Forms, Terms & Conditions, Policies & the rest of the fine print
We know that reading through the fine print can be kind of tedious (try having to write it all!) so we’ve tried to make it as easy as possible for you to navigate and find what you’re looking for quickly. Simply click on a box or heading for more info. If you think something’s missing or can’t find what you’re looking for, drop us a line here.
Forms: the fun ones we hope you use all the time!
Volunteer Form
Become a Member
Donate
Contact Us
Suggestion Form
Share Something
Submit an Event
Submit a Group
Submit Info
Submit a Need
Forms: the not so great (but legally required) ones we hope you never have to use:
Damaged Item - Lender
Damaged Item - Borower
Lost Item - Lender
Lost Item - Borrower
Stolen Item - Lender
Stolen Item - Borrower
Incident
Complaint
Dispute
Cancel Membership
General Policies & Guidelines
1) Ethos
Mission
Our Mission is to provide a space where everyone in the community can gather together and participate in a fairer and more sustainable future, enabling local actions that will ultimately contribute to global change.
Vision
A world where everyone cares about, and has the equal opportunity to actively participate in, creating positive changes for themselves, others and the planet.
Focus Areas
1) Inclusion: Celebrating our shared humanity by encouraging people to connect in meaningful and positive ways.
2) Nature: Empowering people to make more sustainable choices by showcasing best practice and providing access to resources.
3) Enterprise: Supporting businesses to balance people, planet and profit by providing strong connections and creative solutions.
4) Learning: Enabling people to expand their skills and experience by inspiring an open exchange of knowledge and ideas.
5) Wellbeing: Creating healthy and happy communities by encouraging people to cultivate deeper connections with themselves and others
2) Code of Ethics
When you become a Member of The Village Project you are agreeing to abide by our Code of Ethics. The Village Project Code of Ethics ensures that we all work together to create an environment where each of us are treated with dignity and respect and that together we champion The Village Project's overall Ethos.
The Village Project is committed to creating space for positive interactions which brings out the full potential in each of us and contributes directly to our individual success, the success of our co-op and the community. The Village Project is dedicated to ethical and fair practices at all times and is free of discrimination of all types. When you become a Member you take on the responsibility to help create an open and supportive environment for one another.
1) Treatment of other Members
By becoming a Member, you agree to:
a) Be patient, courteous and considerate in all communications both online and in person
b) Treat others with respect and kindness
c) Help others to feel safe, welcome, and valued
d) Be inclusive of all people of all backgrounds which includes any sexual orientation, gender identity, ethnicity, colour, age, size, religion and mental and physical ability.
e) Acknowledge the contributions of others and show appreciation of others input
2) Boundaries & privacy
By becoming a Member, you agree to:
a) Respect the property and privacy of others
b) Respect people’s personal decisions and understand that not all people come with the same level of comfort in all situations
c) Not pursue any connection with another Member if they have indicated they do not want to connect with you
d) Under no circumstances, disclose personal information of another Member, to another Member or non-member
e) Only use any personal details of another Member, such as contact or location details, when invited to do so, by that Member, for a specific purpose or event.
3) Disagreements & disputes
By becoming a Member, you agree to:
a) Work through differences of opinions positively and with respect
b) Remain courteous and kind to each other at all times, even though an interaction or experience may cause frustration
c) Avoid blame, keep your language positive, choose your battles and take time to understand the issue and the person.
d) Make every attempt to solve a disagreement or dispute directly with the persons involved, before escalating it and getting The Village Project involved.
4) Collaboration and connection
By becoming a Member, you agree to:
a) Openly share with other Members to the best of your ability and within the limits of your own personal capacity
b) Recognise the strengths, varied insights, unique experiences and perspectives of each person
c) Appreciate that our differences and each person’s individuality is what makes us strong as a whole
d) Remember that every interaction with each other is both an opportunity to learn from and teach one another. Be open to new ways of thinking and sharing your world with others.
e) Be open to seeking out and being part of new ways to collaborate for the benefit of one another, our co-op and the entire community.
3) Constitution
Our Constitution is a document that outlines the 'rules' of The Village Project Summer Hill Co-operative Ltd. This Constitution was created under the guidance of an expert consultant and approved by NSW Fair Trading.
Because this document is so large, we have added a link to the PDF version here, rather than try to include it word for word on this page.
