LSOs will provide the expertise, oversight and support that sponsors need to deliver successful sponsorships.

You act as the bridge between sponsors and the Home Office, helping ensure that sponsorship arrangements are safe, well-prepared and capable of supporting refugees to rebuild their lives.

Your role helps ensure that every sponsorship is safe, effective and gives refugees the best possible start in their new community.

You will:

• Provide guidance, training and support to Community Sponsorship Groups (CSGs)
• Assess CSG's plans and arrangements (e.g. funding, volunteers, support plans, accommodation).
• Complete, submit and endorse their application to the Home Office
• Monitor and provide ongoing oversight once refugee(s) arrive
• Respond to safeguarding, welfare or compliance concerns
• Act as the main point of contact between sponsors and the Home Office

To become a Lead Sponsor Organisation (LSO), you must:

• Be a registered UK charity or Community Interest Company (CIC) that has been registered for at least one year.
• Show that your organisation has the capacity, expertise and resources to support refugee sponsorship.
• Have appropriate policies, procedures, safeguarding and monitoring arrangements in place.
• Identify people who will take on key roles, including a Safeguarding Lead.
• Be able to support multiple sponsorship applications (at least three over three years).
• Have a governing board where the majority of members are British or Irish citizens.

The Home Office will assess whether your organisation has the experience, governance, networks and operational capacity needed to oversee sponsorship arrangements.

Organisations interested in becoming a Lead Sponsor Organisation must apply directly to the Home Office.

• Read the eligibility requirements: Lead Sponsor Guidance
• Read about the accreditation process: Accreditation Process
• Apply to become a Lead Sponsor: Apply to be a Lead Sponsor for Refugees

Please note: Accreditation is carried out by the Home Office. Citizens UK is not involved in assessing applications or deciding which organisations are approved as Lead Sponsor Organisations.

The success of Named Community Sponsorship depends on Lead Sponsorship Organisations (LSOs).

While there is considerable interest from communities across the UK in sponsoring refugees, Community Sponsorship Groups cannot apply directly to the scheme. Every group must apply through and be supported by an accredited LSO. Without enough LSOs, communities are simply unable to participate.

By becoming an LSO, your organisation can help unlock the capacity of people across the country to welcome refugees, reunite families, expand safe routes, and build stronger, more welcoming communities.

You won't be doing this alone.

Citizens UK is working with partners across the sector to support current and aspiring Lead Sponsor Organisations.

We offer:

• Information sessions and one-to-one conversations
• A national Lead Sponsor Network
• Peer support and mentoring
• Resources, templates and practical guidance

We are running small grants programme for prospective Lead Sponsor Organisations. Applications for the first round are open until 1 December 2026. Funding is limited, and we expect to make only 1-4 awards in this round. Applications are by invitation only.

Contact communitysponsorship@citizensuk.org to arrange a call, and join our network of support.