Spark Overview

Spark is a pioneering development and investment programme that aims to inspire organisations to build social enterprises that will prevent and tackle homelessness using sustainable business models.

Applications are now closed for 2009. Applications will re-open in the Spring of 2010. Sign up to the Newsletter to receive further information about Spark 09 applicants and further funding rounds.

To hear more about winners from last year’s Spark, click here

Spark has five specific goals:

To enable more homeless and vulnerably-housed people to move into independent living and employment
To champion and build sustainable social enterprise models
To increase sustainability and impact of sector in tackling homelessness compared to existing models of intervention
To develop more valuable connections and partnerships between the private, public and third sectors
To continue testing, promoting and disseminating the value of social enterprise and the Spark model

Spark was launched in December 2007 and founded on the conviction that an enterprise approach offers a long-term and sustainable way to address homelessness; and that cross-sector partnerships are the best way to foster this model.

Spark is much more than a competition or a grant application. It is a cross-sector collaboration that brings together leading organisations and social enterprises with the public, private and third sector to work together to build sustainable solutions to homelessness.

Spark contributes to a major refocusing of the Government’s homelessness strategy, ‘No One Left Out’, which aims to bring an end to rough sleeping by 2012: www.communities.gov.uk/publications/housing/roughsleepingstrategy

In 2008, Spark was widely recognised as a pioneering collaboration across the public, private and third sectors to affect social change and supported 15 organisations.

In 2009, Spark will continue to support the development of entrepreneurial organisations operating in the homelessness sector by providing investment, business support and corporate sponsorship with partners, BT, PricewaterhouseCoopers and Places for People.

Spark works to encourage organisations such as charities, small and medium businesses, established and new social enterprises, housing associations, local authorities and individuals (who are currently homeless, at risk of being homeless or who have been homeless in the last 5 years) to develop viable businesses that will create a sustainable route out of homelessness.

Spark stimulates enterprise in the homelessness sector. It ensures much needed funds and business resources are invested in smart and sustainable social enterprises that give homeless people an opportunity to move towards employment and independent living.

Click here to find out why we are encouraging social entrepreneurship in homelessness