4) Privacy Policy
Privacy Policy
1) The Village Project requires some personal information to be shared for communication purposes amongst Members in relation to our Share Economy, Events, Groups, Forums, Info Hub and other co-op related interactions.
2) Please ensure you only provide relevant details when needed and never give personal details if a situation or other Member makes you feel uncomfortable.
3) If a Member is provided with personal details of another Member, that Member must respect the privacy of the other Member(s) and only use that information for actions relevant to The Village Project's Digital Platform.
4) Personal data will need to be shared for Members to reach other Members, particularly for the Share Economy. This will mainly be done through the Village Project's Digital Platform, but other forms of communication may be necessary. Only give these details if absolutely necessary and if you feel safe in giving this information.
5) The Village Project will not sell or share your information to a third party and will only email Members when it is relevant, or to inform Members of upcoming events, changes, or news.
6) If a Member requests personal information about another Member from The Village Project, the Member, whose information is being requested, will be notified.
5) Complaints & Disputes Policy
The Village Project is committed to the consistent, just and confidential handling of disputes and quick resolution. Our aim is to facilitate the issue being resolved in a timely manner, if Members can not resolve the issue themselves. All member disputes raised or complaints made, will be recorded electronically, and may only be accessed or changed by a senior administration team member of The Village Project.
Complaints
1) Complaints are defined as any dissatisfaction or grievances made to the The Village Project administration team in relation to either the services provided by The Village Project, or another Member.
2) Members and non-members can make a complaint by filling out the Complaint form.
3) If a complaint is made, the details will be recorded and any response needed will be given when the complaint is made. If a resolution needs to be made, a timeframe of resolution will be provided and the persons involved will be informed of any progress by The Village Project.
Disputes
4) Disputes are defined as any perceived injustice between two or more Members or between a Member or Members and The Village Project.
5) When disputes are unable to be resolved by the persons involved, Members can seek assistance from The Village Project by filling out a Dispute form.
6) In the event of a Member dispute, Members are encouraged to discuss the issue directly with each other and agree to a resolution between themselves, before seeking to get The Village Project involved.
7) All disputes will be handled as per Division 2, Section 13 of our Constitution:
The grievance procedure set out in this rule applies to disputes under these rules between:
(a) a Member and another Member; or
(b) a Member (including a former Member) and the co-operative.
(2) If a dispute arises, a party cannot commence any court or arbitration proceedings relating to the dispute unless it has complied with the provisions of this rule, except where a person seeks urgent interlocutory relief.
(3) The parties to the dispute must meet and discuss the matter in dispute, and, if possible, resolve the dispute within 14 days of:
(a) the dispute coming to the attention of each party; or
(b) a party giving notice, to each of the other parties involved, of the dispute or grievance.
(4) If the parties are unable to resolve the dispute at the meeting, or if a party fails to attend that meeting, the parties must, as soon as is practicable, hold a meeting in the presence of a mediator.
(5) The mediator is, where possible, to be a person chosen by agreement between the parties, but in the absence of agreement between the parties:
(a) for a dispute between a member and another member, a person appointed by the board; or(b) for a dispute between a Member (including a former Member) and the co-operative, a person appointed by The Co-operative Federation Ltd.
(6) The mediator may (but need not) be a member of the co-operative, unless the member is a party to the dispute.
(7) The parties to the dispute must, in good faith, attempt to settle the dispute by mediation.
(8) The mediator, in conducting the mediation, must:
(a) give the parties to the mediation process every opportunity to be heard; and
(b) allow due consideration by all parties of any written statement submitted by any party; and
(c) ensure that natural justice is accorded to the parties to the dispute throughout the mediation process.
(9) The mediator cannot determine the dispute.
(10) The mediation must be confidential and without prejudice.
(11) The costs of the mediation are to be shared equally between the parties unless otherwise agreed.
(12) Nothing in this rule applies to any dispute as to the construction or effect of any mortgage or contract contained in any document other than these rules.
(13) Nothing in this rule applies to any dispute involving the expulsion or suspension of a Member.
(14) If the mediation process does not result in the dispute being resolved, each party may seek to resolve the dispute in accordance with the Law or otherwise at law.
Terms & Conditions Per Area
1) Share Economy Terms & Conditions
Description
The Village Project provides an online platform to facilitate a Share Economy, made up of Members who have been reviewed and approved by our Admin Team. The Share Economy refers to the area on our Digital Platform that facilitates the sharing of Skills, Services and Stuff (also referred to as 'Items'). The Share Economy is about collaboration, connection and creating a more sustainable community for all. We ask that you keep this in mind when engaging with other Members.
