Freegle Wiki - User contributions [en-gb]

Welcome to the Freegle Volunteer Wiki

2026-07-17T14:00:00Z

RevampBot: Wiki revamp: restructure & modernise

<div style="border-bottom:3px solid #3AB54A;padding-bottom:8px;margin-bottom:4px">
<span style="font-size:1.7em;font-weight:700;color:#2d8f3a">Freegle Volunteer Wiki</span>
</div>
<p style="font-size:1.1em;line-height:1.5;color:#333;max-width:780px;margin:6px 0 4px">
The handbook for Freegle volunteers - how to run and moderate your local community. Tap a section to open its guide.
</p>

== Running your community ==
<div style="display:grid;grid-template-columns:repeat(auto-fill,minmax(300px,1fr));gap:0 24px;margin:6px 0 18px">
<div style="padding:9px 2px;border-bottom:1px solid #eee">
<div style="font-size:1.14em;font-weight:600">🚀 [[Getting Started|Getting Started]]</div>
<div style="color:#666;font-size:1em;line-height:1.45">Orientation for anyone new to Freegle: what it is, its history, its aims, and the basics every...</div>
</div>
<div style="padding:9px 2px;border-bottom:1px solid #eee">
<div style="font-size:1.14em;font-weight:600">🏘️ [[Running Your Community|Running Your Community]]</div>
<div style="color:#666;font-size:1em;line-height:1.45">Day-to-day running of a local Freegle community: naming, local initiatives, events, the Freegle...</div>
</div>
<div style="padding:9px 2px;border-bottom:1px solid #eee">
<div style="font-size:1.14em;font-weight:600">🛠️ [[Moderating with ModTools|Moderating with ModTools]]</div>
<div style="color:#666;font-size:1em;line-height:1.45">Using ModTools itself: members, postcodes, photos, statistics, support tools, rippling, and the...</div>
</div>
<div style="padding:9px 2px;border-bottom:1px solid #eee">
<div style="font-size:1.14em;font-weight:600">👥 [[Members, Discourse & App|Members, Discourse & App]]</div>
<div style="color:#666;font-size:1em;line-height:1.45">Member-facing features and the tools volunteers use to reach them: Freegle Direct, the Freegle...</div>
</div>
<div style="padding:9px 2px;border-bottom:1px solid #eee">
<div style="font-size:1.14em;font-weight:600">✉️ [[Standard Messages|Standard Messages]]</div>
<div style="color:#666;font-size:1em;line-height:1.45">Ready-to-use message templates for replying to members in common situations, from welcomes to...</div>
</div>
<div style="padding:9px 2px;border-bottom:1px solid #eee">
<div style="font-size:1.14em;font-weight:600">📢 [[Broadcast (Admin) Messages|Broadcast (Admin) Messages]]</div>
<div style="color:#666;font-size:1em;line-height:1.45">Template group-wide admin messages moderators can send: seasonal notices, reminders, and...</div>
</div>
<div style="padding:9px 2px;border-bottom:1px solid #eee">
<div style="font-size:1.14em;font-weight:600">📦 [[Handling Specific Items|Handling Specific Items]]</div>
<div style="color:#666;font-size:1em;line-height:1.45">Policy and guidance on specific categories of item (and animals) that come up again and again:...</div>
</div>
<div style="padding:9px 2px;border-bottom:1px solid #eee">
<div style="font-size:1.14em;font-weight:600">⚠️ [[Difficult Situations & Problems|Difficult Situations & Problems]]</div>
<div style="color:#666;font-size:1em;line-height:1.45">How to deal with awkward members, scams, spam, cross-posting, no-shows, emergencies and other...</div>
</div>
<div style="padding:9px 2px;border-bottom:1px solid #eee">
<div style="font-size:1.14em;font-weight:600">🛡️ [[Safety & Safeguarding|Safety & Safeguarding]]</div>
<div style="color:#666;font-size:1em;line-height:1.45">Personal safety for members and volunteers, safeguarding concerns and contacts, and health &...</div>
</div>
<div style="padding:9px 2px;border-bottom:1px solid #eee">
<div style="font-size:1.14em;font-weight:600">📣 [[Promotion & Publicity|Promotion & Publicity]]</div>
<div style="color:#666;font-size:1em;line-height:1.45">Promoting your local group: social media, PR materials, branding, campaigns and publicity...</div>
</div>
<div style="padding:9px 2px;border-bottom:1px solid #eee">
<div style="font-size:1.14em;font-weight:600">🌱 [[Recruiting & Training Volunteers|Recruiting & Training Volunteers]]</div>
<div style="color:#666;font-size:1em;line-height:1.45">Finding, training, and retaining moderators and other volunteers, plus support available to...</div>
</div>
<div style="padding:9px 2px;border-bottom:1px solid #eee">
<div style="font-size:1.14em;font-weight:600">🤝 [[Councils, Partnerships & Data Protection|Councils, Partnerships & Data Protection]]</div>
<div style="color:#666;font-size:1em;line-height:1.45">Working with local councils and other organisations, and Freegle's data protection obligations...</div>
</div>
<div style="padding:9px 2px;border-bottom:1px solid #eee">
<div style="font-size:1.14em;font-weight:600">🔗 [[Partners & Other Sites|Partners & Other Sites]]</div>
<div style="color:#666;font-size:1em;line-height:1.45">How Freegle connects to the wider world: integration partners like Trash Nothing and LoveJunk,...</div>
</div>
<div style="padding:9px 2px;border-bottom:1px solid #eee">
<div style="font-size:1.14em;font-weight:600">📚 [[Reference & Help|Reference & Help]]</div>
<div style="color:#666;font-size:1em;line-height:1.45">Help using the wiki itself, contact details, and other reference material.</div>
</div>
</div>

== How Freegle is run ==
<p style="color:#666;max-width:780px;margin-bottom:0">Current organisational reference: how Freegle is structured, its roles, remits, policies and teams.</p>
<div style="display:grid;grid-template-columns:repeat(auto-fill,minmax(300px,1fr));gap:0 24px;margin:6px 0 18px">
<div style="padding:9px 2px;border-bottom:1px solid #eee">
<div style="font-size:1.14em;font-weight:600">📋 [[:Category:Organisation & Governance|Organisation & Governance]]</div>
<div style="color:#666;font-size:1em;line-height:1.45">How Freegle is run today: roles, remits, policies, procedures, teams, finance and the wider...</div>
</div>
</div>

== Archive ==
<p style="color:#666;max-width:780px;margin-bottom:0">Historic records only - board minutes, AGMs, dated team reports and superseded material - kept for the record and out of the way of the day-to-day guidance.</p>
<div style="display:grid;grid-template-columns:repeat(auto-fill,minmax(300px,1fr));gap:0 24px;margin:6px 0 18px">
<div style="padding:9px 2px;border-bottom:1px solid #eee">
<div style="font-size:1.14em;font-weight:600">🗄️ [[:Category:Meeting Reports|Meeting Reports]]</div>
<div style="color:#666;font-size:1em;line-height:1.45">Dated team and group meeting reports (Tech, Structure, Development, Reps, Mentor, Start,...</div>
</div>
<div style="padding:9px 2px;border-bottom:1px solid #eee">
<div style="font-size:1.14em;font-weight:600">🏛️ [[:Category:AGMs & Board|AGMs & Board]]</div>
<div style="color:#666;font-size:1em;line-height:1.45">Annual General Meetings, board minutes, and board/director elections, year by year.</div>
</div>
<div style="padding:9px 2px;border-bottom:1px solid #eee">
<div style="font-size:1.14em;font-weight:600">🕰️ [[:Category:Historic Documents|Historic Documents]]</div>
<div style="color:#666;font-size:1em;line-height:1.45">Older press coverage, past campaigns, superseded social-media pages and other historic...</div>
</div>
</div>

== More ==
* '''[[Project:Proposed structure|About this revamp]]''' - what changed, and why.
* [[Reference & Help|Help & editing the wiki]] · [[:Category:Freegle Wiki|All sections]] · [[:Category:Archive|Full archive]]

__NOTOC__
[[Category:Freegle Wiki]]

Welcome to the Freegle Volunteer Wiki

2026-07-17T13:00:00Z

RevampBot: Wiki revamp: restore front-page portal (fix self-redirect)

<div style="border-bottom:3px solid #3AB54A;padding-bottom:8px;margin-bottom:4px">
<span style="font-size:1.7em;font-weight:700;color:#2d8f3a">Freegle Volunteer Wiki</span>
</div>
<p style="font-size:1.02em;line-height:1.45;color:#333;max-width:780px;margin:6px 0 4px">
The handbook for Freegle volunteers - how to run and moderate your local community. Tap a section to open its guide.
</p>

== Running your community ==
<div style="display:grid;grid-template-columns:repeat(auto-fill,minmax(300px,1fr));gap:0 24px;margin:6px 0 18px">
<div style="padding:7px 2px;border-bottom:1px solid #eee">
<div style="font-size:1.02em;font-weight:600">🚀 [[Getting Started|Getting Started]]</div>
<div style="color:#666;font-size:.85em;line-height:1.3">Orientation for anyone new to Freegle: what it is, its history, its aims, and the basics every...</div>
</div>
<div style="padding:7px 2px;border-bottom:1px solid #eee">
<div style="font-size:1.02em;font-weight:600">🏘️ [[Running Your Community|Running Your Community]]</div>
<div style="color:#666;font-size:.85em;line-height:1.3">Day-to-day running of a local Freegle community: naming, local initiatives, events, the Freegle...</div>
</div>
<div style="padding:7px 2px;border-bottom:1px solid #eee">
<div style="font-size:1.02em;font-weight:600">🛠️ [[Moderating with ModTools|Moderating with ModTools]]</div>
<div style="color:#666;font-size:.85em;line-height:1.3">Using ModTools itself: members, postcodes, photos, statistics, support tools, rippling, and the...</div>
</div>
<div style="padding:7px 2px;border-bottom:1px solid #eee">
<div style="font-size:1.02em;font-weight:600">👥 [[Members, Discourse & App|Members, Discourse & App]]</div>
<div style="color:#666;font-size:.85em;line-height:1.3">Member-facing features and the tools volunteers use to reach them: Freegle Direct, the Freegle...</div>
</div>
<div style="padding:7px 2px;border-bottom:1px solid #eee">
<div style="font-size:1.02em;font-weight:600">✉️ [[Standard Messages|Standard Messages]]</div>
<div style="color:#666;font-size:.85em;line-height:1.3">Ready-to-use message templates for replying to members in common situations, from welcomes to...</div>
</div>
<div style="padding:7px 2px;border-bottom:1px solid #eee">
<div style="font-size:1.02em;font-weight:600">📢 [[Broadcast (Admin) Messages|Broadcast (Admin) Messages]]</div>
<div style="color:#666;font-size:.85em;line-height:1.3">Template group-wide admin messages moderators can send: seasonal notices, reminders, and...</div>
</div>
<div style="padding:7px 2px;border-bottom:1px solid #eee">
<div style="font-size:1.02em;font-weight:600">📦 [[Handling Specific Items|Handling Specific Items]]</div>
<div style="color:#666;font-size:.85em;line-height:1.3">Policy and guidance on specific categories of item (and animals) that come up again and again:...</div>
</div>
<div style="padding:7px 2px;border-bottom:1px solid #eee">
<div style="font-size:1.02em;font-weight:600">⚠️ [[Difficult Situations & Problems|Difficult Situations & Problems]]</div>
<div style="color:#666;font-size:.85em;line-height:1.3">How to deal with awkward members, scams, spam, cross-posting, no-shows, emergencies and other...</div>
</div>
<div style="padding:7px 2px;border-bottom:1px solid #eee">
<div style="font-size:1.02em;font-weight:600">🛡️ [[Safety & Safeguarding|Safety & Safeguarding]]</div>
<div style="color:#666;font-size:.85em;line-height:1.3">Personal safety for members and volunteers, safeguarding concerns and contacts, and health &...</div>
</div>
<div style="padding:7px 2px;border-bottom:1px solid #eee">
<div style="font-size:1.02em;font-weight:600">📣 [[Promotion & Publicity|Promotion & Publicity]]</div>
<div style="color:#666;font-size:.85em;line-height:1.3">Promoting your local group: social media, PR materials, branding, campaigns and publicity...</div>
</div>
<div style="padding:7px 2px;border-bottom:1px solid #eee">
<div style="font-size:1.02em;font-weight:600">🌱 [[Recruiting & Training Volunteers|Recruiting & Training Volunteers]]</div>
<div style="color:#666;font-size:.85em;line-height:1.3">Finding, training, and retaining moderators and other volunteers, plus support available to...</div>
</div>
<div style="padding:7px 2px;border-bottom:1px solid #eee">
<div style="font-size:1.02em;font-weight:600">🤝 [[Councils, Partnerships & Data Protection|Councils, Partnerships & Data Protection]]</div>
<div style="color:#666;font-size:.85em;line-height:1.3">Working with local councils and other organisations, and Freegle's data protection obligations...</div>
</div>
<div style="padding:7px 2px;border-bottom:1px solid #eee">
<div style="font-size:1.02em;font-weight:600">🔗 [[Partners & Other Sites|Partners & Other Sites]]</div>
<div style="color:#666;font-size:.85em;line-height:1.3">How Freegle connects to the wider world: integration partners like Trash Nothing and LoveJunk,...</div>
</div>
<div style="padding:7px 2px;border-bottom:1px solid #eee">
<div style="font-size:1.02em;font-weight:600">📚 [[Reference & Help|Reference & Help]]</div>
<div style="color:#666;font-size:.85em;line-height:1.3">Help using the wiki itself, contact details, and other reference material.</div>
</div>
</div>

