Overview

Aspiring Leaders is a leadership development journey designed to equip you with the behaviours and skills needed to be an effective leader in the homelessness sector. Thanks to generous support from City Bridge Foundation, all places are fully funded.

LONDON PROGRAMME

Cohort 3: September 25 - March 26 (hybrid): We will open for applications on 23 June 25. Register your interest now.

ENGLAND PROGRAMME

Cohort 1: September 25 - March 26 (hybrid): We will open for applications on 23 June 25. Register your interest now.

We specifically encourage people from marginalised communities, particularly Black, Asian and minoritsed ethnic groups, LGBTQIA+ community, and people with disabilities, as well as people with lived experience of homelessness, to apply.

  • Training

    50 hours core commitment plus additional reading and reflection

  • Partnership

    Optional mentoring and coaching

  • Events

    Seven month programme

  • Coaching

    Online peer community

How great it was to have some space to reflect and engage with peers. It was reassuring to know that lots of others are experiencing the same challenges and it was hopeful that collectively we might be able to develop new approaches.
Manager, Emerging Leaders 2024

Eligibility

Homelessness worker

You will be in a role that does not currently have people management responsibilities. We would expect you to have aspirations to become a Manager or team lead within the next two years. You might be in a front line or back office role. There is no minimum time that you have been in post.

Passionate about collaborating to achieve social impact and improve equity, diversity and inclusion

We want the programme to have long lasting impact on the sector. Your interest in collaborating with your fellow participants beyond the life of the programme is key.

Working for an organisation dedicated to ending homelessness in London

This must be a voluntary community sector homelessness organisation. Your organisation does not need to be a member of Homeless Link. Your organisation should be based in London, or your role should be specifically focussed on homelessness in London.

Commitment to attendance

In order for you and your fellow participants to get the most out of the programme, we ask you to commit to attending all sessions. You will be asked in the application form to provide written evidence of commitment and support of your line manager.

Really enjoyed [the session]. Lots of interesting concepts and space for rich discussion!
Leadership support alumni

Outcomes

You will be supported to understand what leadership looks like for you, with the opportunity to delve into your values and beliefs as a leader. You’ll be given the knowledge and skills to take the next step of your career to become a manager or team lead. You'll be given an opportunity to build your resilience, well-being and confidence to allow you to lead from the front.

The programme will support you to:

  • Expand your understanding of how you think and process so that you can communicate more effectively with other
  • Explore your leadership aspirations
  • Identify areas for growth
  • Craft your vision and values
  • Engage in reflective practice
  • Learn how to create safe, inclusive working environments
  • Learn how to develop teams
  • Overcome barriers to effective leadership
  • Navigate management challenges
  • Develop key leadership skills
  • Develop a personal action plan to support your on-going development

Key elements

The programme will offer access to a wealth of development support designed to help participants build the skills, knowledge, and networks needed to become the leader they strive to be.

Welcome and closing sessions

All programmes will kick-off and conclude with an in-person welcome and closing session, allowing you to meet your peers as well as leaders on other cohorts, and to build trusted relationships.

Workshops

Participants join six half-day workshops that focus on different elements of leadership development. Each session includes presentations, discussions, reflection and peer learning. Themes include how to get the best out of people, listening skills, overcoming barriers, and creating safe and inclusive spaces.

Additional workshops

Participants will join additional workshops, such as:

Equity, Justice and Inclusion in Leadership - what inclusive leadership and equity mean in the context of homelessness organisations.

Systems Leadership - principles of system leadership as well as skills, tools and practical approaches.

Action Learning Sets (ALS)

Action Learning is a powerful tool for developing critical-thinking, problem-solving, creative solutions and innovative practice. Action Learning Sets are a simple way to learn from each other, using the combined wisdom and skills of a diverse group of people to work through real situations faced in the workplace.

You will meet three times in groups of six, with a trained facilitator. Find out more about Action Learning in Lucy and Laura's blog.

Meet our facilitators

Online networking community

Aspiring Leaders provides an opportunity to build relationships with other new and emerging leaders working in the homelessness sector. An online Whatsapp community enables participants to support peers during the life of the programme and beyond. The channel is used to ask questions, share learnings and offer mutual support.

Resources

Homeless Link has produced a number of resources targeted at leaders.

This includes our back catalogue of webinar recordings, which provide an opportunity to hear first-hand from CEOs and other expert speakers. Topics include Inclusive Leadership, creating more diverse and inclusive organisations, and how to involve people with lived experience authentically.

Find out more

Optional elements (subsidised, additional fees apply)

Mentoring

Mentoring offers you the opportunity to learn from a successful leader and build your knowledge of strategic issues. Initially a six-month relationship, you will be matched with a more experienced leader within the homelessness sector, offering a chance to ask questions, discuss real-life challenges and work towards personal and organisational goals.

Find out more

Coaching

Leadership coaching provides a confidential, safe space for reflection and discussion, and empowers individuals to take responsibility for their own personal development. You will be matched with a qualified coach, who won’t be a homelessness expert. The role of the coach is to help you reflect to solve your own problems and to act as a “critical friend”.

Find out more
I found the module very interactive, interesting and informative. Rachel delivered the sessions very well. The atmosphere was fun yet productive.
Aspiring Leaders participant, May 25

Programme

This programme is hybrid; workshops will be in person in Central London, while action learning sets will be online.

Group talking

FAQs

Do I need any specific qualifications to access the programme?

No, you just need to meet the eligibility criteria set out in the Eligibility section above.

Why is the programme free of charge? 

Thanks to generous financial support from City Bridge Foundation and the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG), we’re able to run these programmes at no cost to participants. In return, we request a commitment to attend the whole programme, to participate in feedback sessions and surveys, and to consider becoming a mentor to future leadership cohorts.

Are lunch or travel expenses provided?

Lunch and/or refreshments will be provided for sessions which take place in person. Unfortunately we’re unable to reimburse travel expenses.

What happens once the programme is complete?

All participants are invited to join the online leadership alumni community on LinkedIn. Some people might also choose to continue regular peer support sessions with some or all of the other participants.

I have another question...

In October 22, we hosted an information webinar on the programme. We have collected together the answers to attendees' questions so your question may be answered here: Leadership Support_Q&A

Who can I contact for more information?

Contact Lucy Horitz for more information or for an informal chat about the programme.

Questions asked in the application

Question 1: What are your goals for your leadership journey over the next 5 years?  [Maximum 150 words]

Question 2: Considering the programme content and themes, please tell us how you think the programme will benefit your leadership journey. Please consider the impact the programme will have on your personal development, the development of your organisation, and the sector as a whole. [Maximum 250 words]

Question 3: Considering the aims of the programme (listed above) please outline how you will personally contribute to the achievement of these aims. In your response, please consider how you could utilise your existing knowledge, skills, experience and attributes to benefit other participants. [Maximum 250 words]

Question 4: A key element of the programme is developing a network of peers in an environment that feels safe, trusted and supportive. In order to achieve this, we ask that all participants commit to attending all of the sessions. How will you manage the required time commitment and ensure your organisational capacity doesn’t suffer as a result? [Maximum 100 words]

Question 5: To ensure that participants and their organisations get the maximum benefit from the programme, we ask all applications to be endorsed by their line manager or board member. Please submit a paragraph from your manager confirming their endorsement and your suitability for the programme [Maximum 150 words]

  • CityBridgeFoundation_Logo_vertical_BlackColour

    City Bridge Foundation

    To deliver our London leadership programmes we have received funding from City Bridge Foundation, London’s biggest independent charity funder.
  • MHCLG logo

    Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government

    To deliver our England leadership programmes we have received funding from the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG).