £10,000

The funding is designed to support both the organisation’s learning journey and the development of its work tackling housing insecurity. The grant can be used flexibly to strengthen organisational capacity and support the organisation to scale its impact.

Participants receive a specialist accelerator learning programme over nine months

The programme includes:

The programme is designed to provide practical learning and support tailored to the needs of established organisations that are ready to scale. The accelerator curriculum focuses on helping organisations strengthen their ability to grow and sustain their social impact.

Key areas include:

The programme supports organisations working to address the root causes and consequences of homelessness. Particular emphasis is placed on solutions that help people access and maintain secure housing, especially within the private rented sector. Organisations can use the learning and grant support to strengthen approaches that address housing insecurity and improve access to sustainable housing.

Participants can benefit from peer-to-peer learning throughout the programme

The programme also provides access to a ready-made network of social sector leaders and experts. These connections can help participating organisations exchange knowledge, learn from other organisations, and develop their approaches to scaling impact. The programme is open to established organisations based in England or Wales.

Eligible organisations should:

The programme has a particular interest in organisations whose work helps people access or sustain housing within the private rented sector. Applicants may also be considered where their work addresses homelessness, rough sleeping, or wider housing insecurity. The key requirement is that the organisation’s work contributes to helping people access or maintain a home or reduces homelessness and rough sleeping.

The DPS Social Commitment Programme: Scale is intended for organisations that have established work and are ready to increase their impact.

Applicants should demonstrate that they have a developed approach and are at a stage where accelerator learning, specialist support, and flexible grant funding can help them scale. The programme particularly welcomes applications from organisations led by and for: These organisations are encouraged to apply where their work meets the wider programme requirements. Applicants should be established organisations with an annual income likely to be over £100,000. The programme is focused on organisations that are already operating and are ready to scale their work rather than organisations at an initial idea stage. Applicants should therefore be able to demonstrate an established approach to tackling homelessness or housing insecurity and a clear opportunity to develop or expand their impact. The grant funding of up to £10,000 can support both the learning journey and the development of the participating organisation’s work. The funding can be used flexibly to:

The DPS Social Commitment Programme: Scale is delivered by the School for Social Entrepreneurs in partnership with The Deposit Protection Service (The DPS).

The programme combines structured learning with practical support and funding to help established organisations strengthen their models and increase their impact. It is a nine-month accelerator learning and grant programme for established organisations in England and Wales working to tackle homelessness and housing insecurity.

Participating organisations can receive up to £10,000 in grant funding

The accelerator programme runs for nine months. The programme includes 12 learning sessions. Yes. Participants receive one-to-one support as part of the accelerator programme. Participants can take part in a market making event, benefit from peer-to-peer learning, and access a network of social sector leaders and experts. Established organisations based in England or Wales can apply if their work helps people access or sustain a home or reduces homelessness and rough sleeping. Yes. The programme is designed for established organisations that are ready to scale their work. Organisations should have an annual income likely to be over £100,000. Yes. The programme particularly supports organisations working to help people access and maintain secure housing within the private rented sector. Yes. Organisations whose work helps reduce homelessness and rough sleeping can be eligible. The majority of an applicant organisation’s beneficiaries should be in England or Wales. The programme particularly welcomes organisations led by and for Black and racially minoritised communities, deaf and disabled people, women, LGBTQ+ communities, and people in economically disadvantaged areas. Yes. The grant can be used flexibly to support the learning journey, strengthen organisational capacity, and develop work addressing housing insecurity. The programme