Eligibility for Membership – Basic Criteria

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.

Application Process

1. All applicants  – Check Eligibility for Membership (see above).
2. All applicants – Complete and submit application via link to online form, here: Membership Application (Form 1)
3. Additional criteria apply if the focus of support offered to beneficiaries is any type of therapeutic intervention, healthcare, or clinical treatment; in which case Guiding Principles for Mental Health (Form 2) and, if relevant, Additional Criteria for Clinical Interventions (Form 3) should also be submitted as part of the application, by email to membership@cobseo.org.uk.

Please also note that the offer of Membership is at the discretion of the Cobseo Executive Committee, and thorough consideration is given to applications in the interests of Cobseo’s own good governance. Recommendations are made to the Executive Committee on a quarterly basis at the next available quarterly meeting following conclusion of a process of due diligence. The timetable is further extended where applications are referred to the Medical Advisory Committee, in the case where Form 2 and/or Form 3 are provided as part of the application.

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.