The Deposit Protection Service (The DPS) has facilitated a donation of over £1 million to St Mungo’s over the last year.
The UK’s largest protector of rental deposits safeguards tenants’ deposits, and has enabled this vital funding by giving tenant customers the option to donate interest earned on their deposits directly to St Mungo’s.
The donation comes at a critical moment. St Mungo’s supports over 26,000 people experiencing homelessness every single year, during a time when increasing numbers of people are faced with the harsh reality of losing their home.
Rough sleeping in England reached record highs last autumn. According to the latest official figures, 4,793 people were estimated to be rough sleeping in England on a single night in autumn 2025, a rise of 3% since 2024.
This is also the fourth successive rise in a row, with levels of rough sleeping in England now 171% higher than 2010 when records began.
From helping the organisation’s Outreach teams to find and support those who are rough sleeping, to enabling the charity to offer specialist support and group activities for people recovering from homelessness, this donation will enable people to rebuild their life in the way that works for them.
St Mungo’s gardening project Putting Down Roots is one of many different services that will benefit from this incredible donation.
Putting Down Roots has sites in London and Bristol, and helps individuals recovering from homelessness to build confidence and skills through gardening. The service uses horticulture as a tool to help people on their recovery journey.
Ray, a client of St Mungo’s who attended Putting Down Roots in Bristol, says:
“My support worker from the charity who got me off the streets introduced me to St Mungo’s and Putting Down Roots. My social anxiety was so bad, I had to force myself out the door for the gardening sessions. But I’d turn up and listen to the adults! I’d ask for things to do – like planting flowers, sowing seeds and weeding. But it was a struggle to even bend down and pick things up at first. Putting Down Roots changed everything for me – I can’t speak highly enough of the sessions and team.
It’s given me stability, and I had none of that before. My routine used to be going to the chemist for my prescriptions, coming home, having food and drink and falling asleep. But Putting Down Roots broke that chain. Of course, there are days when I think ‘I’m not sure I want to do it today.’ But I go to the allotment and feel much better for it.
Because of St Mungo’s, I’ve got the confidence to grab my life back. My brain is still creating feel good chemicals, and I’ve learnt a lot of new skills. I love building planters and the process of potting seeds and seeing them blossom through summer. The same with eating home grown fruit and veg. I’m beginning to live the dream now!”
Michael Reynolds, Director of Fundraising and Communications at St Mungo’s, says:
“We are incredibly grateful to The DPS for the donations they have facilitated during the first year of our partnership and to all the tenants who have so generously chosen to donate the interest from their safeguarded deposits to St Mungo’s.
With record numbers of people now facing or at risk of homelessness, our work has never been more urgent. The DPS’s fantastic £1 million fundraising milestone and continued support will make a real and lasting difference, helping people recover from homelessness and rebuild their lives.”
Matt Trevett, Managing Director at The DPS, says:
“We are delighted to reach the £1 million donation mark since embarking on this partnership.
St Mungo’s delivers vital support to people facing some of the toughest circumstances across London and the South of England.
Many of our employees are also supporting the charity directly, donating time and energy to a number of local St Mungo’s initiatives.”
For more information on The DPS, visit www.depositprotection.com.