== How Freegle is run ==
<p style="color:#666;max-width:780px;margin-bottom:0">Current organisational reference: how Freegle is structured, its roles, remits, policies and teams.</p>
<div style="display:grid;grid-template-columns:repeat(auto-fill,minmax(300px,1fr));gap:0 24px;margin:6px 0 18px">
<div style="padding:7px 2px;border-bottom:1px solid #eee">
<div style="font-size:1.02em;font-weight:600">📋 [[:Category:Organisation & Governance|Organisation & Governance]]</div>
<div style="color:#666;font-size:.85em;line-height:1.3">How Freegle is run today: roles, remits, policies, procedures, teams, finance and the wider...</div>
</div>
</div>

== Archive ==
<p style="color:#666;max-width:780px;margin-bottom:0">Historic records only - board minutes, AGMs, dated team reports and superseded material - kept for the record and out of the way of the day-to-day guidance.</p>
<div style="display:grid;grid-template-columns:repeat(auto-fill,minmax(300px,1fr));gap:0 24px;margin:6px 0 18px">
<div style="padding:7px 2px;border-bottom:1px solid #eee">
<div style="font-size:1.02em;font-weight:600">🗄️ [[:Category:Meeting Reports|Meeting Reports]]</div>
<div style="color:#666;font-size:.85em;line-height:1.3">Dated team and group meeting reports (Tech, Structure, Development, Reps, Mentor, Start,...</div>
</div>
<div style="padding:7px 2px;border-bottom:1px solid #eee">
<div style="font-size:1.02em;font-weight:600">🏛️ [[:Category:AGMs & Board|AGMs & Board]]</div>
<div style="color:#666;font-size:.85em;line-height:1.3">Annual General Meetings, board minutes, and board/director elections, year by year.</div>
</div>
<div style="padding:7px 2px;border-bottom:1px solid #eee">
<div style="font-size:1.02em;font-weight:600">🕰️ [[:Category:Historic Documents|Historic Documents]]</div>
<div style="color:#666;font-size:.85em;line-height:1.3">Older press coverage, past campaigns, superseded social-media pages and other historic...</div>
</div>
</div>

== More ==
* '''[[Project:Proposed structure|About this revamp]]''' - what changed, and why.
* [[Reference & Help|Help & editing the wiki]] · [[:Category:Freegle Wiki|All sections]] · [[:Category:Archive|Full archive]]

__NOTOC__
[[Category:Freegle Wiki]]

Paying People in Freegle Guidelines

2026-07-17T12:00:00Z

RevampBot: Wiki revamp: restructure & modernise

====INTRODUCTION====

We are a volunteer organisation, dependent on the goodwill, skills and hard work of hundreds of people across the UK. However, we aren't a typical organisation, as we operate online and most volunteers work independently within their own communities. Generally there is no standard infrastructure or hierarchy, we try to operate with equality. There are named roles and the Board is appointed and has collective responsibility for Freegle, but these are all, so far, voluntary positions.

The size and complexity of Freegle makes it difficult for it to be run totally by voluntary effort, so realistically we need to find ways to safeguard our service and consider ways to recompense people. Our infrastructure makes it challenging for Freegle to be an employer and have paid positions as it could seem to undermine our ethos of equality and autonomy. This document seeks to put in place some general guidelines on paying people within Freegle.

====FREEGLE RULES====

Freegle is governed by our [[Rules]]. Regarding using funds to pay people, Rules 5 and 80 can be summarised as:

*Funds can be raised and used to pay for running Freegle.
*Directors and members can be paid relevant expenses.
*Directors or anyone connected to them cannot be employees.
*Directors or anyone connected to them can receive remuneration for goods or services as long as they do not authorise or vote on the transaction or decision.
*Members can be employees and/or receive remuneration for goods or services.

====EXPENSES====

Freegle has agreed it can pay the following expenses. From [[Finance Procedures]]:

4.6 From time to time opportunities arise for Volunteers to attend events and meetings to represent Freegle nationally. Reasonable travel expenses for the Volunteer may be reimbursable if there are sufficient funds and attendance and costs have been agreed in advance with the Board.

We have mechanisms in place to claim expenses retrospectively or via an advance float.

There are legalities around paying people and the possible implications for tax, NI and individuals' benefits. It is important that we only pay expenses that the volunteer has paid themselves. 'Flat rates' for expenses or any money over the actual expense could have legal implications for Freegle and the volunteer.

====PAYMENT FOR WORK====

Due to our lack of HR infrastructure at the moment, we can pay people to do work, but it has to be on a 'delivering a service' basis. Individuals are responsible for their own tax and other financial affairs as part of the [[Contract for Services]] that we commission. That will be made clear in the contract issued by the [[Freegle Board]].

If we are in a position to employ people directly at any time, national minimum wage entitlements apply, as well as regard to any particular project circumstances or restrictions. However, subject to available funding, we will seek to offer remuneration, whether as direct employment or as a Contract for Services, at least in line with a minimum equivalent full time salary for any particular job.

Deciding which work should receive remuneration will be at the Board's discretion, but will be based on the priorities set for the continuation and development of Freegle and availability of skills and time within the volunteer workforce. Paid opportunities will be advertised within Freegle where practicable. Until we have either a central HR volunteer or can pay for equivalent skills, any advertising for roles is likely to be less formal than in a commercial organisation.

See [[Contracted Roles]] for appointed paid roles.

====NATIONAL GRANTS====

Freegle has limited regular resources, so where possible we will support funding for projects which are compatible with Freegle's goals and provide national benefit to Freegle. All national grant applications will state clearly any:
*Details of expenses planned to be incurred by volunteers or Members
*Details of payments for services or goods supplied by Freegle Members

Where such projects involve multiple organisations we would expect any Freegle workers to receive rates comparable to other organisations involved, which will be determined as part of that funding application.

====LOCAL GRANTS====

As groups are autonomous, there is ample opportunity for volunteers to raise funds locally as independent applications. Local groups are encouraged to adopt a simple constitution and open their own bank account for the group so they can administer local grants. The Freegle Ltd bank account can be used to enable payments, but only under conditions set out in the Finance Procedures. Any liability regarding the expenditure of locally obtained grants remains with the person/group who applies for the grant, and is not a liability or responsibility on Freegle as a national organisation. Applications to nationally available funding sources should be notified to the Board before submission, in case there is any conflict of interest between a local group and Freegle Ltd. The Local Funding Group can offer advice and support and information can also be found on the wiki page Local Funding.

====Links and References:====
*http://www.nidirect.gov.uk/your-expectations-as-a-volunteer
*https://www.gov.uk/volunteering/pay-and-expenses
*https://www.ncvo.org.uk/ncvo-volunteering/volunteering-and-benefits (updated version July 2016)
*https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/264508/dwp1023.pdf Benefits and volunteering leaflet
*http://www.volunteering.org.uk/component/gpb/expenses expenses when volunteering
*http://www.payscale.com/research/UK example pay indicator scales for a full range of jobs
*http://www.crunch.co.uk/freelancer-advice/2011/02/25/am-i-an-employee-self-employed-freelance-or-a-worker/
*http://www.payroll-help.com/faq/difference-contract-for-services/ contract for services explanation

*[[Glossary]]
*[[Document Approval Policy]]
*[[Rules]]
*[[Finance Procedures]]
*[[Contract for Services]]
*[[Contracted Roles]]
*[[Conflicts of Interest Procedure]]
*These guidelines were originally adopted by the Board on 25th February 2015 following a recommendation from Structure Group; see [[Finance Documents Review]] for the record of subsequent reviews and amendments.

[[Category:Organisation & Governance]]
[[Category:Finance]]
[[Category:Policies, Procedures, Remits]]

Borrowing or Lending

2026-07-17T12:00:00Z

RevampBot: Wiki revamp: restructure & modernise

The [[Community Affiliation Requirements Policy]] highly recommend ''not'' allowing borrowing or swapping on groups. However, the decision is up to individual groups.

==Legal liability==
In 2016, the potential liability for lending items was researched by Dominic (Bordon, Alten, Petersfield group) and brought to the Development group for discussion - see [[Lending Liability]] for details. The Board made a strong recommendation to groups that allow lending to inform their members of the potential liability.

==Disadvantages of allowing borrowing==
*There are liability issues for lending an item, which could affect the lender.
*It doesn't directly divert something from landfill.
*Borrowed things can be broken, lost, not returned or cause damage, potentially creating more problems for your moderating team to deal with.

==Advantages of allowing borrowing==
*It could indirectly divert something from landfill, by saving the borrower from having to buy the item, and saves resources.
*It could help build a stronger sense of community.

==Tips==
*If you decide loans aren't appropriate for your Freegle group, you could refer members to your Café group, if you have one.
*If your Café group allows lending and borrowing, it's advisable to make information about lenders' liability available.
*If you don't allow borrowing, you could let someone say they only need an item for a short time, and ask them to reoffer it on Freegle afterwards.

==See also==
*[[Lending Liability]]
*Sample message: [[Borrowing, Lending]] - for rejecting a post
*[[Specific Circumstances]]
*[[How To Deal With]]

[[Category:Difficult Situations & Problems]]

Sample message: Not selling

2026-07-17T12:00:00Z

RevampBot: Wiki revamp: restructure & modernise

This is a sample message to send to a member who seems to have appended "[ Items received in response to this request will be resold ]" unintentionally.

Dear Freegle Member,

Thank you for posting to $groupname. When you sent the message on Trash Nothing, you answered "Yes" to the question "Are you requesting free items to resell?" This adds the line "Items received in response to this request will be resold" to the end of your message.

Your message sounds as if you want to keep the items for yourself, so I'll delete this line.

In Trash Nothing, you can go to "Your Posts", select a message and click "Edit" to change it yourself.

Kind regards,<br>
$myname<br>
$groupname Volunteer<br>
$owneremail

Back to [[Sample Messages]]

[[Category:Standard Messages]]

Freegle IPS Full National Volunteer Poll Question

2026-07-17T12:00:00Z

RevampBot: Wiki revamp: restructure & modernise

National Poll held over a period of 21 days from Monday 25th November 2013.

===Background===

The majority of Freegle Volunteers who voted in the FreegleUK Central poll ending 11th September 2013 voted that Freegle should change from being an unincorporated association to be an Industrial and Provident Society (IPS). This now needs to be confirmed by a full national poll.

The rationale and details of this change are contained in the report: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1mbsXCyQlSWsb2cTXRyxakMFcFVsvV1wkwffWyQ40L9w/edit?usp=sharing

The changes require the establishment of the IPS and then the dissolution of FreegleUK as per section 14 of the constitution (http://wiki.ilovefreegle.org/Constitution), with all Freegle assets and operations transferred to the IPS.

The new IPS will be called Freegle Limited and will be governed by the proposed rules here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/13CnR82SQCpQ-1mD-xyH_hY5a5CBd3VVcoAYLyA3y9pM/edit?usp=sharing

As this proposal is a constitutional change, it can only be adopted if supported by 66% of those who vote in this national poll.

===Verification===

All Freegle Volunteers are eligible to vote in this poll. However, to ensure that all voters are eligible, we need some verification information.

Please enter the name of the Freegle group that you moderate on and consider to be your main group. Please provide the email address that you use to moderate on the group named above.

===Resolution===

That Freegle establishes Freegle Limited, an Industrial and Provident Society for Community Benefit, and that Freegle is dissolved with the assets and operations of Freegle transferred to Freegle Limited.

Yes, I agree that Freegle should become an IPS in this way
No, I disagree that Freegle should become an IPS
Abstain

[http://fluidsurveys.com/surveys/freeglero-c/ips/ Click here to vote]. The poll closes at the end of 15 December 2013.

Further background links: [[Freegle Structural Change]]

[[Category:Organisation & Governance]]
[[Category:Freegle Organisation]]

Donations for Freegle

2026-07-17T12:00:00Z

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Freegle has set up a variety of methods to accept donations. On the website there is a 'donate' page which anyone can access and use.

Freegle is registered with HMRC (Charity number XT32865) as charitable for tax purposes, which means we can use the Gift Aid scheme [https://www.gov.uk/donating-to-charity/gift-aid] to reclaim the tax that individuals have paid on their donation.

The selection of ways for Freegle to accept donations are given on the website at https://ilovefreegle.org/donate. More info on each is below. Most of our donations come via PayPal Donate - this is the one where testing shows that more people complete their donations.

====PayPal====

Confusingly, there are two donation methods:
* [https://www.paypal.com/donate/?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=XEFBZCF2RDEQ8&source=url&ssrt=1700928397385 PayPal Donate]. This is the most flexible (e.g. you can customise the buttons amounts) but Freegle has to administer the gift aid process. If a donor accidentally donates a regular amount incorrectly, they can amend their donation at https://www.paypal.com/billing/subscriptions/list/new
* [https://www.paypal.com/uk/fundraiser/charity/55681 PayPal Giving Fund]. This is less flexible, but they administer the gift aid.

====Link====

Link is the newest of our donation options (2025). It was added to accept Apple Pay, an increasing way that people use to pay. It also accepts card payments from all sorts of banks, so it's useful for donors who don't wish to use PayPal or one of the other methods.

Link is the front interface that members see and they might be asked for a phone number for extra security verification. Once Link has set up the approval process, Stripe does the interaction with banks, and they arrange for those payments to get sent to us.

With both Link and PayPal, we don't get any private information, just a name and the amount. Most of these payments can be linked to a member ID so we can give them supporter status and remove adverts. We don't have control over the processing mechanism so can't ask for requests for telephone numbers, for example, to be excluded.

====Bank Transfer====

We can accept donations straight into the Freegle bank account. Our Treasurer is able to do the paperwork for Gift Aid if that is applicable.
The Unity bank account details for transfer are:

* Name of account: FREEGLE LTD
* Sort code: 60-83-01
* Account number: 20339094

(a recognisable reference - eg email address used for freegling - is very helpful on the transfer)

Please note:
In June 2020 a new system of checking was implemented for some banks, called Confirmation of Payee. Statement from Unity:
''Unity is not implementing this service initially – this is only a requirement for the 'big six' banks.''<br>
''The new payment rules will apply if you're receiving a payment into your Unity account for the first time from a customer who has an account with one of the participating banks.''

