November is Social Enterprise Month, and Social Enterprise Day falls on the 19th. It's a global day for celebrating organisations that trade to tackle social problems and put what they earn back into their communities.
Seven Homeless Link members reached the shortlist for the UK Social Enterprise Awards 2026, and two of them took home a prize at the Social Enterprise UK Awards in Manchester on 12 November.
Congratulations to Turning Point, winner of Public Services Social Enterprise of the Year, and to The Brick, joint winner of Social Investment Deal of the Year with Social and Sustainable Capital. Platfform was also highly commended in Education, Training & Jobs Social Enterprise of the Year.
Our members were shortlisted in five of the 15 categories. They create jobs, training and homes, and show that enterprise can help people affected by homelessness. Their different trading models show that social enterprises in homelessness go far beyond a single approach.
Meet our seven shortlisted members, including the winners:
The Brick
Joint winner for: Social Investment Deal of the Year (with Social and Sustainable Capital)
The Brick is a Wigan anti-poverty charity working with people who are homeless, at risk of homelessness or in financial crisis. It runs emergency and supported accommodation, street outreach, community food shops and a Multibank, plus a skills and volunteering project.
Facing a shortage of secure move-on housing, it partnered with Social and Sustainable Capital (SASC) and used £1.93 million of social investment to buy, renovate and manage 40 homes. The deal shows how social investment helps charities own lasting assets and create stability.
Turning Point
Winner of: Public Services Social Enterprise of the Year
Turning Point has supported people for more than 60 years through 271 locations across England. Its services cover drug and alcohol recovery, mental health, learning disabilities, housing-related support and sexual health, with free and confidential support available online, by phone and face to face through local community services.
It also offers free online training for professionals on substance use and mental health, and an online programme for friends and family.
Platfform
Highly Commended for: Education, Training & Jobs Social Enterprise of the Year
Platfform is a Welsh charity for mental health and social change, running more than 170 projects across Wales. These include supported housing, homelessness prevention, employment and skills support, and counselling. It also trains other organisations to work in a more compassionate, trauma-informed way.
Standing Tall
Shortlisted for UK Social Enterprise of the Year
Standing Tall offers a stable job, a safe place to live and personal support. Founded in 2020, it now works in nine cities. It matches people who have experienced homelessness with employers offering entry-level jobs at real Living Wage, and with hosts who offer a spare room for up to six months while they save for a deposit.
More than 150 people have moved on from homelessness with Standing Tall. Four in five are still in work and living independently a year later.
Micro Rainbow CIC
Shortlisted for Social Investment Deal of the Year (with Esmée Fairbairn Foundation)
Micro Rainbow supports LGBTQ+ people fleeing persecution with safe houses, peer support and accredited employability training. Its national safe housing scheme provides more than 40,000 safe bed nights a year.
The nomination recognised the £8 million in social investment it has secured since 2021. The latest deal, in December 2025, opens the door to 60,000 bed nights a year.
Handcrafted Projects
Shortlisted for Public Services Social Enterprise of the Year
Handcrafted Projects works with local authorities to provide housing that puts people first, with any surplus going back into support. It runs 43 properties housing 50 people, alongside workshop hubs in woodwork, screen printing, property renovation and catering.
For Handcrafted, the homes are only one part of the picture. The aim is to empower people to rebuild their lives and find their own paths towards independence.
Change Please
Shortlisted for Social Enterprise Technology or Innovation of the Year
Change Please uses coffee profits to train people experiencing homelessness as baristas, with a Living Wage job and help with housing, finances and therapy. It has supported more than 3,500 people across eight countries and puts 100% of profits into ending homelessness.
The nomination recognised Housing Helper, an AI tool giving free housing advice 24 hours a day in more than 55 languages, reaching people before they face eviction or sleep rough.