When you join the Share economy you are agreeing to be respectful and appreciative of other Members Skills, Services or Stuff. In all transactions and communications Members are expected to act with fairness, friendliness and mutual respect. Under no circumstances are Members to ask or offer money to other Members for any Skills, Services or Stuff that is being shared as part of the The Village Project’s Share Economy.
Lender Responsibilities
1) When describing an Item or Stuff, the Lender must:
a) Make the Borrower aware of any existing damage or wear and tear, especially if the functionality may be hindered by the damage
b) Ensure that your description and images are accurate and up to date
c) Ensure that the Borrower has all the necessary information to be able to use the Item eg. instructions for use
d) Communicate clearly what your expectations are of the condition the Item must be in, when returned by the borrower eg. vacuum bag needs emptying, Item needs to be fully charged etc.
2) When sharing an Item or Stuff, the Lender must:
a) Give the Borrower clear dates, in writing, of how long they may borrow the Item for and ensure that it is understood by both parties when the Item must be returned
b) If an appointment is made and can not be kept, give the Borrower due notice and either arrange another appropriate time or alternative means to get the Item to the Borrower if needed eg. leave in a safe place/ leave with a neighbour etc.
c) Be respectful and courteous in all communications with the Borrower
3) When receiving back an Item, the Lender must:
a) If an appointment is made and can not be kept, give the Borrower due notice and either arrange another appropriate time or alternative means to have the Item returned eg. leave in a safe place/ leave with a neighbour etc.
b) Inspect the Item for damage after the Item is returned
c) If damage has occurred, that the Borrower has not advised you about, you will need to:
- Fill out a Damage Report form that will automatically be sent to the Borrower and The Village Project
- Contact the Borrower, in writing, to discuss the damage and to organise payment of the nominated Item value
d) If a dispute arises, communicate clearly together with the Borrower to come to an agreement and if an agreement cannot be reached, refer to the Dispute Policy
4) When describing a Skill or Service, the Lender must:
a) Ensure that the description is accurate and fully represents exactly what you are willing to share as a Service or Skill
b) Ensure that you have the ability and capacity to provide the Service or Skill offered
c) Communicate clearly how long you are able to provide the Service or Skill for and in what location eg. online, in person, various suburbs you are willing to travel to etc.
5) When sharing a skill or service, the Lender must:
a) Give the Borrower, in writing, a clear date, time and location of when and where they will be able to receive the Service or Skill
b) If an appointment is made and can not be kept, give the Borrower due notice and arrange another appropriate time
c) Be respectful and courteous in all communications with the Borrower
Borrower Responsibilities
6) When borrowing and using Stuff or Items, the Borrower must:
a) Inspect the item for damage; and if damage is present:
- Take and upload photos that capture a clear image of the damage
- If damage can not be seen captured in a photo eg. an electrical item is not working when switched on, record a video of the problem
- If there is no way to record that the Item is damaged or not working, by photos or video, the Borrower must contact the Lender immediately and the Borrower must explain, in writing and in person, to the Lender how the Item is damaged or not working.
b) Handle all Items with the utmost care
c) Ensure the safekeeping of the Item against misuse, damage, theft or loss
d) Only use the Item as intended or advised
e) Agree, in writing, to the dates that the Lender is offering for the Item to be borrowed and ensure that it is understood by both parties what date the Item must be returned
f) If an appointment is made and can not be kept, give the Lender due notice and arrange another appropriate time
g) Be respectful and courteous in all communications with the Lender
7) When returning Stuff or Items, the Borrower must:
a) Ensure the Item is returned on the agreed date and time to the Lender, at the agreed location
b) Clean the Item, if applicable, before returning
c) Ensure that you have followed the ‘instructions for return’, as provided by the Lender
d) If an appointment is made and can not be kept, give the Lender due notice and either arrange another appropriate time or alternative means to have the Item returned eg. have a friend drop it off etc.