''When making the payment to your Unity account, your customer will be shown a message to explain that no name check has been possible because the recipient doesn't offer Confirmation of Payee. The payment can still go ahead, but your customer may be asked to check that all details are correct before proceeding.''

We can also accept cheques, which can be sent to the Treasurer directly. Email treasurer@ilovefreegle.org for details.

===Give As You Live===

https://www.giveasyoulive.com/charity/freegle

Works by individuals registering with the system, then it sits in the background and pops up a banner on shopping sites that have signed up to them. When a purchase is made, an amount (it varies from site to site) is then credited to the charity that the individual has nominated. Although the amounts might only be small for each purchase, the combined amounts raised by supporters can really make a difference to Freegle finances - and at no cost to the supporters.

===Savoo===
(message posted to Central by Edward, 5.5.17)

Savoo is a voucher code site with 1.1 million members - you get voucher codes from there to get discounts on things you buy. Fairly recently they have started to raise funds for charities, so that when you buy using their voucher codes, some money goes to a charity you support. This is quite similar to Give As You Live - GAYL is coming from the charity perspective and heading towards voucher codes, and Savoo is heading the other way. GAYL has the toolbar which reminds you to benefit your charity, though, which is nice.

After discussion with them and the Board, I've set us up on Savoo and added a link to them on https://www.ilovefreegle.org/donate. We're not intending to actively promote Savoo to our members, because GAYL is probably better for us (because of the toolbar). But Savoo will promote us on their homepage and their newsletter, and we may pick up some supporters and members that way who we would otherwise not have reached.

If you want to register to support Freegle and see if there are any useful voucher codes, go via https://www.savoo.co.uk/#freegle

===Charities Aid Foundation===

https://www.cafonline.org/

Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) offers:
* acceptance of one off donations.
* option to donate anonymously.
* mechanisms for individuals to set up a legacy.
* mechanisms for individuals to set up a charitable trust.
* Give As You Earn facility, a way to make regular donations from an individual's salary. (see https://www.gov.uk/payroll-giving for explanation)
* a Charity Account for individuals, allowing donations via vouchers, phone and online.
* claiming back Gift Aid on behalf of Freegle.
* acceptance of payment via credit or debit card, PayPal, CAF Charity Account or CAF Charitable Trust.

Freegle has registered as a recognised charity with CAF. There was no registration fee; transaction fees vary from 5% for a one off straight donation to 4% or less for donations via their charity account etc.

===Charities Trust===

https://charitiestrust.org/individuals/my-giving-account/

Charities Trust is a national Payroll Giving and corporate donation management agency.

Charities Trust offers:
* acceptance of one off donations.
* I Love Payroll Giving scheme.
* a Freedom Account for individuals.
* Sponsor-me.org, a fundraising by sponsorship facility.
* claiming back Gift Aid on behalf of Freegle.
* acceptance of payment by credit or debit card.

Freegle has registered as a recognised charity with Charities Trust. There was no registration fee; transaction fees vary, maximum 4%.

===GitHub===

https://github.com/sponsors/Freegle
GitHub is where open source code gets stored. They have a scheme for people to sponsor open source code by making regular donations; Freegle signed up for the scheme in February 2021.

===eBay===

Users of eBay can nominate Freegle as their favourite charity and donate to or sell goods in aid of Freegle. Our page is here https://www.charity.ebay.co.uk/charity/i/Freegle/74430

eBay ran two competitions in 2016 and 2017 ([[Ebay My Favourite Charity]]) and we were fortunate to receive a prize in both years.

===Benevity===

This is a donation matching site that some employers offer their employees. We have managed to get donations from the US Benevity programme, but not the UK one. In the UK we need to give evidence of Charity Commission registration (which we can't do) whilst the US site accepts HMRC charitable registration (which we do have).

===Supporter Tag===
If we can identify a member who has donated to Freegle, we add a brown 'supporter' tag to their profile. It stays on the profile for at least 60 days from the date of donation.

===How we deal with donations internally===

Here is a diagram which shows what happens (2024)

[[Image:Donations.png]]

The full size diagram is [https://drive.google.com/file/d/13WutueBfgQMRL4yyorBav4zT6eRVSCBP/view?usp=sharing here], and the Canva version, for editing, is [https://www.canva.com/design/DAFw355MW-A/l_ijlNPPKVupycI-gq1kmA/edit here]

Links:

*[[Gift Aid]]
*[[National Fundraising]]
*[[Organisation]]

[[Category:Organisation & Governance]]
[[Category:Finance]]
[[Category:Funding]]

Advisory Panel Procedure

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'''Advisory Panel'''

== A. Remit ==
# The Ombudsman may convene a panel in cases where it is felt that a wider range of opinions and experience is needed. This generally will be only when other avenues detailed in the [[Complaints Procedure]] have failed to reach a settlement, or where the Ombudsman wishes to seek others' experience and views before reaching a decision. Examples include:
#*Freegle members in relation to issues about their Freegle local community, or who wish to appeal a decision or practice of Freegle.
#*Community owners, moderators or volunteers whose community has been refused affiliation or dismissed from affiliation with Freegle.
#*Current or recent Freegle Volunteers or Freegle Ltd Members who wish to appeal a decision or practice of Freegle.
#*Elected role holders who wish to appeal a decision or practice of their fellow elected role team members.
# A separate Panel will be convened for each case.

== B. Panel Membership ==
# The Ombudsman will ask for volunteers to serve as part of the pool of potential panellists for a period of 12 months. A mix of experienced and less experienced Volunteers will be encouraged into the pool, so there is a fair range of perspectives available. No elected Role Holder is eligible to serve on the Panel.
# The Ombudsman will ensure that the pool of panellists is sufficient to deal with any requests for the Panel to convene, by actively recruiting if necessary. The Ombudsman may take appropriate action to encourage Volunteers to participate, including (but not limited to) direct invitations and emails to community owner addresses. The Panel List is kept by the Ombudsman and published on ModTools in the Teams section.
# The Panel will comprise Freegle Volunteers or Freegle Ltd Members, randomly selected from the pool by the Ombudsman.
# Panellists are required to declare any conflict of interest in the case under discussion and withdraw themselves from the process. This may be where individuals have worked closely with, or had contact with, each other, and whether that would be likely to influence their judgement. This is the ultimate decision of the Ombudsman, but criteria for noting a possible conflict of interest include:
#*Indications that a potential panellist might have strong views about other people involved in the panel, or one or more of the parties involved.
#*Indications that a potential panellist might have strong views about the issue being considered.
#*If panel pool members work closely together in other capacities, to the extent that it is felt they would not bring independent views to the panel.
#*If a potential panellist and one of the parties involved were moderators on the same community.

== C. Panel Members ==
When a Panel is convened:
# Panellists must inform the Ombudsman of any conflicts of interest. Failure to do so may disqualify them from sitting on the panel.
# Panellists must confirm their acceptance to sit on the panel within 48 hours, or another will be selected.
# All information pertaining to the case must remain confidential.
# Panellists must give a primary email address to the Ombudsman, plus another contact method, e.g. home telephone number, mobile number, alternative email address, etc. Panellists and the Ombudsman must normally access their e-mails at least once a day.
# Panellists must be available for the duration of the panel, which will be stated before the panel is selected. In the case of any situation that arises that precludes this, the Ombudsman must be informed immediately.
# If a panellist is not contactable for three days without prior agreement, other forms of communication will be used to contact them. If there is still no response, they will be removed from the panel. At their discretion, the Ombudsman may recruit replacement panellists.

== D. Panel Procedure ==
# The number of panellists will be at the Ombudsman's discretion.
# Discussions will only be conducted via the Ombudsman's email and/or via limited-access Google docs. All communications must only be via these means; no panellist should contact any other directly to ask for further information. All messages to and from the Ombudsman should be acknowledged on receipt.
# The Ombudsman will contact the individual(s) who have been involved in the issues referred, and inform them of the process. If they have any concern that one or more members of the panel pool might be unsuitable to serve in their case, they should email the Ombudsman in confidence as soon as possible.
# The Ombudsman will request all relevant information relating to a complaint/appeal to be submitted within a mutually agreed time frame.
# Details that people wish to be kept confidential should be marked as such. Information received as evidence will be shared with the other parties concerned, unless there is an explicit request from the person writing that it should only be available to the Ombudsman. Information supplied can be anonymised if felt appropriate, with the exception of the names of the relevant parties.
# Panellists will not discuss the ongoing specific proceedings outside of the Panel. Although the Ombudsman can ask for general clarifications from relevant agencies or individuals, others involved are strongly recommended not to discuss relevant issues on any open forum whilst the appeal is taking place.
# The Ombudsman may ask any relevant Working Group or the Board for clarification or assistance, as long as this does not reveal, either explicitly or by clear implication, information which has been received in confidence.
# When discussing a point within the Panel, there should be a time frame for reply or response. If valid comments are received after this, they will be taken into consideration if possible. The Panel will be open and fair, ensuring that all interests are considered and that any recommendation balances speed of action alongside thoroughness.
# If affected or involved parties choose not to take part in these proceedings, they will continue, but with the non-participation noted as appropriate.
# When a decision is reached, the Ombudsman will write to the people involved in the case, and suggest a resolution, if appropriate.
# The Ombudsman will ensure that any information received - i.e. all messages posted, files logged as a record of the complete process, and decisions made - will be recorded. This is to be treated as strictly confidential, and routine access will only be allowed to the Ombudsman. The Ombudsman may, in exceptional circumstances and at their discretion, make selected extracts available for inspection.

== E. Timeframe ==
The total consultation process is to take no more than 4 weeks from the date of the decision being appealed against. The Ombudsman will use their discretion throughout the Panel proceedings, within the procedures outlined in this document, to ensure that business is conducted within the timescales. If there are extenuating circumstances, the Ombudsman shall have discretion to extend this period for the minimum time necessary in their opinion.

== F. Outcome ==
The outcome of any complaint will be reported as part of an annual summary provided by the Ombudsman. This will be anonymised, and Panellists' names will be kept confidential.

== Links ==
*[[Ombudsman Remit]]
*[[Complaints Procedure]]
*Request for panel members, July 2022: https://discourse.ilovefreegle.org/t/wanted-volunteers-for-ombudsman-advisory-panel/5205
*Request for panel members, July 2023: https://discourse.ilovefreegle.org/t/volunteers-for-ombudsman-advisory-panel/6417
*Amendments to this document - refer to [[Document Approval Policy]]
*[[Glossary]]
*Previous Freegle UK documents: Appeals Panel Procedure and Appeals Panel.
*Previous Freegle Ltd documents: Appeal Panel Procedure and Mediation Service.

[[Category:Organisation & Governance]]
[[Category:Policies, Procedures, Remits]]

3.2 How the Board operates

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The Board discusses day to day matters on the Board Group and uses polls to help with decision-making. Directors are expected to read all mails and contribute regularly to this group.

In April 2026 [[https://discourse.ilovefreegle.org/t/freegle-board-news-april-2026/9619]], it was agreed to change to a portfolio governance model and the establishment of working groups. The intention being to distribute workload and responsibilities more evenly across Board members, empowering our volunteer base, and maintaining strict financial oversight.

*Board Group link: https://groups.io/g/FreegleBoard/
*[[Board Role and Remit]]
*[[Board Meeting Procedure]]
*Links to all Board Minutes on this wiki: [[:Category:Freegle Board Minutes]]. The Minutes, with full agendas and accompanying papers, are also on the Board's shared Freegle Drive.

*[[3.1 Board Structure]]
*[[3.3 Practicalities]]
*[[3.4 Policies]]

Link: [[Director Handbook]]

[[Category:Organisation & Governance]]
[[Category:Director Handbook]]

2.1 Director Responsibilities

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The role of a Freegle Director is laid out here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1HFgRRDk3N1R06bDOQpBERkNYFrcp_N8ptiMxSUmn-lY/edit

Directors are Trustees and should:
*Act in Freegle's best interests,
*Manage Freegle's resources responsibly, and
*Act with reasonable care and skill.

Directors are also expected to:
*Attend regular Board Meetings, and to have read all papers presented to that meeting.
*Follow and contribute to discussion between meetings, except where circumstances prevent them from doing so.
*Work with other Board members, primarily online, to ensure the Board is an effective body. This requires good team-working.
*Participate in tasks over and above Board Meetings from time to time. This typically involves working with one or two other Directors as a sub-group, for example to investigate a particular area and make a recommendation to the whole Board.

You may find it useful to read more in the Charity Commission's Essential Trustee guidance: [[https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-essential-trustee-what-you-need-to-know-cc3/the-essential-trustee-what-you-need-to-know-what-you-need-to-do]]

FCA: [[https://www.handbook.fca.org.uk/handbook/RFCCBS/8/1.html]] Section 8.1.5

Links to the internal documents relating to Board activities: [[https://wiki.ilovefreegle.org/Category:Freegle_Board]]

Conflict of Interest procedure: [[Conflicts_of_Interest_Procedure]]

*[[2. The Director Role]]
*[[2.2 Other expectations]]

Link: [[Director Handbook]]

[[Category:Organisation & Governance]]
[[Category:Director Handbook]]

Youtube

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Freegle has a YouTube channel called FreegleVideo: http://www.youtube.com/user/freeglevideo

Message from Peter (Islington), September 2012:

''"The first and only video on it presently is one Katy has adapted from her brilliant Norfolk Freegle video. There will be more videos to follow, which you can already find on YouTube. YouTube is an excellent medium to get the message out there, so hopefully we'll get new members joining the local groups.''

