Mencap Challenge Event WhatsApp Group Code of Conduct

This group is a friendly and supportive space for people taking part in a Mencap challenge event. It can be used to:

• Receive important event updates from Mencap.
• Ask questions about the event, training and fundraising.
• Share fundraising ideas and achievements.
• Encourage and support other members of Team Mencap.
• Get to know other participants before event day. 

By joining the group, you understand that:

• Your mobile number, WhatsApp name and profile information may be visible to other group members.
• Other members may be able to contact you privately.
• You should not share another member’s phone number, messages, photographs or personal information outside the group without their permission.
• You should avoid sharing sensitive personal information about yourself or anyone else.
• Mencap cannot control messages sent privately between group members.

If another member contacts you privately and this makes you feel uncomfortable, please block the person and report it to a Mencap group administrator. 

Everyone in the group must:

• Be kind, welcoming and respectful.
• Use inclusive and appropriate language.
• Respect different experiences, identities, abilities and opinions.
• Avoid posting anything discriminatory, offensive, threatening or abusive.
• Avoid arguments, personal criticism or deliberately upsetting another member.
• Give people time to respond and avoid putting pressure on others to share personal information.
• Remember that the group may include people with different communication and accessibility needs.

Bullying, harassment, discrimination and hate speech will not be accepted. 

Please:

• Keep messages relevant to the event, training, fundraising or supporting Team Mencap.
• Avoid sending a large number of messages in a short period.
• Do not share spam, chain messages, advertising or unrelated promotional content.
• Do not ask members for money, sell products or promote another organisation without permission from Mencap.
• Check that information is accurate before sharing it.
• Do not provide medical advice or present personal experiences as professional advice.
• Contact a healthcare professional if you have concerns about your health, an injury or your ability to participate.

This group is not monitored continuously and should not be used in an emergency. Call 999 if someone is in immediate danger

Please ask permission before:

• Sharing a photograph or video of another member.
• Tagging or identifying another member on social media.
• Sharing someone else’s story, fundraising information or messages outside the group.

Mencap will ask for permission before using a participant’s photograph or story in its own communications. 

Mencap administrators will monitor and moderate the group. They may:

• Remind members about this code of conduct.
• Remove inappropriate content where possible.
• Contact a member privately about their behaviour.
• Temporarily restrict group activity.
• Remove someone from the group if they breach this code of conduct or make others feel unsafe.

Serious concerns may be reported through Mencap’s safeguarding , complaints or data protection procedures. 

Joining the group is optional. You can leave at any time without affecting your place in the event or the support you receive from Mencap.

You can also ask a Mencap administrator to remove you from the group. Please be aware that WhatsApp may continue to display limited information about former members for a period after they leave. 

If you are worried about a message or another group member’s behaviour:

• Contact a Mencap group administrator privately.
• Do not continue an argument in the group.
• Keep screenshots of concerning messages if it is safe to do so.
• Block the person if they contact you privately and you do not want them to.

For help, please contact the Mencap Challenge Events Team at [email protected]

By remaining in the group, you agree to follow this code of conduct and help us keep the group welcoming, respectful and safe.