17 April 2026
Summary: A new scholarships programme, supported by MTVH and led by Clarion, will help social housing residents into university and careers across the housing sector through funding, mentoring and paid work experience.
To mark National Scholarships Week, we are supporting a major new programme designed to open up careers in social housing and related sectors for people who have traditionally faced barriers to opportunity.
The Social Housing Scholarships Programme, coordinated by housing association Clarion’s charitable foundation, Clarion Futures, is also supported by housing associations Hyde, L&Q, Peabody, Places for People and Riverside, with match funding provided by the Fusion21 Foundation.
Managed by Blackbullion, the programme will fund 14 scholarships over two years, open to residents, with each person receiving £18,000, paid in three annual instalments, to help with living costs while at university. Alongside financial support, beneficiaries of the scheme will gain access to mentoring, paid work experience and networking opportunities.
The programme supports a wide range of degree and career pathways connected to housing, homes and communities, including property, construction, sustainability, social policy, urban planning and business management. It highlights the breadth of roles available in social housing, from frontline housing management to corporate services such as business administration, HR, IT, finance, health and safety, governance, marketing and communications.
The scholarships are open to social housing residents of any age in England, and are aimed at those beginning an undergraduate degree in 2026. Priority will be given to applicants from lower-income households or who are the first in their family to attend university, with selection based on attitude, determination and enthusiasm, with less emphasis placed on academic performance than is typical in standard scholarship programmes.
Mel Barrett, Chief Executive at MTVH, said:
“Our mission is to create places where people can live well and have the opportunity to thrive. We’re proud to be involved in this scholarships programme, which will support residents to build confidence, gain real experience and move into meaningful careers that will make a positive difference to homes, communities and the future of social housing.”
Applications open on 24 April and close at midnight on 5 July. Scholars will be selected following the publication of A-level results in August.
Links:
- To find out more about the Social Housing Scholarships Programme, or to apply, visit myclarionhousing.com/scholarships.
- More information about the programme is available here: Social Housing Scholarships | Blackbullion
- A selection of workshops to help social housing residents understand, prepare for and confidently apply to the Social Housing Scholarship Programme can be registered for here: Social Housing Scholarship Programme Support | Eventbrite