''Initially I expect the channel to be a quiet one. This is probably a good thing while it gives us a chance to learn about the medium. All feedback is welcome. Anyone will be able to embed the videos into web pages once we're sure there are no typos or errors. If anyone has on-topic videos they'd like included, now or in future, please email John or me at [mailto:freeglevideo@gmail.com freeglevideo@gmail.com]"''

Back to [[Promotion]]

[[Category:Promotion & Publicity]]

December 2010 Poll

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A poll was announced on Central, inviting members to read and vote to approve the following documents:

*Finance Management and Controls
*Freegle Reps Role and Remit
*Election and Poll Procedures
*Freegle Working Groups Role and Remit

These have since been [[Archived Documents|archived]].

Members were invited to raise any questions with one of the following:

*Central [http://freegle.it/Central http://freegle.it/Central] or
*Structure Group [http://freegle.it/Structure http://freegle.it/Structure] or
*Returning Officer [mailto:returningofficer@ilovefreegle.org returningofficer@ilovefreegle.org]

====Results====
Announced on Central, message no.18606.

With 111 confirmed voters participating, the results of the recent National Poll regarding Acceptance of Documents and National Volunteers were as follows

'''Q1/ Financial Management and Controls'''<br>
For 93 (84%)<br>
Against 3<br>
Abstain 15<br>
therefore this document is accepted as written<br>

'''Q2/ Freegle Reps role and remit'''<br>
For 99 (89%)<br>
Against 3<br>
Abstain 9<br>
therefore this document is accepted as written<br>

'''Q3/ Election and Poll Procedures'''<br>
For 102 (92%)<br>
Against 0<br>
Abstain 9<br>
therefore this document is accepted as written<br>

'''Q4/ Freegle Working Groups role and remit'''<br>
For 96 (86%)<br>
Against 4<br>
Abstain 11<br>
therefore this document is accepted as written<br>

'''Q5/ National Volunteers'''

Can Freegle have members (with voting rights, rights to membership of central groups and ability to stand for elected positions) who are not volunteers or moderators on a local affiliated group, but who volunteer at a national level? The precise details of how this would work will be developed by the Structure Group.

For 65 (61%)<br>
Against 27<br>
Abstain 14<br>
No Answer 5<br>
therefore the majority of Freegle members agree to the principles of having National Volunteers but Structure must now develop the precise details of how this will work.

There were a variety of Comments left, which are available for perusal on Structure (Message #7004)

Thank you to everyone who took part, your input as volunteers is very much appreciated.

Ray Owen
Returning Officer

Back to [[Polls]]

[[Category:Organisation & Governance]]
[[Category:Policies, Procedures, Remits]]

Caretaker Groups

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Caretaker groups are those handed over to Freegle nationally, or abandoned to the ownership of national teams or individuals. The responsibility for running them is then taken on centrally by the Mentor Team. The intent is always to find and train a new volunteer team, but due to time constraints these groups can remain in Mentor hands for a long time.

== Assigning a Caretaker Group ==
A Mentor is allocated as the caretaker owner, with a second member of the mentor team, or a reliable, known and contactable person, acting as a backup owner as a safety measure. The names of the groups are added to the caretaker list, available here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1sbGvNPa3zpWzl1K-yOyn1CYeSpYxRtx0nj97kxl85UY/edit?pli=1#gid=0

== Running a Caretaker Group ==
[[Best Practice]] guidelines are followed by the Mentors when running a caretaker group.

Development Group agreed (9th August 2015) the principle that caretaker groups should be managed in a consistent way, to simplify moderation, embed good practice and make it easier to pass on to a new mod team. So, for caretaker groups:
# Mentors should adopt a common set of basic rules - [[Caretaker Group Rules]].
# Mentors should use ModTools with an agreed configuration which provides standard messages with room for flexibility.
# Mentor NGT link members will inform NGT when a group has been accepted as a Caretaker Group.
# NGT should make recommendations about any changes (area guidelines, logos and names and any other information NGT may have relating to the group) as soon as possible. Agreed recommendations should be implemented, with the least disruption to group members, as soon as practicable.

Note: All currently available posting methods will be added on adoption of the group.

== Passing a Caretaker Group to a New Team ==
When an existing Freegle volunteer or volunteer team offers to take over a Caretaker group permanently, the Mentors should consider the following:

Has the applicant:
*A history of spamming or of extensive multigroup joining, other than having had a hacked account or for Freegle national work requirements?
*An internet history showing them to be intolerant, e.g. making offensive comments on gender, sexuality, disability, religion, etc.?
*A convincing commitment and motivation to taking on this community, and no recent indications to the contrary?
*Ensured that the mandatory rules of Freegle are being implemented, if they already run a community?
*Acted in ways that could, on the balance of probability, likely bring the name of Freegle into disrepute?

Poll for caretaker group applications:
*Poll on whether it is in the best interests of the community and Freegle to appoint the new volunteer/team, taking the above considerations into account.
*If the poll, by a simple majority of those voting, doesn't agree to the appointment, the community will not be handed over until further discussions have taken place and a new poll is run.
*Ultimately, if no consensus is reached, a recommendation can be given to the Board that the application is rejected, and the Board will make a decision. The applicant will be advised of the decision and the reason, and also that they have the right to use the Freegle Complaints Procedure.

On handover of the community:
*All volunteers involved in the community will be advised and encouraged to follow Best Practice. Although not mandatory, these are nationally agreed recommended ways of working to achieve the best outcomes for volunteers and members.
*New volunteers to Freegle taking on a community must have a Mentor as backup on their community for 6 months.
*Experienced Freegle volunteers taking on a community must have a Mentor as backup on their community until they have an experienced and/or active backup volunteer who can regularly moderate, unless no Mentor is available.
*The Mentor, unless the volunteer(s) request otherwise, should not actively moderate unless messages are being left unmoderated for periods of 24 hours or more.
*If the Mentor is removed as a volunteer without appropriate backup arrangements in place, it will be grounds for automatic addition of a backup by the Board, possible disaffiliation, or return of the community to caretaker status.
*The community may, at its sole discretion, ask the Mentors for the Mentor to be replaced, subject to availability.

== Appeals ==
The Complaints Procedure offers a mediation or appeals process for applicants and/or Freegle volunteers who are unhappy with Mentor or Board decisions.

== Polls ==
If a poll is required, it will be for a minimum of 4 days' duration, carried by a simple majority of votes.

== Links ==
*[[Caretaker Group Rules]]
*[[Best Practice]]
*[[Our Aims]]
*[[Mentor Team Remit]]
*[[Freegle Affiliated Group Area Guidelines]]
*[[Freegle Affiliated Group Name and Logo Guidelines]]
*[[Glossary]]
*[[Document Approval Policy]] (This document is treated as a Guideline under this Policy)

[[Category:Organisation & Governance]]
[[Category:Freegle Teams]]
[[Category:Policies, Procedures, Remits]]

3.1 Board Structure

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The Board comprises up to 9 elected Directors and 2 appointed external Directors. A term of office for an elected Director is normally 3 years. Officers are appointed by the Board annually, plus other named roles.

See [[Freegle Board]] for the current list of Directors.

The Board elects three Officers: Chair, Society Secretary and Finance Director.

The Board also appoints, from within the Board, six Portfolio Leads covering Technology, Volunteer Engagement, Fundraising & Partnerships, Communications & PR, Legal & Risk, and Impact & Strategy.

Freegle has no employees; rather it contracts a small team of contractors. You can find out more here: [[Contracted Roles]]

We rely heavily on our fantastic team of volunteers, both at a national and local level. You can find details about our National Volunteers here: [[Freegle Teams]]

*[[3. Directors, Meetings, Policies]]
*[[3.2 How the Board operates]]
*[[3.3 Practicalities]]
*[[3.4 Policies]]

Link: [[Director Handbook]]

[[Category:Organisation & Governance]]
[[Category:Director Handbook]]

Freegle Pledge

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In December 2024, Edward introduced a new way of encouraging more freegling: https://discourse.ilovefreegle.org/t/last-minute-christmas-idea/8156

An invitation was shown on every member's account, asking them to sign the Freegle Pledge. On 2nd January 2025, an email was sent to everyone who had signed up (618 people), thanking them for taking part and encouraging them to start offering soon.

[[File:Freegle Pledge Jan 25.png|250px]][[File:Freegle_Pledge_January_reminder.png|250px]] [[File:Thank_you_for_freegling_in_January.png|250px]] [[File:Freegle Pledge 12 Feb.png|240px]]
[[File:Screenshot 2025-02-15 153222.png|250px]] [[File:Freegle Pledge March.png|250px]] [[File:Screenshot 2025-04-16 112612.png|250px]] [[File:Freegle Pledge April 2025 thankyou.png|250px]] [[File:Freegle Pledge 12 May.png|210px]] [[File:Freegled in May.png|210px]] [[File:Pledge June.png|210px]] [[File:Freegle pledge June.png|210px]] [[File:Freegle Pledge July 25.png|210px]] [[File:Freegle Pledge July.2 25.png|210px]] [[File:Freegle Pledge August 1.png|210px]] [[File:Freegle Pledge August.png|215px]] [[File:Freegle Pledge Sept.png|280px]] [[File:Freegle Pledge Oct 25.png|205px]] [[File:Freegle_Pledge_Oct.25.1.png|205px]] [[File:Freegle pledge November.png|210px]] [[File:Freegle pledge Nov.png|210px]] [[File:Freegle Pledge Dec 25.png|215px]] [[File:Freegle pledge Dec.png|205px]]

Link: [[Promotion]]

[[Category:Promotion & Publicity]]

Red Diesel

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The official policy on red diesel: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/agricultural-vehicle-licences-and-fuel#rebated-fuel-for-agricultural-vehicles

It doesn't appear that you need a licence to offer or request red diesel.

Link: [[Specific Items]]

[[Category:Handling Specific Items]]

Schools

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Lewes Freegle shared this account of promoting Freegle in a local school.

==15th February 2014==

Yesterday, I attended a Freegle event at a local secondary school.

It had been a long time coming. I went to the school last summer to talk to the eco lead member of staff about Freegle, went back in September to talk to a small group of students and their teacher, and Cat went in and spoke to the whole school across two assemblies in December.

A group of three boys arranged the event, with some help from a teacher. They made posters, organised a system for the Give and Take, and received the items donated by other students. There were about six tables full of stuff (toys, games, CDs, books, clothing, electronic bits).

People who brought something to freegle were given a token, and were allowed out of their mentor groups to have first choice of what had been brought in. After that, it was opened up to the rest of the school. Nearly everything went, except for about six items.

I came away with a very trendy bit of clothing, which I love - so, win-win (it let out my inner teenager)! This time we also teamed up with the waste reduction team from Lewes District Council, who had a stall too.

The school is now planning to run the event a couple of times a year. I have some photos, but need the school's permission before publishing them.

It would be lovely if this inspired other Freegle groups and schools to get involved.

Liz

==Message from Cat, to all groups, following the above==

It would be great to replicate this in other areas. Engaging with schools is a really positive way of promoting reuse and Freegle in any area.

We have a budget for media matters that could cover my expenses if you want me to give a talk at a local school - I can also help make contact and arrangements with the school.

That offer extends to other groups too. I have a whole series of talks and presentations I can give to suit different audiences, and can adapt them for specific areas. I do about two a week in the Sussex area, and I'm happy to share presentations with any Freegle volunteer who fancies giving talks themselves.

Food for thought.

==See also==
* [[Local Community]]

[[Category:Running Your Community]]

Our Aims

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Thanks for volunteering for Freegle. Freegle is run nationally, and in local communities, by volunteers. Here's what we aim to do, nationally and locally, and how we can all work together to make Freegle good for us and for members.

==Freegle nationally is committed to:==
* Providing the IT infrastructure to list and host local communities.
* Supporting all aspects of running a community, through email, national discussion forums and the Freegle wiki.
* Representing Freegle nationally and promoting freegling to national bodies and agencies.
* Running national social media and other publicity, and encouraging local freegling through ModTools promotional facilities.
* Providing policies, guidance and insurance for local events, to help communities run safely.
* Supporting all volunteers regardless of race, gender, age, sexuality, disability, religion, political belief, ethnic origin, marital status or nationality.
* Being open about how Freegle works, and keeping everyone well informed.
* Ensuring Freegle is run collaboratively, with all volunteers able to take part in decision-making.
* Encouraging volunteers to become official Members of Freegle.
* Supplying references for volunteers.

==Local volunteers agree to run their community by:==
* Following mandatory Freegle rules and aligning with best practice.
* Moderating their community using ModTools, working with fellow volunteers to keep it moderated at least daily, seven days a week.
* Helping members with problems and information in a consistently positive way.
* Keeping in touch nationally, joining in and engaging on Discourse.
* Not taking advantage of their position when personally freegling.

And it would also be great if local teams:
* Know the area their Freegle community serves, and take an interest in local and national environmental causes.
* Publicise their community to build membership - e.g. social media, press releases, stalls, events.
* Work with local councils or other relevant local bodies, businesses and charities, to increase freegling in the community.
* Keep in touch with neighbouring volunteer teams.

'''Links:'''
* [[Freegle Aims]]
* [[Best Practice]]
* [[Freegle Affiliation Policy]]
* [[Community Affiliation Requirements Policy]]
* [[National Volunteers Procedure]]
* [[Freegle Equality and Diversity Policy]]
* [[Freegle Health and Safety Policy]]
* [[Safe Home Working]]
* [[Can I make use of freegle]]
* http://freegle.in//joinfreegleltd
* [[Insurance]]
* [[Document Approval Policy]]

This document was originally called the Freegle Volunteer Agreement, and was adopted by the Board in August 2016. After a review in February 2022 on Development Group, the Board agreed to adopt this version and title.

An annual pop-up is presented on ModTools, reminding volunteers of these aims. This started in 2022. A brief discussion about this came up on Discourse in April 2026: [https://discourse.ilovefreegle.org/t/annual-message-to-volunteers/9550 discourse thread].

[[Category:Getting Started]]

Trading Subsidiary Working Team

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===Trading Subsidiary Working Team Remit===

====ROLE====

To recommend a structure and remit for a Trading Subsidiary (TS) for Freegle.

