Terms of Use

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing and using GatherUK ("the Platform", "we", "us", "our"), you accept and agree to be bound by these Terms of Use. If you do not agree to these terms, you must not use the Platform.

Age Requirement: You must be at least 18 years of age to use the Platform. By using the Platform, you represent and warrant that you are 18 years of age or older. We reserve the right to verify your age and may require proof of age at any time. Verification may be conducted through third-party services or by requesting government-issued ID at our sole discretion. If we discover that you are under 18, we will immediately end your membership.

We reserve the right to modify these terms at any time. Continued use of the Platform after changes constitutes acceptance of the modified terms.

2. Platform Description

GatherUK is a platform that facilitates connections between individuals and groups for organising and participating in events and activities. We provide the technical infrastructure and tools for users to create groups, organise events, and communicate with each other.

No Duty of Care: We do not owe users any duty of care in relation to events, interactions, or activities organised through the Platform. You acknowledge that we are not responsible for monitoring, supervising, or ensuring the safety, legality, or appropriateness of any events, interactions, or activities conducted through the Platform.

We are not responsible for:

• The content, conduct, or activities of any group or event
• The accuracy of information posted by users
• The safety or security of events organised through the Platform
• Disputes between users, groups, or event participants
• Any loss, injury, or damage arising from participation in events or groups

3. User Responsibilities

You are solely responsible for:

• Your conduct and interactions with other users
• The content you post, including text, images, and other materials
• Compliance with all applicable laws and regulations
• Ensuring the accuracy of information you provide
• Respecting the rights and safety of others
• Your own safety when attending events or participating in groups

4. Group Admins and Event Hosts

Group Admin and Event Host are two different roles on GatherUK. A Group Admin creates the group, holds the group subscription, and controls settings, members, and who may act as an Event Host. An Event Host is a trusted member who may create and manage events for that group but does not control group-wide settings, billing, or member administration unless they are also a Group Admin. Every Group Admin is automatically an Event Host for their own group and cannot be removed from that event-host capacity.

Group Admins and Event Hosts are responsible for:

• Managing their groups and events in a safe and lawful manner
• Ensuring events comply with all applicable laws, regulations, and venue requirements
• Obtaining necessary permits, licences, or permissions for events
• Providing accurate information about events, including location, time, and requirements
• Managing RSVPs and event capacity appropriately
• Addressing concerns or complaints from group members or event attendees
• Ensuring the safety and well-being of event participants to the best of their ability

5. Fees, Payments, and Non-Commercial Use

5.1 Community Ethos: GatherUK is a platform built for community connection, not commercial profit. We provide payment integration tools (through Stripe, including Stripe Connect for organisers) solely to help Group Admins and Event Hosts manage the genuine costs of running a local group, such as venue hire, refreshments, materials, or insurance.

5.2 Prohibited Commercial Use: You agree that you will not use GatherUK to operate a for-profit business, a commercial "side-hustle," or as a professional ticketing agency. GatherUK is a home for community, not a marketplace for profit.

Group Admins and Event Hosts may collect contributions from members, but these must be intended to cover out-of-pocket expenses only, as agreed with your group (such as venue hire, materials, or insurance). Fees should not be used to generate a personal profit or professional salary.

5.3 Transparency and Fair Play: We believe in local trust. Group Admins and Event Hosts should be transparent with their members about how collected funds are being used. GatherUK reserves the right to suspend or remove any account or group that we reasonably believe is using the platform for unauthorised commercial gain or is exploiting community members.

5.4 Payment Processing: When using our payment facilities, you are also subject to the terms and conditions of the third-party payment processor (Stripe). Card payments for events are processed for the organiser’s connected Stripe account; GatherUK does not receive those funds. GatherUK is not responsible for payment processing or disputes between you and Stripe or between members and organisers.

6. User-Generated Content

You retain ownership of content you post on GatherUK. However, by posting content, you grant us a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free, transferable, and sub-licensable licence to use, display, distribute, modify, and create derivative works from your content on the Platform, including for promotional and marketing purposes (such as featuring event photos on our social media channels or marketing materials). This licence includes the right to sub-licence your content to third-party service providers (such as hosting providers or social media APIs) as necessary to operate the Platform.

If we use your content publicly, we will credit you where reasonable and consistent with your privacy preferences.

Photos: Users grant GatherUK a licence to display photos on the Platform, but users retain liability for the content they upload. We reserve the right to remove any image at our sole discretion.

