Eligibility for Cobseo Membership

Applications are welcomed from organisations that work to support the Armed Forces community, assuming they are registered in the UK as a charity or other charitable or not-for-profit entity or social purpose business; and are further able to demonstrate good governance and practice.

Armed Forces charities may qualify for Full Membership, and others under the broader category of Associate. The variable criteria for each are as follows:

Full Membership:

Charities with objects and activities which primarily benefit the Armed Forces community, and:

• Charity registered with the charity regulator (for England & Wales, Scotland, or Northern Ireland) as the principal regulator.
• Operated satisfactorily for over 18 months and provide one or more sets of lodged accounts.

Associate Membership:

Either – organisations with objects and activities which primarily benefit the Armed Forces community, and:

• Registered as having charitable or other not-for-profit status or as a social purpose business, but the principal regulator is not the charity regulator.
• Operated satisfactorily for over three and a half years and provide three or more sets of lodged accounts.

OR – organisations where activities benefit the Armed Forces community only in part, and:

• Charity registered with the charity regulator (for England & Wales, Scotland, or Northern Ireland) or registered with another primary regulator as having charitable or other not-for-profit status or as a social purpose business.
• Make a significant contribution to the Armed Forces community.
• Operated satisfactorily for over three and a half years and provide three or more sets of lodged accounts.

Important information to note

Please ensure you have read eligibility information above before completing the application form, to ensure you meet the basic criteria for membership. Additionally, please review the due diligence process below.

Due diligence process

Recommendations for Cobseo Membership are made to the Executive Committee on a quarterly basis at the next available quarterly meeting following conclusion of a process of due diligence. Find out more about the due diligence process here.

The Cobseo Membership application form consists of nine sections: 

1. Your organisation information 
2. Contact details 
3. Purpose / objectives / services 
4. Governance 
5. Safeguarding 
6. Finance / sustainability 
7. Collaboration / additional information 
8. Mental health / clinical intervention
9. Final agreement

Conditions and costs of Membership

The decision to accept an application for Membership is at the full discretion of the Executive Committee, and adherence to the Cobseo Regulations is a condition of continued Membership. Fees become due at the time of joining and annually at the start of each calendar year thereafter.

Subscriptions are banded according to the Member’s Gross Annual Income, with the current structure designed so that the real costs of Membership are subsidised by the largest Members and thereby affordable to smaller organisations. The applicable rate may be made available upon request at the point of application.

Membership application process

1. All applicants – check Eligibility for Membership (above).

2. All applicants – check you have all information to hand before you begin (as above)

3. All applicants – complete and submit the application form: Cobseo Membership application form.

Any questions about membership applications should be sent to: membership@cobseo.org.uk