To be eligible for membership, an organisation must fulfil the following criteria:

• The organisation must be a voluntary body (i.e. independent, self-governing body of people who have joined together voluntarily to take action for the benefit of the community, and established otherwise than for financial gain).

• The organisation must provide social and educational opportunities for young people aged 11 to 25 or act as a coordinating network for organisations that do.

• Although organisations accepted into membership are normally registered charities, this is not an absolute condition; but if an organisation is not a registered charity, its aims, objectives and methods of working should be stated in a document that is available for public inspection.

• The organisation should be located in England. Organisations operating across the UK or internationally should have their headquarters in England.

• The organisation must support our charitable purposes and subscribe to its aims and values.

Applications that fit the criteria for membership are put to the Trustee Board for consideration.

The following factors will be important in this consideration:

• the length of time the organisation has been functioning and its financial situation. Membership will generally be open to organisations that are properly constituted and whose existence is not time limited for a particular purpose;

• a stated policy on equal opportunity and diversity or commitment to improved practice in this area;

• young people have an opportunity to take an active part in the organisation’s decision-making processes and that a youth participation policy is in place;

• a stated policy on safeguarding and child protection and that the organisation has implemented safeguarding procedures.