====REMIT====

a. Look into various models of trading subsidiaries/arms for charities and organisations similar to Freegle.

b. Take into account previous discussions on Structure and Central, as summarised on
*https://docs.google.com/document/d/1az3qiEGbEhkWZVIuM-wyPNR4Jvu1csA5ekYlG2oQmAg/edit
*https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AhDLE82mEn2jdDVJNGk2Wm9PaXdWblExSTZFNFRKU0E

c. Take into account related Structure tasks as appropriate:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AhDLE82mEn2jdGE5a0F0N0JPbXBEeWUxT1EtU0xWRUE
*Task 52 - Security of Freegle's assets
*Task 6 - Copyright and licensing
*Task 85 - Paying volunteers for work
*Task 86 - Charging for Freegle facilities.
*Task 88 - National non-profit guidelines/payment to Volunteers

d. Seek external advice if appropriate. No funding of external advisers can be undertaken on behalf of Freegle without specific agreement with the Reps.

e. Recommend the type of organisation, remit and structure for a TS, including set up and recurring costs, workforce, relationship to the existing Freegle organisation, constraints and opportunities (including those relating to timescale, resource requirements and legal). Justification/explanations for the recommendations should also be included.

====TIMEFRAME====

Make a final recommendation to Structure by the end of March 2013, unless previous reports to Structure have indicated a later date and this has been agreed by Structure.

====REPORTING====

The Working Team are responsible to the Structure Group and will produce at least one interim report by the end of February from the Group on their progress. The final report, making recommendations for a TS, should be presented to Structure Group, who will discuss and then make appropriate recommendations to Central.

====MEMBERSHIP====

*The team will be appointed by Structure following discussion and vote. All Volunteers are eligible to be part of the team.
*The team will be no fewer than 3 Volunteers and no more than 5.
*If external advice is required and it is felt that other people should be included in team discussions, the team can appoint extra Advisers, who can join the Yahoo discussion group.
*The team will appoint a Spokesperson to report back to Structure and/or Central.

====WORKSPACE====

The Team will set up a closed Yahoo Group for discussions. All Volunteers in the team will be owners of the group. Advisers can be members. At the end of the remit, the team will agree 2 Owners who will close the group and keep it as an archive resource. The group will not be deleted unless agreed by poll on Structure. The discussions are not strictly confidential but care should be taken in copying any messages on the group to non-Group members or discussing issues outside of the Group. Clarifications or questions can be asked on Structure Group with the agreement of the Team.

Links:
*[[Freegle Trading Subsidiary Team Final Report]]
*[[Types of Organisation]]
*[[Charitable Status]]

Back to [[Working Groups]]

[[Category:Organisation & Governance]]
[[Category:Policies, Procedures, Remits]]

Group Constitution

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The two versions shown below are actual constitutions used by Freegle groups. The second version in each section is from a constitution that has been approved by the HMRC for charitable status.
If you would like to adopt a constitution for your group(s) please feel free to use these below as starting points, either adopting wording as shown or selected parts that suit your group. If you would like some advice, ask on Freegle Central [http://freegle.it/Central] or the Funding Working Group [http://freegle.it/Funding]

{| style="color:black" cellpadding="20" cellspacing="0" border="1"
|<center>''Example Wording''
|''Notes''
|-
|'''CONSTITUTION OF XXXXXXXXXX''' (name)

1. NAME or TITLE

The name of the Group shall be XXXX and hereinafter be referred to as 'the Group'.

|This section is required in all constitutions. Choose a name which is simple and relevant.
|-
|
2. AIMS or OBJECTS<br>
The aim/objects of the Group shall be to:
* To promote the free gifting of items amongst the residents of the xxxxx area primarily, but not exclusively.
* To be an internet-based Group on the Yahoo community groups.
* To be a not for profit group.
*To prohibit the exchanging of animals, weapons and illegal items on its site.

----

'''Or:'''
* To run an online community in ......... to keep items out of landfill.
* To promote community links for environmental and social benefit.
* To advance the education of Freeglers (users of .........Freegle online group) about environmental matters related to the reuse and recycling of goods.
* To offer support to the Group members

|This section can be called 'Aims' or 'Objects' and is a required part of the constitution. It should state the reasons you exist and the parameters you are working within.

In order to allow flexibility of provision in the future, groups may consider omitting a specific mention of Yahoo or other platform/access.

Most Freegle group constitutions will be to form a group for the volunteers involved in running an online provision for others, they are not a constitution for the online group itself.

Consider whether your group is just about providing an online facility for giving/receiving items, or if it might want a wider remit of promoting other environmental facilities and/or supporting the
volunteers who run it.

The term 'not for profit' is one chosen by this particular group, Freegle's affiliation requirements are that groups are 'non-profit'.

|-
|3. POWERS<br>
In order to achieve its aims/objects the Group may:
* Raise money.
* Open bank accounts.
* Organise training and events.
* Work with similar Groups and exchange information and advice with them.
* Do anything that is lawful which will help it to fulfill its aims.

----

'''Or:'''<br>
In order to achieve its aims/objects the Group may:
* Raise money
*Open a bank account
* Take out insurance
* Organise meetings and events
* Work with similar groups and exchange information and advice with them
* Promote online community services
* Do anything that is lawful to fulfill its aims
|It is important to consider what your group is intending to do to fulfill its aims/objects.

These two examples are similar and cover the types of activities the constituted group might wish to undertake. Make sure the powers you give your group are not too limiting; the two examples here include a final power than will allow your group to be flexible.

|-
|4. MEMBERSHIP
*Membership of the Group shall be open to any individual without regards to disability, political or religious affiliation, race, sex or sexual origin who is:<br>
a. Interested in helping the Group to achieve its aims.<br>
b. Willing to abide by the rules and guidelines of the Group.<br>
c. Willing to pay any subscription agreed by the Management Committee.<br>
* Each member shall have one vote at meetings of the Group
* The membership of any member may be terminated for good reason by the Management Committee.

----

'''Or:'''<br>

4. MEMBERS<br>
Membership of the Group shall be open to anyone actively involved in supporting xxx Freegle in a voluntary capacity and who is willing to abide by the rules of the Group and willing to pay any subscription fee agreed by the Board of Trustees. Each member shall have one vote at General Meetings. Membership may be terminated for good reason by the Board of Trustees.

|These are the members of the constituted group (not the members of your online group) and the criteria for joining can be what you wish. Typically, for a Freegle group, that would probably mean the volunteers involved in running and/or promoting the online group. <br>
The first option here refers to equality of access, the second option omits that but includes it as a separate statement further down. <br>
Although membership is 'open to' there would be an expectation of a joining process so that a members list can be maintained. <br>
The mention of a subscription doesn't mean it has to be implemented, but that it allows for this to happen if that works for the group in maintaining a basic level of funding.<br>
Termination of membership should be mentioned, although specific reasons needn't be detailed here if you don't choose. Both these versions state who is responsible for termination, so that empowers someone to do it, but they don't impose a method or procedure.
|-
|5. MANAGEMENT
* The Group shall be administered by a Management Committee of not less than three and not more than 7 individuals elected at the Group's Annual General Meeting (AGM)
* The Officers of the Management Committee shall be: the Chairperson, the Treasurer and the Secretary.
* The Management Committee may co-opt onto the Committee, up to three individuals, in an advisory and non-voting capacity that it feels will help to fulfill the aims of the Group.
* The Management Committee shall meet at least three times a year.
* At least three Management Committee members must be present for a Management Committee to take place.
* Voting at Management Committee meetings shall be by a show of hands. If there is a tied vote then the Chairperson shall have a second vote.
* The Management Committee shall have the power to remove any member of the Committee for good and proper reason.
* The Management Committee may appoint any other member of the Group as a Committee member to fill a vacancy, provided that the maximum prescribed is not exceeded.

----

'''Or:'''<br>

5. BOARD OF TRUSTEES
* The Group's affairs shall be administered by a Board of Trustees elected at the Annual General Meeting. The Board of Trustees will comprise a minimum of 3 members of the Group, including a Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer.
* A quorum for decisions shall consist of one third of Board Members plus one. In the absence of a quorum, business may be dealt with but any decisions taken only become valid after ratification at the next meeting at which a quorum exists.
* Decisions will be made by a simple majority of those present who are entitled to vote.
* Meetings will be held at a time and place convenient to the majority of the Board membership. Meetings can be a physical meeting; a meeting held by electronic means in real time or a meeting held by telephone where each of the participants can hear each other throughout.
* Minutes will be recorded for all meetings and distributed to all Board members.
* Accounts will be maintained and a financial report given at each Board meeting.
* Any member of the Group can be co-opted onto the Board of Trustees to fill a vacancy.
* The Board of Trustees may co-opt a person or persons onto the Board of Trustees providing that person is linked with the aims of the Group.
* Voting at Board of Trustee meetings shall be by a show of hands or other clear indication. If there is a tied vote, then the Chairman shall have a second vote.

|The name adopted for the key individuals who will administer the Group on behalf of its members can be Management Committee, Trustees, or whatever name suits. <br> The number of people involved should be manageable, so not less than 3 but up to however many would be practical to meet regularly and be quorate to make decisions. <br>
Consider whether you might need online or telephone meetings as well as face-to-face meetings, if so a show of hands alone won't be enough for voting.
|-
|6) THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICERS<br>

a) The duties of the Chairperson shall be to:
* Chair meetings of the Committee and the Group.
* Represent the Group at functions/meetings that the Group has been invited to and
* Act as the spokesperson of the Group when necessary.

b) The duties of the Secretary shall be to:
* Keep a membership list.
* Prepare in consultation with the Chairperson the agenda for meetings of the Committee and the Group.
* Take and keep minutes of all meetings and
* Collect and circulate any relevant information within the Group.

c) The duties of the Treasurer shall be to:
* Supervise the financial affairs of the Group and
* Keep proper accounts that show all monies received and paid out by the Group.

----

'''Or:'''<br>

6. DUTIES OF THE OFFICERS<br>

a) The duties of the Chairman shall be:
* to preside at meetings of the Board and the Group as may be required by the Board
* to act as the principal spokesperson on public occasions or when representations are being made on behalf of the Group to public bodies.<br>
b) The duties of the Secretary shall be:
* to prepare in consultation with the Chairman, the agenda for the meetings of the Board
* to take and keep minutes of all meetings
* to collect and disseminate information on all matters affecting the Group.

c) The duties of the Treasurer shall be:
* to supervise the financial affairs of the Group
* to ensure that proper accounts are kept with regards to all monies received by and paid out by the Group

|This section lays out the minimum expectation of what the elected Officers of the Group will need to do in order to manage the group.
|-
|7. MEETINGS<br>
a) Annual General Meeting.
* The Group shall hold an Annual General Meeting (AGM) in the month of February.
* All members shall be given at least fourteen days notice of the AGM and shall be entitled to attend and vote.
* The business of the AGM shall include:<br>
1) Receiving a report from the Chairperson on the Group's activities over the year.<br>
2) Receiving a report from the Treasurer on the finances of the Group.<br>
3) Electing a new Management Committee and<br>
4) Considering any other matter as may be decided.
* At least 5 members must be present for the Annual General Meeting and any other General Meeting to take place.

b) General Meetings<br>
There shall be 3 General Meetings (excluding the AGM) each year. <br>

c) Special General Meeting.<br>
A Special General Meeting may be called by the Management Committee or 3 members to discuss an urgent matter. The Secretary shall give all members fourteen days notice of any Special General Meeting together with notice of the business to be discussed.

----

'''Or:'''<br>

7. GENERAL AND ANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGS (AGM)<br>

(a) There shall be an Annual General Meeting in each calendar year between September and November. A minimum of one month's notice shall be given for the Annual General Meeting.<br>

(b) The Annual General Meeting shall:
*approve the annual verified accounts, or statement of income and expenditure;
* appoint an accounts auditor or verifier to independently examine the accounts at least once a year;
* approve the signatories for the bank account;
* elect a Board for the year;
* elect a Chairman, Treasurer and Secretary for the year;
* receive a report on the year's activities; and
* decide any other business.

(c) A General meeting can be called at any time by the Board or a minimum of 3 members. At least 21 days' notice will be given of the business to be discussed.<br>

(d) General and Annual General Meetings will only go ahead if 20% of the members attend. Decisions shall be made by a simple majority of those attending. In the event of a tie the Chairman shall have the casting vote.

|The timing of the AGM should be when the majority of Group members are likely to be able to attend and keeping that as flexible as possible will make it easier for the Group to operate.<br>
Deciding on a quorum for a meeting to go ahead and be able to take decisions should be thought through carefully - it needs to be enough people to sensibly make decisions, but not too many that meetings are not likely to be quorate. <br>
Sometimes percentages are easier to comply with than a stated number.<br>

The amount of notice for meetings should be realistic.

|-
|8) FINANCE
*All monies received by or on behalf of the Group shall be applied to further the aim of the Group and for no other purpose.
* Any bank accounts opened for the Group shall be in the name of the Group
* Any cheques issued shall be signed by the Chairperson and the Treasurer.
* The Group shall ensure that its accounts are independently examined every year.
* The Group may pay reasonable out of pocket expenses including travel and meal costs to members or Management Committee members.

----

'''Or:'''<br>

(a) The Group may raise funds as necessary to fulfill its aims and no other purpose.<br>
(b) The Group shall open a bank account in the name of xxxx Freegle.<br>
(c) The Group shall decide at the AGM who shall be the approved signatories. There shall be a minimum of three signatories, with two approved signatures required for any withdrawal.<br>
(d) If appropriate and agreed by the Board of Trustees, a savings account may be operated as well as the main bank account.

|It is good safeguarding to the Group and the individuals to have at least two signatories on every cheque or electronic payment. Two out of a minimum of three signatories ensures payments can be made even if one of them is not available for some reason.
|-
|9. EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES<br>
The Group is committed to working with regard to equal opportunities, specifically prohibiting any conduct or practice which discriminates or harasses on the grounds of race, gender, age, sexuality, disability, religion, political belief, ethnic origin, marital status or nationality.

|This can be a separate statement (as here) or included in the aims/objects or membership section or left out altogether. The reason for including it here as a separate item was to provide a clear statement to satisfy funders, because many want community groups to have an Equal Opportunities policy.
|-
|10 ALTERATIONS TO THE CONSTITUTION<br>
Any changes to this Constitution must be agreed by at least 5 of those members present and voting at any General Meeting.