e) If damage, theft or loss of the Item has occurred you will need to:
- Fill out a Damage Report or Lost or Stolen Report that will automatically be sent to the Lender and The Village Project
- Contact the Lender, in writing, to discuss the damage, loss or theft of the Item and to organise payment of the nominated Item value
f) If a dispute arises, communicate clearly together with the Lender to come to an agreement and if an agreement cannot be reached, refer to the Dispute Policy
g) Be respectful and courteous in all communications with the Lender
8) When requesting a Service or Skill, the Borrower must:
a) Ensure that you have a full understanding of the Service or Skill that the Lender is offering, and ask any questions, in writing, if in doubt
b) Ensure that you have the ability and capacity to receive the Service or Skill being offered
c) Communicate clearly how long you you would like the Service or Skill for and in what location eg. online, in person, various suburbs you are willing to travel to etc.
d) Be respectful and courteous in all communications with the Lender
9) When being given a Service or Skill, the Borrower must:
a) Ensure that you meet at the agreed location on time
b) Ensure that you are fully prepared to engage with the Lender in the offering of their Service or Skill
c) If an appointment is made and can not be kept, give the Lender due notice and arrange another appropriate time
d) Be respectful and courteous in all communications with the Lender
The Village Project Responsibilities
10) The Village Project has no control over or influence of the Items, Skills or Services listed on the Share Economy, nor over the way in which they are handled. This is up to the individual Members. However mediation may be necessary if a dispute arises (see Dispute Policy).
11) The Village Project's role is to provide a Digital Platform where we facilitate a Share Economy and to review and approve Members, before they are allowed to access and use the Share Economy.
12) In no way is The Village Project liable for items that have been damaged, lost or stolen or responsible for interactions between Members that occur as a result of Services or Skills being shared or received.
13) The Village Project will provide an Admin Team to help keep the Share Economy and Digital Platform a safe and inclusive space, but are in no way liable for any disagreements or disputes.
Lost, Stolen or Damaged Items Policy
14) The purpose of the Lost, Stolen or Damaged Items Policy is to provide a clear and simple framework for action in the unlikely event of an Item, available for sharing on The Village Project’s Share Economy, being lost, stolen or damaged. It is a guideline only, is not binding on The Village Project and is not an insurance policy. It outlines how damaged, lost or stolen item claims, involving Borrowers and Lenders, who engage in item-sharing activities, will be decided by The Village Project.
15) Where the Lost, Stolen or Damaged Items Policy refers to ‘damage’, it does not include regular wear and tear of an Item, which is the responsibility of the Lender.
16) The Borrower is responsible for any damage to an Item whilst being borrowed. This includes damage by a third party.
17) When a Borrower agrees to borrow an Item listed on the Share Economy, they are thereby agreeing to pay the Lender the nominated Item value, that is shown on the listing at the time of the request, if an Item is damaged, lost or stolen while in their possession.
17) If an Item is damaged, lost or stolen, whilst in the care of a Borrower, it is the Borrowers responsibility to pay the nominated Item value, within 14 days of returning the Item, unless otherwise stated, in writing, by the Lender
18) If damage, theft or loss of the Item has occurred the Borrower must:
a) Fill out a Damage Report or Lost or Stolen Report that will automatically be sent to the Lender and The Village Project
b) Contact the Lender, in writing, to discuss the damage, loss or theft of the Item and to organise payment of the nominated Item value
19) If any dispute arises between Members or between a Member and The Village Project in relation to the loss, theft or damage of an Item, The Village Project's Complaints and Member Dispute Resolution Policy will apply. The Complaints and Member Dispute Resolution Policy and Complaint and Dispute forms are available on our website.
20) In alignment with TVP’s ethos around sustainability, repairing damaged Items is the preferred method over replacement. However it is up to the discretion of the Lender as to whether the nominated Item value will be used for repairs or Item replacement.
2) Members Terms & Conditions
Description:
The Village Project provides a Digital Platform to facilitate a space where people can become a Member and interact with other Members who have been reviewed and approved by our Admin Team. Members refers to both the individual people who are Members of our co-operative and the area on our Digital Platform that facilitates Members to be able fill out profiles, connect with one another, view activity from across the site and view other Members profiles. The Members area is about collaboration, connection and creating opportunities for like minded people to engage with one another in a safe and inclusive space. We ask that you keep this in mind when engaging with other Members.
When you communicate with another Member you are agreeing to be respectful and appreciative of other Members and the skills, knowledge, opinions or interests that they are sharing through the Members area. In all transactions and communications Members are expected to act with fairness, friendliness and mutual respect. Under no circumstances are Members to ask or offer money to other Members in relation to anything that happens in the Members area or across the Digital Platform.
Membership Requirements
To become a Member you need to:
1) Pay a fee
2) Nominate at least one Item, Service, Skill or Event to share with other Members, which thus becomes a 'Benefit' to other Members
Active Membership Requirements
To remain an active member you must:
1) Provide at least one Benefit per year to another Member
2) Receive at least one Benefit per year from another Member
Membership Benefits
As a Member you will receive the following benefits:
1) Be a co-owner of The Village Project
Each Member actually owns a portion of The Village Project Co-op. Co-ops are owned, operated and created for the benefit of their Members.
2) Be part of a the Share Economy
As a Member you become part of a dynamic network where you can borrow Items and receive Skills and Services, locally and for free.
3) Attend free Events
As a Member you are able to attend all online and in person events held by other Members for free.
4) Join Groups and Forums
Connect with other like minded Members in a safe space, through special interest Groups and conversations in our Forums
5) Contribute to the Info Hub
Members can choose to be part of building an online library of resources that will help our entire community make positive changes.
6) Have a say and get a vote
All Members get a vote and a say on important decisions such as the overall direction of The Village Project and how to spend a portion of annual profits that will best benefit the whole community.
7) Be part of creating real change
By simply paying your membership fee, you are contributing to creating positive change locally and, ultimately, globally. Beyond this, the more involved you get, the more of a positive impact you are making.
Members Agreement
Please see our Constitution for full details about what it means to be a Member of our co-op.
1) When you become a Member of The Village Project you are agreeing to:
a) Align yourself with Ethos of The Village Project
b) Adhere to The Village Project's Code of Ethics
c) Be fully aware of the requirements of initial Membership and ongoing Memberships, and also the terms outlined in The Village Project's Constitution that dictate Members rights and responsibilities.
d) Adhere to The Village Project's Privacy Policy.
e) Abide by The Village Project's Complaints and Disputes Policy, in the event that you want to make a complaint or have a disagreement or dispute with another Member or The Village Project.
f) When using The Village Project's Share Economy, abide by the Share Economy Terms and Conditions.
g) When hosting or attending Events, abide by the Events Terms and Conditions.
h) When connecting with other Members through Groups, Forums or in any other way, abide by the Connect Terms and Conditions.
i) When submitting or commenting on anything in the Info Hub, abide by the Info Hub Terms and Conditions.
j) Before signing the Terms of Service to become a Member, if there is any uncertainty, obtain clarification on any of the above mentioned documents, so as to avoid future problems, or breaches of rules.
3) Events Terms & Conditions
Description
The Village Project provides a Digital Platform to facilitate Events, mainly hosted by Members who have been reviewed and approved by our Admin Team. The Village Project also may choose to host some Events as well. Events refers to the area on our Digital Platform that facilitates Members to be able to hold Events and may also be referred to as an ’Event’, the ‘Events Calendar’ or ‘Calendar’. The Events Calendar is about collaboration, connection and creating opportunities for the entire community to learn and grow together. We ask that you keep this in mind when engaging with other Members.
When you host or attend an Event you are agreeing to be respectful and appreciative of other Members and the skills, knowledge or interests that they are sharing through an Event. In all transactions and communications Members are expected to act with fairness, friendliness and mutual respect. Under no circumstances are Members to ask or offer money to other Members in relation to hosting or attending an Event. Members may charge a fee to non-members, if the Event is open to the public, subject to approval by The Village Project.
Event Host Responsibilities
When a Member chooses to host an Event they may be referred to as a 'Host' or, at times, an ‘Organiser’. Members who choose to register for and attend Events will be referred to as an 'Attendee', or at times, a 'Participant'.
1) When submitting and advertising an event an Event Host:
a) Is solely responsible for ensuring that any page displaying an Event on the Digital Platform (and the Event itself) meets all applicable local, state, provincial, national and other laws, rules and regulations, and that the description on the Event page, of what will be offered at that Event, are delivered as described and in an accurate satisfactory manner. b) Must ensure that all content, including written text, images, videos and other media, must be accurate and truthful.
b) Must communicate clearly what you, as a Host, will provide at an Event and any requirements of the Attendee, necessary to be able to participate in the Event.
c) Must clearly state dates, times and locations that are accurate and, if an Event must be cancelled or postponed for any reason, or the location changed, give the Attendees and The Village Project due notice and arrange an alternative date, time and/or location.
