Published: 22 Feb 2022  |  Category: Application process  |  Stage: We are getting started

Principal Sponsor Application Process (PSAP)

Lead Sponsor Organisations who have been designated by the Home Office to be a Principal Sponsor are able to submit applications that use a different format to the traditional Community Sponsorship application.

Groups will still need to research how they will support a refugee family, and will be able to welcome a family either through the UK Resettlement Scheme or the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme.

Application – Stage 1

Principal Sponsors will submit the application to the Home Office having;

  • fundraised a minimum of £3,000 and detail how they plan to raise the remaining £6,000
  • have permission to apply from the local authorities
  • provide a strategy for how they will secure housing, detailing the size of property they feel they will be able to source for the family
  • provide a safeguarding and complaints policy

The Home Office will approve this part of the application and at this stage will allocate a family to the group, Lead Sponsor and local authorities – you will each review the family referred and consider whether you can accept the referral or not. If you accept the referral, then the family allocated will be ‘held’ for the group for 4 months.

Application – Stage 2

You will then have 4 months to complete Stage 2 of the application, building the support that you will offer a specific family, as well as securing housing and your funds.

In the application, you will detail how you will support this specific family. You will be able to research the local services that they may require, building specific support for their needs and requirements. Groups who have welcomed through this route have said that this level of detail has provided a ‘head start’ for their support offer ahead of the family arriving.

Training

We now run monthly ‘PSAP Planning your application’ training sessions (part of the required Home Office training). You can find dates of upcoming sessions and register on our training schedule. If you are working on a PSAP application and require assistance, please contact the Reset Training Team

Current Principal Sponsors

As of May 2022, the organisations who are able to use the PSAP process are:

  • Caritas Plymouth
  • Caritas Salford
  • Caritas Shrewsbury
  • Catholic Care
  • CHARIS Refugees
  • Citizens UK (Sponsor Refugees)
  • Edinburgh Refugee Sponsorship Circle
  • Falmouth and Penryn Welcomes Refugees
  • Green Lane Masjid and Community Centre
  • Hillsong
  • Nugent Care
  • Pickwell Foundation
  • Salvation Army
  • Tyneside Welcomes