Eligibility for Membership – Basic Criteria

Thank you for your interest in joining Cobseo. We have currently paused applications for new Members – we will reopen this process in late autumn 2025, and will share information on our digital channels: X and LinkedIn.

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 1 or more sets of lodged accounts.

OR

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 3.5 years and provide 3 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 3.5 years and provide 3 or more sets of lodged accounts.