d)) Agrees that all Members may attend your Event for free
e) Has the option to host an Event for Members only (a 'Private Event') or Members and non-Members (a 'Public Event'), however is not allowed to host an event for non-members only
f) Has the option to charge non-members a fee for attending the Event, which must be approved by The Village Project, prior to adding an Event to the Calendar and promoting it
g) Agrees to The Village Project taking a percentage from each ticket fee, if the Event is open to non-members who will be charged to attend the Event, to cover transaction and administrative fees and that this percentage will be 3% to 5% depending on the payment platform being used
h) Agrees to make all ticket fees fair and reasonable and to provide an opportunity for those who are not able to afford the nominated ticket fee a discount or free entry to the Event
i) Agrees to abide by The Village Project's Ethos, Code of Ethics, Privacy Policy and Constitution at all times
Event Attendee Responsibilities
2) When registering and attending an Event, an Event Attendee:
a) Agrees that, to the extent permitted by applicable laws, Events are provided on an "as is" and "as available" basis and understands that an Event may not meet your requirements or expectations, be uninterrupted, timely, secure, or error-free
b) Agrees that The Village Project has no responsibility to you for, and hereby disclaims all liability arising from, the acts or omissions of any third parties that The Village Project requires to provide Events, that a Host or Member chooses to assist with an Event, or that you choose to contract with when using the Digital Platform or attending an Event.
c) Agrees that some events may carry inherent risk, and by participating in those events, you choose to assume those risks voluntarily. For example, some events may carry risk of illness, bodily injury, disability, or death, and you freely and willfully assume those risks by choosing to participate in those events.
d) Agrees to abide by The Village Project's Ethos, Code of Ethics, Privacy Policy and Constitution at all times
e) Will give the Host and/or The Village Project due notice if unable to attend an Event you have registered for.
The Village Project Responsibilities
2) The Village Project:
a) May temporarily or permanently disable an Event if any Member breaches the Event Terms and Conditions, Privacy Policy, Code of Ethics or Constitution, without giving reason. Members involved may contact The Village Project Admin team to discuss why the Event was disabled.
b) May not approve an Event, that a Member has submitted for review and approval, without giving a reason. The Member, who submitted the Event request, may contact The Village Project Admin team to discuss why the Event was not approved.
c) Is not the creator, Host, Organiser or owner of the Events that are being held by Members, that are listed on the Calendar on the Digital Platform. Rather, The Village Project provides its services which allows Members to manage and hold their Events.
d) Has no control over or influence of how Events are managed, operated or held. Any disputes or incidents arising from an Event is up to the individual Members involved to handle. However mediation may be necessary if a dispute arises (see our Dispute Policy).
e) Is in no way liable for any items that have been damaged, lost or stolen or responsible for interactions between Members that occur at an Event, or as a result of an Event.
f) Will provide an Admin Team to help keep Events a safe and inclusive space, but are in no way liable for any disagreements or disputes.
g) Disclaims all warranties of any kind. The Village Project makes no guarantee that:
- The Events (or any portion of the Events) will meet your requirements or expectations
- The Events will be uninterrupted, timely, secure, or error-free
- The results that may be obtained by attendance of the Events will be accurate or reliable.
h) That The Village Project has no control over and does not guarantee the quality, safety, accuracy or legality of any Event or content associated with an Event, the truth or accuracy of any information provided by Hosts or other Members or the ability of any Host to perform or actually complete a transaction.
4) Connect Terms & Conditions
Description
The Village Project provides a Digital Platform to facilitate a Connect Area which is used by Members who have been reviewed and approved by our Admin Team. The Connect area refers to the area on our Digital Platform that facilitates the creation of Groups and Forums, where Members can connect in special interest or volunteer Groups or be part of conversations in a Forum. The Connect area, Groups and Forums are about collaboration, connection and learning and growing as a community. We ask that you keep this in mind when engaging with other Members.
When you use the Connect area or join a Group or Forum you are agreeing to be respectful and appreciative of other Members and all they are sharing. In all transactions and communications Members are expected to act with fairness, friendliness and mutual respect. Under no circumstances are Members to ask or offer money to other Members to partake in a Group or Forum.
