New scholarships to help residents start careers in housing
A new scholarships programme is launching to help people living in social housing start careers in the housing sector, supported by seven of the UK’s leading housing associations, including Peabody.
Published: 20/04/2026
What the scholarship offers and who can apply
The Social Housing Scholarships Programme is open to all social housing residents of any age in England who are starting an undergraduate degree in September 2026.
It will fund 14 scholarships over two years - seven starting this year, and seven next year. Each successful applicant will receive:
- Financial support: £18,000 in total, paid in three annual instalments of £6,000 per year, to help with living costs while at university
- Mentoring and personal development
- Paid internships
- Volunteering opportunities
Priority will be given to people from lower-income households or those who would be the first in their family to go to university. Applications will focus on applicants’ motivation, attitude, determination and enthusiasm, rather than just academic results.
Career opportunities in housing
The scholarship supports a wide range of degrees linked to housing, homes and communities, including areas like construction, sustainability, urban planning, social policy and business.
There are more than 200 different roles in social housing, from frontline housing services to careers in IT, finance, HR, communications and more. All of them play a part in supporting communities and improving people’s lives.
The programme is being launched on Friday 24 April to coincide with National Scholarships Week (20-26 April).
Working together
We’re supporting the programme alongside Clarion, Hyde, L&Q, Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing (MTVH), Places for People and Riverside. It’s being match-funded by the Fusion21 Foundation. The programme is coordinated by Clarion Housing Group’s charitable foundation, Clarion Futures, and is managed by Blackbullion, a financial wellbeing platform with a hub for scholarships and additional student funding.
By working together, the partners aim to reach more people and create lasting change, helping to break down barriers and open up opportunities for underrepresented groups.
Ian McDermott, Chief Executive at Peabody said: “This programme will help open up housing careers to more people from a wider range of backgrounds, backing the talent and potential we see every day in the communities we serve.
“By working together with partners across the sector, we can go further and have a greater impact - creating more opportunities and breaking down barriers into housing careers.
“Through a combination of financial support, mentoring, work experience and networks, the programme offers a supported route into the sector and will help make housing careers more accessible and inclusive.”
Clare Miller, Chief Executive of Clarion Housing Group, said: “At Clarion, we believe that talent exists in every community, but opportunity doesn’t always follow. That’s why we’re proud to be leading the way with the new Social Housing Scholarships Programme, working with other leading housing associations to help level the playing field for social housing residents through financial support, mentoring and paid work experience to break down barriers.
“By opening up pathways into meaningful careers in housing, we’re investing in a more diverse generation of future professionals who will help shape stronger, thriving communities.”
How to apply
Applications open on 24 April and close at midnight on 5 July. Successful applicants will be selected after A-level results are published in August.