----

'''Or:'''<br>
Any changes to this Constitution must be agreed by a simple majority of those members present and voting at any General Meeting.

|This is important to include as otherwise there is no mechanism to change anything. Consider carefully a realistic number needed for a quorum to vote for any changes.
|-
|11. DISSOLUTION<br>
The Group may be wound up at any time if agreed by 7 of those members present and voting at any General Meeting. In the event of winding up, any assets remaining after all debts have been paid shall be given to another Group under the Freegle umbrella.

----

'''Or:'''<br>

The Group may be wound up at a General Meeting if a majority of those members present
and eligible to vote agree to do so. In the event of winding up, any assets remaining,
after all debts have been paid, shall be distributed to other properly constituted groups or
organisations with similar aims. The majority shall be 10% of members present plus one.

|Again this is important to include. Give some thought to the amount of people needed to dissolve the group, bearing in mind that volunteers often drift away and can't be contacted to attend a meeting.<br>
There needs to be a statement of what will happen to any assets owned by the Group; again you might wish to consider not making this too restrictive so that it is hard to give them away!
|-
|12. ADOPTION OF THE CONSTITUTION <br>

Until the first AGM takes place, the persons whose names, addresses and signatures appear at the bottom of this document shall act as the proposed Management Committee referred to in this constitution. <br>

Chairperson ................... Name, Address................................<br>
Secretary ...................... Name, Address ...............................<br>
Treasurer ...................... Name, Address ............................... <br>

----

'''Or:''' <br>

12. DATE<br>

This Constitution was adopted by the first members on xxxxx(date) and signed on behalf
of the Members by:

................................. Name, Chairman<br>
................................. Name, Secretary <br>
................................. Name, Treasurer

|
The constitution needs to be signed and the original stored away safely.<br>
The constitution does need to be dated.<br>
If any amendments are made in the future, these need to be clearly recorded in the minutes of the meeting that approved the change and then a notation added to the document and signed again by named officers, and dated.

|-
|}

For examples of constitutions that comply with Charity Commission registration, go to this link [http://www.charitycommission.gov.uk/Start_up_a_charity/Guidance_on_registering/mgds.aspx] .

All areas of the country also have Voluntary Action groups which you can contact to ask for advice. They are very helpful.

Back to [[Local Funding]]

[[Category:Organisation & Governance]]
[[Category:Funding]]

Co-option for Elected Roles

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This procedure was adopted by the Board on 6th January 2015.

Extract from Freegle [[Rules]]:

57. The Board of Directors may at any time fill a casual vacancy on the Board by co-option. Co-opted individuals must be Members of the Society and will hold office as a Director only until the next annual general meeting.

58. At no time must the number of co-opted individuals comprise more than one-third of the Board of Directors.

===Co-option for an Elected Role Procedure===

Up to 3 months after an election is held and candidate(s) appointed, the 'Elected Roles Autopromotion' system may be used by the Board within their powers of co-option to replace a role holder who might leave during that period.

If an elected Director leaves early from their term of office, the system of auto-promotion will come into effect. If that is not applicable or the timing of the vacancy falls beyond 3 months, the Board may co-opt another person to fill the vacancy, subject to Rules 58 and 59.

The co-option will be a majority recommendation from the Board and will be for the period from appointment to the next set of elections for any elected post.

The co-option will be a recommendation to Freegle Members of the person, reasons and a date for appointment. Any objections should be sent confidentially to the Board before the appointment date. The Board will take into account any objections received before confirming a co-option.

Any person co-opted into a normally elected position will stand down at the next election for that role, but they will be able to stand for that election or subsequent elections if they wish.

The co-opted role holder will have equal status and work on the same basis as their fellow elected post holders.
If co-option or auto-promotion hasn't taken place within 2 months of a vacancy happening an election will be held.

'''Links:'''
*Refer to [[Board Role and Remit]] and/or [[Rules]] 57-59 for procedures on co-option for external independent Directors.
*[[Glossary]]
*[[Document Approval Policy]]
*Previous Freegle UK document: Co-opting for an Elected Role

[[Category:Organisation & Governance]]
[[Category:Freegle Board]]
[[Category:Policies, Procedures, Remits]]

Reach Volunteering

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Reach Volunteering is a matching service for volunteers: https://reachvolunteering.org.uk/

In September 2024, Edward linked to their site to provide a feed of their volunteering opportunities, shown on relevant local communities. These links started appearing in ModTools for approval under "Volunteering" from 24th October 2024.

This should help boost the volunteering sections of the site, and seeing activity there may encourage people to post their own opportunities, as well as being of general interest to freeglers.

See https://discourse.ilovefreegle.org/t/reach-volunteering/7922 for details.

Links:
*[[ModTools#Volunteering]]
*[[Other sites/interfaces]]

[[Category:Partners & Other Sites]]

Reselling

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It occasionally comes to light that a member has been reselling goods they've obtained on Freegle. Claiming or asking for items in order to resell or redistribute them doesn't violate Freegle's guidelines directly, but many members prefer to give their items to people who will use them, not sell them.

Resellers should disclose their intention to resell or redistribute an item when accepting an offer, and when making a wanted request.

==If a member fails to disclose this==
If you discover, or think, a member is failing to disclose this when asked, or when posting a wanted, you may wish to:
*Keep the member on permanent moderation.
*Write to the member informing them of the guidelines, and warning them not to do it again.
*Issue a strike - a warning for a serious misdemeanour; two strikes can lead to a member being unsubscribed, at the owner's discretion. (See banning vs moderation.)
*Send an admin to the community reminding members of the reselling guidelines.

==What members can do==
*Ask responders if they intend to resell an item before agreeing to gift it.
*When marking a post as taken, select the member they believe has resold their item, and add a feedback comment for volunteers, so it can be noted for any further action.
*A few communities do choose a policy of no reselling. It's worth bearing in mind that it's hard to prove a member has been reselling goods acquired via Freegle.

'''Tip:''' watch out for posts including links to sites like eBay, Gumtree and Facebook.

==Trash Nothing==
Here is an extract from Trash Nothing's help pages:

''"Is reselling allowed? Resellers are members who receive free items and then sell them outside of Trash Nothing. Buying and selling on Trash Nothing is not allowed, but reselling free items is a valid way to reuse items and keep them out of the landfill, as long as resellers follow the rule below. People who resell items must say in their posts and messages that they plan to resell items they receive. This gives the people giving away items the chance to decide whether they want their item to be resold or not. To help with this, there's a setting which can be ticked which puts this sentence onto the member's posts. If you have a question about your local community's rules, please contact the moderators. If a post is breaking this rule, please report the post. If another member has broken this rule, please report the member."''

==See also==
*[[Sample message: Reselling]] - sample messages to send to individual members
*[[Sample Admin: Reselling]] - sample messages to send to the community
*[[Scrap Metal]] - guidance on Freegle's position on reselling metals

Back to [[Specific Problems]] or [[How To Deal With]]

[[Category:Difficult Situations & Problems]]

Scanners

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It's legal to buy, own and give away radio scanners. There are some restrictions on their use, but as we don't police what people do with items after they receive them, this doesn't fail our 'legal' criteria.

For reference, you can check the legal position via this [http://www.ofcom.org.uk/static/archive/ra/publication/ra_info/ra169.htm Ofcom link].

Back to [[Specific Items]]

[[Category:Handling Specific Items]]

Bank Holiday

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Here's an admin message you could send to encourage your community to freegle over a bank holiday weekend.

'''ADMIN: Avoid the tip this bank holiday weekend'''

With an extra day off, it's tempting to gather up a car boot's worth of stuff and dump it at the tip. It all looks like rubbish, doesn't it? Maybe - but take a closer look and think about other uses for it. You're looking at a valuable resource.

Here are a few ideas of what to look out for.

Old towels and blankets - XXXXX Rescue is short of old towels and blankets. How many other animal shelters have the same need?

Put similar items together: one Freegle member gathered 30 plastic plant pots, a couple of old planters, some wire and an offcut of fencing. It was collected by a grateful gardener starting up an allotment. Another time, a lockable kid-proof box and some toys were collected by a freegler who was about to start fostering children.

It doesn't have to be big: a rotary washing line spike that didn't fit was collected and installed the same day, complete with drying clothes. It was no use to the donor, but a perfect fit for someone else.

Is it broken? No problem, it could still be useful. Plenty of freeglers love to mend or upcycle items into something completely different. So offer your broken washing machine, printer, clay pots, garden fencing, bricks and more.

I'll be putting stuff on Freegle this weekend - why don't you put some on too?

Happy freegling!

$myname<br>
$groupname volunteer

Back to [[Admins]]

[[Category:Broadcast (Admin) Messages]]

Category:Freegle Wiki

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Top-level sections of the Freegle Volunteer Wiki. See the [[Main Page]] portal.

Unused and Redundant National Groups Procedure

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Adopted by the Board at their meeting of 29th April 2015.

This procedure does not apply to dormant or abandoned local Freegle reuse groups.

Yahoo or Google groups set up in the name of Freegle nationally (for Teams, Working Groups etc) which end up unused or made redundant should have ownership passed to volunteer-support@ilovefreegle.org and board@ilovefreegle.org addresses. The members of the group will be consulted either before change of ownership or, if this is not practical, after, to ensure that there is general agreement to close it. The group will be set to full moderation to effectively 'close' the group without deleting the archive of information. Access to the archives will be available to the members of the group, and to Freegle Volunteers by request to the owner address. The home page of the group will be changed to reflect its status and a pointer to a replacement group given if that is applicable.

Groups set up specifically to deal with appeals or personal information will be kept by the owner for a period of not less than 6 months after the last message is posted relating to the appeal or sensitive situation. The group members should preferably set a minimum time limit for keeping the group open as part of their work. The group can then be deleted, after notifying the Board at least 7 days before doing so.

All groups that have been archived or deleted will be listed on the Freegle wiki.

'''Groups archived/deleted:'''

*Freegle Growth - remit moved to Development Working Group
*Freegle Start - remit moved to Growth Working Group
*Freegle Structure - remit moved to Development Working Group
*Freegle People - remit moved to Growth Working Group
*Freegle Media - remit moved to Development Working Group
*Freegle Legal - group closed.
*Home Page Help - group closed.
*Freegle Mobile Team - team closed.
*Documents Team, set up to support Google Document Manager
*Ombudsman and Returning Officer Team group - ORO Team Roles and Remits
*https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/FreegleCentralAndCafeMods/ This group was set up as an admin group with a Central Members database for the moderators of Central UK, Rock Cafe and Working groups so we could synchronize approving members of Central and Working groups.
*https://uk.groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/iafcc/ Group was set up in the latter stages of many groups' affiliation to Freecycle and then the start up of Freegle, as a closed group for the elected reps of the IAFCMods Group below.
*https://uk.groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/IAFCMods/info Group was set up in the latter stages of many groups' affiliation to Freecycle and then the start up of Freegle. Open to any reuse volunteers.
*https://uk.groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/FredUK/ Group set up to discuss a moderators handbook for Freegle; resulted in this wiki, and the group became redundant.
*https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/freegle-forwards The group used by those leaving Freecycle and making the new Freegle network.
*Safeguarding Group - discussion forum for drawing up safeguarding guidelines for Freegle https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Freegle-Safeguarding/info
*Pet Mods Group - https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Freegle_petmods - group made redundant in January 2018 as part of a wider wiki review.
*Proofreaders - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Freegle-Proofreading/ - group unused for a few years, so made redundant in April 2018 as part of wider wiki review.

'''National Groups established on Yahoo:'''

Yahoo announced they were starting to effectively close Yahoo Groups from October 2019. All working national groups were quickly moved over to Discourse (www.discourse.ilovefreegle.org):
*Central
*Development
*Tech
*Funding
*Cafe

'''Links:'''

*[[Document Approval Policy]]
*[[Archived Documents]]

[[Category:Organisation & Governance]]
[[Category:Policies, Procedures, Remits]]

Freegle Wiki Layout

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This wiki is split into three main portals:

*[[The Freegle Organisation]]
*[[Publicity]]
*[[Running Your Local Community]]

These portals are the 'top' categories. Within each category there are sub-categories and pages, and each page in this wiki is categorised (some pages fall under more than one category).

You can browse the lists of categories and pages by clicking Special pages in the left-hand menu: [[Special:SpecialPages]].

If you have any questions, or need help categorising new pages, just post a message on the Freegle Tech [http://freegle.it/Tech] or Freegle Central [http://freegle.it/Central] group and ask!

Back to [[Help with the Wiki]] or [[Freegle Wiki]]

[[Category:Reference & Help]]

Retaining Volunteers

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===Tips for working well as a team within a Freegle group===
*Swap numbers, in case of emergencies that lead to a sudden inability to mod, attend an event etc.
*Respect each other's skills and different time commitments.
*Consider having informal meetings every 3 months, maybe sometimes with volunteers from neighbouring groups.
*Meet up online if face-to-face meetings never seem to happen.
*Have your own mods' support group - some Freegle groups copy relevant messages to the volunteer team address, others have a shared space, such as a WhatsApp group or mailbox, for volunteers from one or more adjoining groups.
Advantages:
**archive
**files
**practice polls
**sharing promotional and other local news
**chat
**support

*Check the management logs (ModTools > Logs > Messages) or (ModTools > Members > Approved > Moderation Team) from time to time, to ensure that the bulk of the modding is not being done by one mod - this puts the group at risk for several reasons:
**the busy mod may be more likely to burn out
**if the busy mod is not available, there may be a serious gap in modding cover
**other mods may feel that they are not getting sufficient opportunity to mod, and lose interest

*If you have a sensitive and difficult issue within your team that cannot be resolved locally, consider asking for confidential advice from [[Confidential Volunteer Support]].