You agree not to post content that:

• Is illegal, harmful, or violates any laws
• Infringes on intellectual property rights
• Is defamatory, harassing, abusive, or discriminatory
• Contains spam, malware, or malicious code
• Violates privacy rights of others
• Is false, misleading, or deceptive

We reserve the right to remove any content that violates these terms or is otherwise objectionable, without prior notice.

Right to Remove Groups and Events: We reserve the right, at our sole discretion and without liability, to:

• Remove or delete groups that violate these Terms of Use or are otherwise objectionable
• Cancel events that violate these Terms of Use or pose safety, legal, or other concerns
• Restrict features or functionality available to specific users, groups, or events
• Limit the visibility of groups or events, including making them private or hidden from search results

Reporting and Enforcement Limitations: While we encourage users to report violations and concerns, you acknowledge that:

• We cannot monitor all activity on the Platform
• We are not obligated to act on every report or complaint
• We act at our sole discretion in determining violations and appropriate enforcement actions

However, we take reports of illegal activity or serious safety concerns extremely seriously and aim to review them within 5 business days.

• Our failure to act on a report does not constitute approval or endorsement of the reported conduct

7. Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, GatherUK shall not be liable for:

• Any loss, injury, damage, or harm arising from participation in events or groups organised through the Platform
• Any disputes, conflicts, or issues between users, groups, or event participants
• The accuracy, completeness, or reliability of user-generated content
• Any actions, omissions, or conduct of users, Group Admins, or Event Hosts
• Technical failures, interruptions, or errors in the Platform
• Loss of data, profits, or business opportunities
• Indirect, consequential, or special damages
• Any interruption, suspension, or discontinuation of Platform access or services

Third-party conduct at events: You agree that GatherUK is not responsible for the conduct of third-party organisers or participants at events, and you hold GatherUK harmless for claims arising from the actions of others — this does not limit liability for our own negligence.

Our total liability to you for any claims arising from your use of the Platform (excluding liability that cannot be excluded by law) shall not exceed the amount you have paid to us in the 12 months preceding the claim, or £50, whichever is greater. This cap is intended to be reasonable and proportionate to the nature of the services provided. Given our low-fee, non-profit model and mission to put people before profits, this cap reflects the minimal commercial relationship between us and users and is consistent with the level of fees we charge.

8. Event Safety and Participation

Participation in events organised through GatherUK is at your own risk. You acknowledge that:

• We do not vet, verify, or endorse any events, groups, or users
• We do not conduct background checks on users
• We are not responsible for the safety, security, or suitability of event venues
• You should exercise caution and use your judgment when attending events or interacting with other users
• You are responsible for your own safety and well-being

Guarantee of User Identity: We do not guarantee that users are who they claim to be. We do not verify the identity, credentials, qualifications, or background of any user. You acknowledge that other users may misrepresent themselves, and you assume all risks associated with interacting with users whose identity you cannot independently verify.

Assumption of Risk: By participating in events, activities, or interactions organised through the Platform, you explicitly acknowledge and assume all inherent risks, including but not limited to:

• Physical injury or harm from accidents, activities, or interactions
• Risks associated with travel to and from events
• Risks from weather, terrain, or environmental conditions
• Risks from the conduct of other participants or third parties
• Risks from equipment, facilities, or venues used in connection with events
• Any other risks inherent in the activities in which you choose to participate

Accessibility: We strive to make the Platform accessible to all users. However, we cannot guarantee the accessibility of physical venues, locations, or facilities chosen by third-party Event Hosts. If you have specific accessibility requirements, please contact the Event Host directly before attending an event.

9. Prohibited Activities

You agree not to:

• Use the Platform for any illegal purpose or in violation of any laws
• Impersonate any person or entity or misrepresent your affiliation
• Harass, threaten, or harm other users
• Collect or store personal data of other users without permission
• Interfere with or disrupt the Platform's operation
• Attempt to gain unauthorised access to any part of the Platform
• Use automated systems to access the Platform without permission
• Create multiple memberships to circumvent restrictions or bans
• Use bots, scrapers, crawlers, or other automated tools to extract, collect, or harvest data from the Platform, including but not limited to user contact information, event data, or group information, without our express written permission

10. Ending your membership

We reserve the right to suspend or end your membership at any time if you violate these Terms of Use or engage in conduct we deem harmful to the Platform or other users. For free users, termination may occur with or without notice. For paid subscribers, termination without notice is reserved for material breaches of these Terms of Use (such as fraud, illegal activity, or serious violations of user safety). In other cases, we will provide reasonable notice before terminating a paid subscription, except where immediate termination is necessary to protect the Platform or other users.