Groups & Forums
1) When starting or being part of a Group or Forum, Members must:
a) Abide by the Code of Ethics and Privacy Policy at all times. If a disagreement arises, it must be dealt with amicably and with kindness and respect.
b) Not change the focus of a Group once it is established
c) Not use the Groups or Forums for any other purpose than that of its description.
d) Not share documents, photos, quotes or any other information by another person unless they have written permission from the Member or non-member to which the document, photo or quote belongs.
e) Ensure that the Group or Forum conversation falls under the umbrella of The Village Project's Focus Areas or Ethos, knowing that only those that do will be approved by the Admin Team.
g) Allow all Members to be able to join and participate in Groups and Forums, without discrimination or barrier. The only Groups that this clause does not apply to are Groups that The Village Project has created for Volunteers or Admin Team Members, in which case, these persons will be able to join and participate in freely, without discrimination or barrier, by invitation only by The Village Project.
h) Ensure that all conversation and communications in Groups and Forums are respectful, mutual and fair.
i) Not use Groups or Forums for advertising a business, self promotion or fundraising, unless first approved, in writing, by The Village Project Admin Team
j) Help grow our community in constructive and positive ways.
2) The Village Project has the right and responsibility to:
a) Not approve a Group, that a Member has submitted for review and approval, without giving a reason. The Member, who submitted the Group request, may contact The Village Project Admin team to discuss why the group was not approved.
b) Temporarily or permanently close or disable a Group or conversation on a Forum, if any Member breaches the Connect Terms and Conditions, Privacy Policy, Code of Ethics or Constitution, without giving reason. Members involved may contact The Village Project Admin team to discuss why the Group or Forum was closed or disabled.
i) Delete content, or to temporarily or permanently block Members who post content, that falls under the following:
- Defamation or hate speech (speech that targets people or groups based on race, ethnicity, religion, gender, or any other protected status)
- Comments/posts that threaten to harm individuals, groups or organizations
- Endorsement or encouragement of illegal activities
- Multiple off-topic posts or repetitive posts that are copied and pasted
- Personal information including but not limited to e-mail addresses, telephone numbers, mailing addresses, or identification numbers
- Business advertisements, self promotion or fundraising that has not been approved by The Village Project Admin Team.
5) Info Hub Terms & Conditions
Description
The Village Project provides an online platform to facilitate an Info Hub, made up of information provided by Members who have been reviewed and approved by our Admin Team. The Info Hub refers to the area on our Digital Platform that facilitates the sharing of resources in the form of articles, links, images, videos and other media. The Info Hub is about collaboration, connection and learning and growing as a community. We ask that you keep this in mind when engaging with other Members.
When you join the Info Hub you are agreeing to be respectful and appreciative of other Members and the info they are sharing. In all transactions and communications Members are expected to act with fairness, friendliness and mutual respect. Under no circumstances are Members to ask or offer money to other Members for information or resources.
1) When submitting information to the Info Hub Members must abide by the following:
a) No false or misleading information must be shared. Information must be factual to the best of your ability and must not be inflammatory or offensive.
b) No information that others might find offensive or derogatory is to be shared. The purpose of the information expressed on the Info Hub is to help, inspire and inform.
c) Information submitted must be in the Members own words, and correct citing or links to original pieces must be clear if the information is based on another authors work.
d) Information must be gathered from reliable sources and not from those that may be biased or paid to be written for a business or cause.
2) When commenting on a piece of information in the Info Hub or a page, Members must abide by the following:
a) Members must not use offensive language or make offensive comments. All comments must be written with kindness and respect.
b) Disagreements must be constructive and helpful, language that might anger or upset the author, or the Member who submitted it, must not be used.
c) The Village Project Digital Platform is a public platform and, while non-members cannot comment on info or pages themselves, they can see all comments made. Remember: anything that is said is available for all to see. If you wouldn't want someone reading a comment you have made - simple - don't make it.
3) The Village Project will endeavour to:
a) Ensure that the Digital Platform is working to the best of its ability at all times.
b) When informed of a problem, fix or eradicate the problem in as timely a manner as possible.
c) Provide a safe space for learning and sharing and will take all complaints seriously.
d) Have the Admin Team and Moderators read and review each pieces of information that has been submitted before final publishing on the Digital Platform.
e) Make the best of efforts to make sure that sources are credible, however bears no responsibility for complete accuracy, even if it meets the ethos of TVP.
4) While the Info Hub is meant to provide information and resources that fall under The Village Project's Ethos and Focus Areas, the information shared will not necessarily represent the opinions, personal beliefs, values or ethos of The Village Project, its Members, partners or affiliated entities.
