A groundbreaking partnership between tenancy deposit protection scheme mydeposits and youth homelessness charity Centrepoint has scooped a prestigious national accolade at the Corporate Engagement Awards 2026.

The collaboration took home gold in the 'Best CSR Activity or Programme to Support or Develop a Corporate Reputation' category at a ceremony held at The Brewery in London this week (7 October).

The win recognises a pioneering initiative launched in May 2024, which made mydeposits the first tenancy deposit scheme to introduce a mechanism allowing tenants to donate the interest earned on their deposit to charity at the end of their tenancy.

A simple idea, extraordinary results

Embedded directly into mydeposits' Total Property platform, the feature gives tenants the option to donate interest generated while their deposit is protected at the point it is released, at no additional cost to them.

The initiative has dramatically exceeded expectations. By March 2026, more than 40,000 tenants had chosen to participate, generating a staggering £509,690 for Centrepoint in under two years and beating initial monthly projections by 21%.

Reflecting on the milestone and the win, Eddie Hooker, CEO of mydeposits, says:

"We are incredibly proud to receive this award, but what makes it particularly special is what sits behind it.

"When we launched the donation initiative with Centrepoint, we wanted to find a way to use our position within the private rented sector to make a genuine difference. The simplicity of the idea has been key to its success - thousands of individual tenants choosing to make a relatively small donation has collectively created an extraordinary impact."

Beyond the digital platform

The partnership has also grown through hands-on staff engagement. Employees have tackled Centrepoint’s Sleep Out and Ultimate Quiz, alongside volunteering across eight Centrepoint housing services, pulling in a further £33,700 in wider fundraising and sponsorship.

Hooker adds:

"Reaching more than £500,000 was already a hugely significant milestone for us, and to now have the partnership recognised in this way is testament to our team, Centrepoint and, most importantly, every tenant who has chosen to donate.

"This was never intended to be a one-off campaign, and we will continue building on the partnership and finding new ways for our business and the wider property industry to support young people facing homelessness."

Echoing the sentiment, Michael Winehouse, Head of Relationship Fundraising at Centrepoint, adds:

"This award is a fantastic recognition of a partnership that has delivered real and lasting impact for young people facing homelessness. Thanks to the commitment of mydeposits and the generosity of tenants across the UK, more than £500,000 has been raised to help young people access safe accommodation, develop essential life skills and move towards independent futures.

“We are incredibly proud of what we have achieved together so far and excited about the opportunities ahead as we continue to grow this partnership and support even more young people."

What's next?

Following the success of the initiative, mydeposits and Centrepoint are already exploring further ways to expand their collaboration. This includes driving greater engagement with landlords and letting agents across the private rented sector, alongside potential work experience opportunities for young people supported by the charity.