You may leave GatherUK at any time by contacting us or using the leave-membership options in your profile settings (where available).

11. Intellectual Property

The Platform, including its design, features, and functionality, is owned by GatherUK and protected by copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws. You may not copy, modify, or create derivative works without our express written permission.

12. Payments and Subscriptions

Group Admins may be required to pay subscription fees to use certain features of the Platform. Payment terms, including pricing, billing cycles, and refund policies, are set out separately and form part of these Terms of Use. Current pricing and subscription terms are published at gatheruk.org/pricing and form part of these Terms.

Cooling-Off Period: If you are a UK consumer purchasing a subscription, you have the right to cancel your subscription within 14 days of purchase (the "cooling-off period") under the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013, unless the service has been fully performed with your express consent and acknowledgement that you will lose your right to cancel once performance has begun. If you cancel within the cooling-off period, you will receive a full refund. To cancel, please contact us using the contact details provided on the Platform.

Platform Not a Party to Transactions or Agreements: If Event Hosts or Group Admins charge money for events, tickets, memberships, or other services, you acknowledge and agree that:

• GatherUK is not a party to any agreements, transactions, or contracts between users, groups, or Event Hosts
• We are not responsible for refunds, cancellations, or disputes arising from payments made to Event Hosts or groups
• All transactions are between you and the relevant Event Host or Group Admin
• We do not guarantee the performance, delivery, or quality of any services or goods purchased through the Platform
• You are solely responsible for resolving any disputes directly with the Event Host or Group Admin

All payments are processed by third-party payment providers. We are not responsible for the security or processing of payments, though we take reasonable steps to ensure secure payment handling.

Third-Party Services: The Platform relies on various third-party services and providers, including but not limited to:

• Payment processors for handling transactions
• Mapping and location services for event locations and directions
• Email and SMS providers for communications and notifications
• Hosting and infrastructure providers for Platform availability
• Authentication and security services for user accounts

We are not responsible for the availability, performance, or actions of these third-party services. Any issues, interruptions, or failures of third-party services may affect your use of the Platform, and we shall not be liable for any resulting damages or losses.

GatherUK does not endorse or verify the safety of external sites.

13. Privacy

Your use of the Platform is also governed by our Privacy Policy, which explains how we collect, use, and protect your personal information.

14. Dispute Resolution

If you have a dispute with another user, group, or Event Host, you should attempt to resolve it directly with them. GatherUK is not obligated to mediate or resolve disputes between users.

Any disputes arising from these Terms of Use or your use of the Platform shall be governed by the laws of England and Wales. The courts of England and Wales shall have non-exclusive jurisdiction to settle any disputes. However, if you are a consumer resident in Scotland or Northern Ireland, you may also bring proceedings in your local courts, and if you are a consumer resident in Scotland, you may bring proceedings in either the Scottish courts or the courts of England and Wales.

15. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless GatherUK, its officers, directors, employees, and agents from any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, and expenses (including legal fees) arising from:

• Your use of the Platform
• Your violation of these Terms of Use
• Your violation of any rights of another user or third party
• Content you post on the Platform
• Events you organise or activities you conduct through the Platform

16. Modifications to the Platform

We reserve the right to modify, suspend, or discontinue any part of the Platform at any time, with or without notice. We shall not be liable to you or any third party for any modification, suspension, or discontinuation.

No Guarantee of Uninterrupted Access: We do not guarantee uninterrupted, continuous, or error-free access to the Platform. The Platform may be unavailable due to maintenance, technical issues, third-party service failures, or other reasons beyond our control. We shall not be liable for any damages or losses resulting from Platform unavailability or interruptions.

Beta Features and No Warranty: We may from time to time release experimental or beta features on the Platform. These features are provided "as is" and "as available" without any warranties, express or implied. Beta features may be unstable, incomplete, or discontinued at any time without notice. You acknowledge that use of beta features is at your own risk, and we shall not be liable for any issues, data loss, or damages arising from the use of beta features.

17. Severability

If any provision of these Terms of Use is found to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect.