The Deposit Protection Service (DPS) is giving tenants the option to donate interest from their deposits to its newest charity partner, St Mungo’s.

The protector of deposits said that its tenant customers can elect to contribute to the organisation at the point their deposit returns to them.

The DPS added that it will facilitate payments throughout the next 18 months as tenants donate to the charity, which supports people who are homeless or facing homelessness.

The DPS added that it had also committed to facilitating the payment of £37,500 from tenants who have elected to donate the interest to the organisation’s nominated charity.

Laura Herring, director of fundraising and communications at St Mungo’s, said: “We are so grateful to the DPS for the amount of money they’ve already enabled their tenants to donate so far.

“With record numbers of people experiencing homelessness, it is vital that we can reach as many as possible and support them in rebuilding their lives. The DPS’s support will help us to do exactly that.”

Matt Trevett (pictured), managing director at the DPS, said: “We’re very pleased to offer tenants the opportunity to choose to donate the interest on their deposits to an organisation that supports those without somewhere to live.

“The DPS has been a staunch supporter of charities in the homeless sector since we were founded, and it means a lot to all of our team to be able to facilitate more funding for some of the most vulnerable in society, particularly at this time of year.”

St Mungo’s is a leading homelessness charity with frontline teams that find people experiencing homelessness and help them access safe and warm emergency accommodation, from which they can receive further support and begin rebuilding their lives.

The organisation’s teams also help people to learn new skills and find jobs as well as reconnect with friends and family.

The DPS added that its partnership with St Mungo’s also aims to support meaningful change in local communities across the country, particularly in Bristol, where the deposit protector is headquartered.

The organisation cited the charity’s Putting Down Roots gardening programme, which uses gardening as a therapy, as an example of it supporting people to move away from homelessness for good.

St Mungo’s has supported more than 28,000 people experiencing or at risk of becoming homelessness in 2023, it said.