Back to [[Recruiting, Training and Retaining]] or [[Running Your Group]]

[[Category:Recruiting & Training Volunteers]]

Group Volunteer Recruiting

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===Recruiting Group Volunteers===
OK, you have identified a need for more volunteers to moderate or promote your group. The following steps are a suggestion on how you can get suitable people to join your team.

Whether the work needed is moderating or promotion, there are similar processes and requirements needed to find your ideal people. To make this simpler for you, we have split up the recruiting processes for the different roles.

[[Volunteer (Moderator) Recruiting]]

[[Group Media Volunteer (GMV) Recruiting]]

[[Group Events Volunteer (GEV) Recruiting]]

Help and advice is always available from the Mentor team - email them at mentors@ilovefreegle.org - or you can also ask general questions on Freegle Central [http://freegle.in/Central]

Back to [[Recruiting, Training and Retaining]] or [[Admin]]

[[Category:Recruiting & Training Volunteers]]

Useful Websites

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== Promoting Freegle ==

Useful websites:

* Local papers and free listings magazines, if you know the paper but need contact details: http://www.mediauk.com
* Search for publications by area: http://www.nsdatabase.co.uk
* Radio stations: http://www.radio-now.co.uk/main.htm
* University student unions - enter your town/city here: http://www.nus.org.uk/Students-Unions/
* University student housing departments - 133 universities listed here: http://www.universitiesuk.ac.uk/AboutUs/WhoWeAre/Pages/Members.aspx
* Transition Towns, details here: http://www.transitionnetwork.org/about
* Local councils, full index with contacts here: http://direct.gov.uk/en/Dl1/Directories/Localcouncils/index.htm
* Local free advertising magazines: http://www.localfreemags.co.uk/
* Search by postcode to find your local council contacts, or your regional Recycle Now website: http://www.recyclenow.com/
* For Scotland, comprehensive reuse links: http://www.sort-it.org.uk/cap.asp?AuthID=99&CatID=24
* Search for your former Freecycle group's name online, and contact any websites listing it with your new Freegle details.
* Try to get a listing on free classified sites in your area: http://www.gumtree.co.uk or http://www.vivastreet.co.uk
* Promote group activities: http://geo.craigslist.org/iso/gb
* Join your local Freeconomy group: http://www.justfortheloveofit.org

Back to [[Publicity]] [[File:Megaphone-man.png|20px|link=Publicity]]

[[Category:Promotion & Publicity]]

If you have a Safeguarding Concern

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If you have a safeguarding concern - for example, a child becoming open to abuse, or an older adult who may be the victim of coercion - contact the Safeguarding Officer with evidence of your concern. Not every concern needs action, but where it does, the Safeguarding Officer will either advise you or contact the relevant authorities.

Email the Safeguarding Officer at safeguarding@ilovefreegle.org

Links:
*[[Safeguarding Contacts]]
*[[Safeguarding FAQ]]
*[[Safeguarding Action Plan]]
*[[Safeguarding at Events]]
*[[Role of the Safeguarding Officer]]
*[[Age limits]]

[[Category:Safety & Safeguarding]]

Sample message: Clarify

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This is a sample message to send to a member who has posted an unclear Wanted message.

Hi there

Thank you for your message, which is now on $groupname.

You may get more useful replies if you explain more fully what you want, so other members know if they can help.

If you like, you can edit your message yourself - on the Freegle website at https://www.ilovefreegle.org/myposts, via the Freegle app, or if you use Trash Nothing, see https://help.trashnothing.com/topic/posting

Kind regards

Link: [[Sample Messages]]

[[Category:Standard Messages]]

First Steps

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Welcome!

The links below are a guide to the sort of things you should know and think about when setting up a community affiliated to Freegle. Remember, every Freegle community has gone through this, and many of the people who took their first steps are still part of the organisation, so never hesitate to ask questions. You're not alone - you're part of the [[Freegle Family]], and the only silly question is the one that isn't asked!

* [[Potted History]] - a brief history of how Freegle came about.
* [[Our Aims]] - outlines what Freegle and its volunteers can expect of each other.
* [[Glossary]] - no need to remember these, but useful to know where to look for acronyms and other weird stuff!

Back to [[Running Your Local Community]]

[[Category:Getting Started]]

Working Groups Procedure

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===1. Role===
Working Groups focus on particular areas/topics, keeping Central traffic at a manageable level and encouraging participation in forming and progressing the objectives of Freegle. They are open to all Volunteers. The current Groups and their remits can be found at Working Groups.

===2. Remit===
Authority in Freegle is delegated from Members to the Board, with Central acting as a general discussion forum. Working Groups have devolved responsibility from the Board, as per their remits, to deal with specific areas of work. The Board, Central or Group members can ask a Group to consider a topic and come up with a recommendation.
After discussing a topic, a Group may produce a proposal. The Document Approval Policy details how various documents are approved. Proposals for ways of working or projects should follow the same process as a written procedure.

===3. Participation in Working Groups===
All Volunteers using [[ModTools]] are automatically entitled to be members of Discourse. The choice is then up to individuals if they wish to view or participate in conversations on the Discourse groups, including Working Groups. Where volunteers have a national role (e.g. Board members or members of a national Team), they should always declare which 'hat' they are wearing in conversations.

===4. Coordinator===
Ideally, a Coordinator should be appointed to help the Working Group manage its work.

====4.1 Coordinator Remit====
The Working Group Coordinator is part of the [[Discourse Support Team Remit|Discourse Support Team]], and is responsible for the following tasks:
*Maintain a Task List for the priorities and work of the Group.
*Draw up conclusions to discussions of Task List items, running polls where necessary and informing the Board as appropriate.
*Ensure that group discussions stay within the remit of that Group.
*Identify appropriate Group remit topics and issues raised on Central and bring those topics to the Group.
*Notify Central via "Start of Topic" mails when new discussions start.
*Compile reports for Board meetings and the AGM summarising activities of the Group.

====4.2 Appointment of Coordinator====
Appointment of a Coordinator is either by consensus (if there is one candidate on which the Group agrees) or a poll of Volunteers. A Start of Topic notice will be put on Central by Central Mods to alert volunteers of a forthcoming appointment.

===5. Working Practices===
The following working practices have proven effective and are suggested.

====5.1 Task Lists====
Each Group should maintain a task list in a Google spreadsheet. This Task List is managed by the Coordinator for that Group and an ilovefreegle.org email address should have full editing rights. The links to each list can be found at [[Task Lists]].

====5.2 Working Group Polls====
*Discussions on matters within Freegle can often continue at length, as we want to make sure that opinions are heard and everyone is fairly considered.
*Polls are required for final decisions/recommendations, with a simple majority deciding the vote. These final polls should be live for at least 5 days and that length of time clearly announced.
*If a discussion is particularly long, a Group straw poll (or interim poll) can be useful. These interim/straw poll results are not binding, however they can often clarify where the Group as a majority stands on a matter and move a decision forward more efficiently.

====5.3 Topic Notification Emails to Central====
In order to avoid disenfranchising Volunteers, the Coordinator is responsible for sending Start of Topic Notification emails to Central for significant topics, and might consider also informing Central when a final poll is being run.

===6. Links===
*[[Central Discussion and Working Group Membership Policy]]
*[[Discourse Support Team Remit]]
*[[Working Groups]]
*[[Glossary]]
*[[Document Approval Policy]]
*This remit was updated after review by Development and approval by the Board, March 2021.

[[Category:Organisation & Governance]]
[[Category:Getting Involved]]
[[Category:Policies, Procedures, Remits]]

Organisation

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Freegle has been formed as a collective of groups. We have built our national organisational structure democratically (and all that consultation took a long time!).

====What is Freegle?====

Freegle is at heart all the Volunteers of affiliated groups coming together to form a mutually supportive organisation. If you are working with a Freegle group, you are a part of Freegle and are known as a Freegle Volunteer.

If you wish to participate fully in national decisions and support the organisation, [[Freegle Membership]] is an option for all Volunteers. As we have evolved into a Registered Society, there is a requirement to pay for that (hey, though, it is only £1 for life!) but it does allow you to show your full support and vote on important issues as a Freegle Member.

====Who manages it?====

There are annual elections for the [[Freegle Board]]. The Board Directors are also Trustees of Freegle and responsible for strategic direction and management of Freegle (see full remit at [[Board Role and Remit]]). The Board is accountable to the Members of Freegle.

We have no paid staff, but there are opportunities for [[Contracted Roles]] from time to time.

====Can I get involved?====

The [[Working Groups]] are where discussions take place to move ourselves forward in a positive way to keep more items out of landfill, support each other and sustain our present success.

[[Freegle Teams]] are where tasks that have been identified collectively as needing doing to maintain a central organisation are carried out.

And of course we have general groups - [[Freegle Central Group]] and [[Freegle Cafe]] - where more general issues are raised and chatted about.

(We produced [https://wiki.ilovefreegle.org/images/Freegle_Organigram_v6bt_Jul13.pdf this 2013 diagram] when we had a change in structure, but it is a bit out of date now.)

===Do we have a formal structure?===

Yes!

We started as an unincorporated association - http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/manuals/ctmanual/CTM41305.htm - so were not a legal entity, but we did have a mutually agreed structure, with a Constitution which outlined the structure and decision making processes we mutually agreed to follow as Freegle UK. Freegle UK registered with the HMRC [https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BxDLE82mEn2jUlRONmhMUmoyZHc/view] as charitable and opened a bank account.

In 2014 we decided to change to a more formal structure, [[Freegle Structural Change]] lists the processes and decisions undertaken. We became an IPS, Freegle Ltd with [[Rules]], which now is regarded as a [[Registered Society]]. On 1st June 2026, we changed our name to Freegle, after a resolution passed at the 2025 AGM.

If you get queries about this, there is a sample message here that might help - [[Sample message: Is Freegle a Charity?|Is Freegle a Charity?]]

===Do we have rules?===

Other than the formal [[Rules]] we have adopted as part of being a Registered Society, there have been polls and discussions to adopt a variety of other supporting policies and procedures. All of these are listed on this wiki under the category [[:category:Policies, Procedures, Remits]]

The question of trademarking the name Freegle is also a recurring topic of discussion. An interesting article to read about others' experiences on this can be found at [http://www.beneschlaw.com/pubs/xprPubDetail.aspx?xpST=PubDetail&pub=2485]

Not a rule as such, but we do care about each other. We have a [[Freegle Equality and Diversity Policy]] that we have agreed to all work to.

===How are we funded?===

We have costs, that is the reality of running things online. Although we all offer our time voluntarily, running the central website, offering extra IT goodies and getting the Freegle name recognised at a national level does incur expenses.

At the moment we run on very little, links to our accounts can be found here [[Finance Reports]]. We have set up a variety of ways that people can donate towards our costs, full explanations of these can be found at [[Donations for Freegle]].

Back to [[The Freegle Organisation]]

[[Category:Organisation & Governance]]
[[Category:Freegle Organisation]]

Director Induction Information

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====Election of Directors====

Annually, in accordance with our [[Rules#Retirement_Cycle|Rules]], one-third of the elected Directors retires from office. Elections are conducted by appointed Returning Officers, who will guide candidates through the timetable and any other requirements. Elections are open to all Members of Freegle.

====Co-option of Directors====

The Board can co-opt a Freegle Member Director to fill an elected vacancy. They can also co-opt up to two external independent Directors who need not be Members.

====Following Election or Co-option to the Board====

The initial information exchange between the Board and a new Director will include:

'''* Introduction to other Board members'''
* Access to the Board discussion group
* Inclusion on the Board Register of Directors
* Explanation of [[Conflicts of Interest Procedure]]
* The new Board member will be required to present (either visibly or via sending copies to secretary@ilovefreegle.org) ID, including proof of identity (passport, driving licence) and proof of address (utility bill in the last three months). This will be logged as seen in the Directors' register. No copies of the proof of ID will be kept on file.
* A Fit and Proper Person Form must be completed at the induction stage and also at the re-election at an AGM for every board member

'''* Access to:'''
* Board timetable of meetings
* Previous Minutes of Board Meetings and current Action list(s)
* Board calendar
* Discourse (central discussion group for all volunteers), if not already included
* Introduction to key non-Board role holders if relevant

'''Early Reading:'''
*https://wiki.ilovefreegle.org/Director_Handbook - basic information set out as a handbook within the Freegle Wiki
*https://wiki.ilovefreegle.org/Freegle_Ltd_Annual_Reports - link to the Board's Annual Reports, presented each year at the AGM

'''The Board will ensure that the following are also actioned as needed:'''
* Informing FCA of change in Directors
* Updating the wiki with new Director information - [[Freegle Board]] and [[Board History]]
* Updating ModTools>Teams>Boards with new Director information

Link: [[Director Handbook]]

[[Category:Organisation & Governance]]
[[Category:Director Handbook]]

Spam Arrest

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Spam Arrest is a spam-filtering company that supplies a service to subscribers, promising to cut down drastically on spam. It works as follows:

The system requires the sender to enter a pattern of letters (a CAPTCHA) to release an email. That sounds reasonable, but this release mechanism means the sender has automatically agreed to Spam Arrest's licence agreement, printed in very small text and spaced so you have to scroll down to see it.

By agreeing, the sender also indemnifies the company to the tune of $2,000 for every single email they allow which the company (not the sender) deems to be spam. The sender doesn't waive their right of appeal, but agrees that disputes have to be dealt with under US legal jurisdiction, with all that implies in terms of US legal costs.

This might be an unenforceable contract in the UK, but anyone caught by it could struggle to travel anywhere under US jurisdiction if the company unilaterally decided that spam had been sent, unless they were in a position to appeal any judgement.

