National Workforce Programme
The purpose of the National Workforce Programme (NWP) Grant is to strengthen and support the capacity, capability, and career pathway opportunities for the homelessness and rough sleeping sector’s workforce.
- Opening date: (Midday)
- Closing date:
Contents
Summary
The National Workforce Programme 2026-2029, is a new £12m three-year national grant programme of support and training for the homelessness and rough sleeping frontline workforce. This grant will be delivered through four individually biddable funding streams, referred to as ”pillars“, which will be managed through agreed workplans and regular monitoring. These programme areas will have complementary work streams, objectives and outputs. The intended aims and expected outcomes of the National Workforce Programme are:
a. Pillar 1 “Foundations” - Strengthen the foundations of the sector and develop workforce capacity, recruitment and career pathways – addressing current recruitment and retention challenges by recognising sector roles as technical and specialist professions and supporting career development opportunities.
b. Pillar 2 “Training” - Provide a comprehensive workforce capability package accessible to professionals and volunteers working in the sector. Ensuring the sector’s workforce has the right knowledge, skills and support to deliver high quality homelessness and rough sleeping frontline services.
c. Pillar 3 “Advice” - Provide specialist housing and homelessness advice for professionals working in the sector – providing a nationally funded route to advice on particularly complex issues.
d. Pillar 4 “Community” - Strengthen community-based organisations to tackle homelessness in all its forms – further supporting and professionalising small and non-commissioned organisations so that they are better placed to operate safely and appropriately.
To help organisations with their proposals, the specifications and Key Performance Indicators for Pillars 1-4 can be found in the NWP Prospectus.
We are seeking proposals to:
Work with MHCLG to provide a national programme that is flexible and adaptable to the changing demands of homelessness and rough sleeping.
Maximise online, digital and other technology to improve and expand the reach of your service.
Involve the voice and experiences of people both working within the workforce and those with a lived experience of homelessness and rough sleeping in its ongoing delivery throughout the Grant.
Eligibility
To apply for this fund your organisation must be based in England, capable of operating across England and delivering services either independently or as part of a consortium, with specialist expertise and a proven track record of:
Delivering a similar specialist service within the homelessness and rough sleeping sector in England.
Working collaboratively with sector bodies and other statutory and voluntary agencies.
Coordinating a multi-agency approach, ensuring that maximum impact is realised and all partners contribute to expected outcomes.
Significant and appropriate sector links and networks, ensuring that best practice is shared, and services undergo continuous improvement.
Ability to deliver services which can add value to the work of MHCLG.
Ability to adapt to changing needs.
Delivering projects that provide value for money
Eligible organisations must be based in England and be one of the following organisation types:
'Charity' - An organisation registered as a Charity with 'The Charity Commission for England and Wales.'
Charitable Registered Soceity under Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014.
A Community Interest Company registered with Companies House.
A Community Interest Company with an asset lock.
A Charitable Incorporated Organisation registered with 'The Charity Commission for England and Wales.'
A Company Limited by Guarantee registered with Companies House.
A Cooperative and Community benefit society.
An Industrial and Porvidence Society (IPS).
The following types of organisations are not eligible:
Local authorities.
Town and Parish Councils.
Other public organisations.
Companies limited by guarantee, whose members are exclusively public sector organisations or profit distributing organisations.
Companies limited by shares.
Any other profit-distributing organisations.
Individuals.
Objectives
The objectives of the National Workforce Programme are to meet the current and future needs of the workforce, with specific focus on:
Capacity building: Ensuring there is a stable workforce that can meet the demand for sector services.
Capability building: Ensuring the sector’s workforce has the right knowledge, skills and support to deliver high quality homelessness and rough sleeping frontline services.
Career Progression: Improving the profile of the sector’s roles and address current recruitment and retention challenges by recognising sector roles as technical and specialist professions and supporting career development opportunities.
Dates
Applications Open: 12:00pm Wednesday 12th November
Deadline for Applications: 17:00pm Wednesday 10th December
Moderation of applications: Mid to end of Jan 2026
Due diligence checks: Mid to end of Jan 2026
Negotiation of KPIs and proposed budget with preferred bidders: Mid February 2026
Approval and confirmation of awards: End of February 2026
Issuing of grant funding agreements: Early March 2026
Grantees mobilisation: March to April 2026
New NWP Grants funding agreements commence: Beginning of April 2026
How to apply
The grant competition will be published on GOV.UK at the following links
https://apply.access-funding.communities.gov.uk/funding-round/NWP/PILL1
https://apply.access-funding.communities.gov.uk/funding-round/NWP/PILL2
https://apply.access-funding.communities.gov.uk/funding-round/NWP/PILL3
https://apply.access-funding.communities.gov.uk/funding-round/NWP/PILL4
If you would like to apply for just one pillar, simply click on the link that corresponds to that specific pillar. You do not need to complete several applications unless you wish to apply to multiple pillars.
Deadline: All applications must be submitted by 17:00pm on Wednesday 10, December.
Supporting information
Applicants are encouraged to view the full prospectus for comprehensive guidance on the application process: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-workforce-programme-prospectus
For any queries or support, please contact: nwpgrant@communities.gov.uk