This particular company is called Spam Arrest, but there are others that work similarly.

Some community moderators have decided to ban members using Spam Arrest and other spam-filtering companies, considering it an unnecessary risk to their members who might reply to messages.

Back to [[Specific Problems]] or [[How To Deal With]]

[[Category:Difficult Situations & Problems]]

Scams

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==Ukash/Paysafe/courier scam==
This scam involves the offer of an attractive item (TV, games console, white goods), followed by a delay in responding to requests, eventually leading to an acceptance which explains the delay was because the moderators hadn't approved it yet, and that the offerer has since moved. They offer to courier the item instead, giving details and asking for payment of courier charges via Ukash vouchers. If "hooked", the requester is then asked for carriage charges, then insurance, then possibly a release charge because the package has got held up. The outcome is no item, and money paid via Ukash or Paysafe lost.

This scam has been running since it first appeared on Freegle in late 2013. To help counter it, consider adding a footer to your community's messages:

''"Please do not pay courier fees for any item offered via Freegle. It will be a scam!"''

This scam usually also involves the use of [[070 telephone numbers]], which will rack up even more money scammed if a victim uses them to contact the scammers.

If a member reports this scam, please let info@ilovefreegle.org know, record it in ModTools so the scammer is removed from communities, and advise the member to report it online to the police if they've lost money: https://www.actionfraud.police.uk

==Telephone numbers==
See [[070 telephone numbers]] for information on how 070-prefixed phone numbers are used for scams.

==See also==
*[[Specific Problems]]

[[Category:Difficult Situations & Problems]]

Specific items

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These pages give information on specific items that may or may not be offered or requested on your community.

*[[Alcohol and tobacco]]
*[[Archery Equipment]]
*[[Asbestos]]
*[[Batteries]]
*[[Beach sand, stones, driftwood, seashells etc]]
*Bike helmets - see [[Safety of items offered]]
*[[Books]]
*[[Bread Baskets]]
*Car seats - see [[Safety of items offered]]
*[[Contact Lenses]] and solutions
*[[Cooking Oil]]
*[[Condoms]]
*[[Copyright Issues]] - software, DVDs, videos
*Cots - see [[Safety of items offered]]
*[[Counterfeit, Fake or Imitation items]]
*[[Creosote]]
*[[Disability Aids]]
*Explosive precursors - see [[Worry Words]]
*[[Fire Extinguishers]]
*[[Fireworks]]
*[[Food]]
*[[Fridges and Freezers]]
*[[Frogspawn]]
*[[Fur]]
*Furniture - see [[Safety of items offered]]
*[[Garden chemicals: pesticides, insecticides, weedkiller]]
*[[Gas cookers]]
*[[Gas cylinders or bottles]]
*[[Guns and replicas]], including air rifles
*[[Hearing aids, Glasses]]
*[[Knives and Swords]]
*[[Light Bulbs]]
*[[Medicines and supplements]]
*[[Oil]] - waste and other oils
*[[Oyster cards]]
*[[Pets and animals]]
*[[Plants]]
*[[Red Diesel]]
*[[Safety of items offered]] - car seats, cot mattresses, bike helmets, furniture: what are the risks?
*[[Scanners]] - radio scanners etc
*[[Scrap Metal]]
*[[Sex toys]]
*[[Sky and Virgin boxes]]
*[[Slug Pellets]]
*[[Storage Heaters]]
*Talcum powder - see this [https://discourse.ilovefreegle.org/t/talcum-powder/8932 September 2025 Discourse discussion]
*[[Tasers and stun guns]]
*[[Thermometers]]
*[[Tickets and Vouchers]]
*[[Timeshare]]
*[[Tortoises]]
*[[Tumble dryers]]
*[[Waste Definition|Waste]] - the legal definition of what counts as waste
*[[Wood]] - including pallet warnings

See also [[Recycling Organisations]], a list of organisations that reuse computers, medical and office equipment, sewing machines, tools and more.

Back to [[How To Deal With]]

[[Category:Handling Specific Items]]

Freegle Cafe

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The Freegle Rock Cafe is a chit-chat group for UK volunteers, keeping some of the banter out of the [https://discourse.ilovefreegle.org/c/central Central] group.

You can find the cafe [https://discourse.ilovefreegle.org/c/cafe here].

==See also==
* [[Central Groups]]

[[Category:Running Your Community]]

Contributors

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'''Running Your Group''': thank you to everyone who has contributed to this section of the wiki. We started this compendium of wisdom back in 2010. Some people have provided admin, some have edited and proofread, and some have written whole sections. Everyone we know of is listed below, in alphabetical order by first name - apologies if anyone's missing!

Carol and the West Aberdeenshire Mods

Chris from Penrith

David from Reading

Edward and the Edinburgh mods

Jacky from Great Yarmouth

Jacqui from Bedford

Jane from Uckfield

Jean from Trafford

Jon and the Woking mods

Kath and the Huddersfield mods

Mark from Derby

Ollie from Leeds

Peter and the Hunts mods

Peter from Islington

Paul from Ascot

Richard from Ipswich

Richard from Waveney

Russel from Bracknell

Ruth from Porthmadod

Seb from Wolverhampton

Susan and the Wellingborough mods

Wendy from Leicester

and finally, Caroline from Camden.

Other people have continued to contribute to the wiki over the years, including:

Craig from Edinburgh

Dee from Croydon

Jo from Fife

John from Hertford

Roger from Kingston on Thames

Links:

[[Running Your Group]]

[[Category:Reference & Help]]

Fur

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Posts offering fur come up occasionally, and some moderators and members may have strong objections to it. There's no reason for a moderator to reject a post offering or requesting fur purely on principle - a moderator's job is to make sure items are free, legal and appropriate for all ages. If you have reason to believe fur being offered or requested comes from an endangered species, you can check:

* CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora)
* DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

That said, if you or other moderators on your community have strong feelings about fur, you may choose not to allow it.

Back to [[Specific Items]]

[[Category:Handling Specific Items]]

Sample message: Too many wanteds

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This is a sample message you could use to send to a member of your community. Please also see [[Best Practice Notes#'Wanted' posts are a good thing]] and try to avoid returning any wanted or request posts unless you're totally overwhelmed.

Hi there

I'm sorry to return your message, but we have a rule of X wanted messages per X.
Please could you wait until X days have passed since your last request before posting this again?

Our experience is that you're more likely to get a good response to your requests if there aren't a lot all at once, so hopefully you'll be able to find what you want over an extended period.

Hope that's OK, and good luck!

Best wishes

$myname<br>
$groupname Volunteer

Back to [[Sample Messages]] or [[Too many wanteds]]

[[Category:Standard Messages]]

Freegle Group Membership Information Policy

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This document was adopted by the Board in September 2016 and amended in December 2018, on recommendation by the Development Group. An amendment was made in April 2024 after discussion on the Development Group (Task 128) and agreement by the Board.

Local membership lists are kept in several places:

*Nationally:
**on Freegle Direct
**via ModTools
**on spreadsheets or similar documents as backup information

*Freegle Volunteers:
**on spreadsheets or similar documents as backup information
**within email storage, personal or shared team accounts

*Other:
**Trashnothing, covering nearly all Freegle communities

The right for Freegle Ltd to use the nationally kept membership lists to establish a new community will only be exercised in the following circumstances:
*With permission gained by emailing the community contact address for the community volunteer team, and acted upon with:
**explicit permission from one Volunteer, and
**implicit permission from other Volunteers, i.e. assume consent if no conflicting replies are received within 3 weeks (reminder sent after 2 weeks within that period).
*Or:
**Implicit permission through lack of constructive communication from community Volunteers during the Abandoned Groups procedures undertaken by the Mentor Team.

For membership lists kept elsewhere:
*Freegle will not ask for copies of membership lists from Trashnothing; they are the responsibility of that organisation.
*Individual volunteers are responsible for the information they keep personally or as a team outside Freegle Direct and ModTools; this isn't the responsibility of Freegle Ltd.

Notes:
*Volunteers for a particular community are assumed to be those who receive emails to the contact address for that community volunteer team.
*This procedure includes communities which have chosen to leave Freegle or been disaffiliated, or are abandoned.
*As Freegle is the current legal custodian for membership data, membership data may only be released to a departing community once it has been determined that there is legal basis to do so. See [https://www.gov.uk/data-protection Data Protection Act], and our [[Data Protection Policy]] with links to related procedures.
*If member information kept by Trashnothing is offered to Freegle to set up a freestanding Freegle Direct community or communities, the Board can accept if satisfied that GDPR adherence has been or will be applied.

'''Links:'''
*[[Disaffiliation Procedure]]
*[[Mentor Team Remit]]
*Amendments: [[Document Approval Policy]]
*[[Data Protection Policy]]
*Previous document: Freegle_Direct_Information_Policy
*[[Policies, Procedures and Remits]]

[[Category:Organisation & Governance]]
[[Category:Policies, Procedures, Remits]]

Freegle Equality and Diversity Policy

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This policy was adopted by the Board at their meeting of 27th August 2014. Amended in November 2022 after discussion on Development and approval of the Board.

Freegle is committed to creating a culture in which diversity and equality of opportunity are promoted and in which unlawful and unfair discrimination is not tolerated.

We are committed to working with regard to equal opportunities, specifically prohibiting any conduct or practice which discriminates or harasses on the grounds of race, gender, age, sex, disability, religion, political belief, ethnic origin, marital status or nationality, except where applicable law requires that these be taken into account.

===Policy Statement===
Freegle believes in principles of social justice and acknowledges that discrimination affects people in complex ways. We seek to:
*ensure all Members and Volunteers are treated fairly, with dignity and respect, in accordance with the Equality Act 2010
*afford all Members and Volunteers equal opportunity to contribute to and benefit from the organisation
*promote an inclusive and supportive environment for volunteers, Members, contractors and community members

===Aims of the Policy===
The aims of this policy are to ensure that in carrying out activities, Freegle will have due regard to:
*promoting equality of opportunity across all activities
*promoting good relations between all people
*eliminating unlawful discrimination

===Breach of the Policy===
Freegle will take seriously any instances of non-adherence to this policy by Members or Volunteers in their work with Freegle. Any contraventions will be investigated and appropriate action taken to address non-compliance. Any volunteer, Member, contractor or community member who believes Freegle has contravened this policy should enact the [[Complaints Procedure]].

===Implementation===
All Members and Volunteers share a responsibility to act in accordance with this policy.

Links:
*[[Our Aims]]
*https://www.gov.uk/guidance/equality-act-2010-guidance
*Amendments to this document - refer to [[Document Approval Policy]]
*An Admin that could be used locally (not part of this policy): [[Zero Tolerance]]
*[[Complaints Procedure]]
*[[Glossary]]
*Previous Freegle UK document: Equality and Diversity Policy

[[Category:Organisation & Governance]]
[[Category:Policies, Procedures, Remits]]

National Media Director

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The Board announced on 22nd May 2017, on Central, that they had contracted Cat Fletcher to work as Media Director. This has since been extended and renewed by the Board.

Information on media work is included in Freegle's [[:Category:Freegle Ltd Annual Reports|Annual Reports]].

== See also ==
* [[Contract for Services]]
* [[Contracted Roles]]

[[Category:Promotion & Publicity]]

Fair offer policy

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Some members prefer to wait at least 24 hours to see who responds to an offer. Reasons to do this include:
*The first person to reply isn't always the most reliable.
*The delay gives a fair chance to people who receive notifications in daily emails (What's New summaries), or who don't have continual internet access.
*It may give a choice of potential recipients, and careful selection could help avoid no-shows.

Freegle used to have an optional tickbox on offers to mark them as "Fair offer policy", meaning the above would apply. This was withdrawn around 2020, mainly because the wording was often misunderstood as asking for payment.

Trash Nothing still has an option to prompt members to include this as a footer line on Offers. In August 2025, this was changed to "Fair Chance Policy: I'll wait before choosing a recipient to give more people a chance to reply."

Volunteers can disable this for their community in TN settings. (For convenience, there's a link to your community's TN settings at the top of [[ModTools#Getting_Set_Up|ModTools Settings: Community]].)

Even if this is switched off, some members may still type "Fair Offer Policy" or something similar into their own description when offering an item.

If this causes misunderstandings, you could suggest they use a different expression or explain more fully, e.g. "This is a Fair Chance offer - I will allow time for more members to reply before I decide who to give this to."

[[Category:Difficult Situations & Problems]]

Contract for Services

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This model document is one which Freegle Limited will use when it commissions a paid service of work. See [[Contracted Roles]] for a list of applicable roles.

==Contract for Services between Freegle Ltd and xxxxxxxxxxxx hereinafter called the Contractor==

====1. Definition of Work====
1.1. The Contractor will perform the activities outlined in Appendix A - Statement of Work.

1.2. Variations of the statement of work, such as carrying-over allocated days from one month to another will be agreed in writing.

====2. Term====
2.1. This agreement shall commence on xx/xx/xxxx and continue for twelve months unless terminated as provided for in section 7.

2.2. The term of this Agreement may be extended by mutual, written agreement.

====3. Payment====
3.1. Freegle Ltd will pay the Contractor fees as outlined in the Statement of Work.

3.2. Freegle Ltd will repay reasonable expenses (at cost) incurred in delivery of this agreement, in line with the Freegle expenses policy.

3.3. The Contractor shall send monthly invoices made out to Freegle Ltd with a record of days worked attached and expenses incurred. [[Invoice Information]]

3.4. Payment shall be made by bank transfer into the account provided by the Contractor. Freegle Ltd undertakes to pay within 10 days of invoicing.

====4. Contractor's Status====
4.1. The Contractor warrants to Freegle Ltd that they operate in business on their own account and as such bears sole responsibility for the payment of taxes and/or national insurance contributions relating to any payments or arrangements made under this Agreement. The Contractor will indemnify Freegle Ltd in respect of any such payments required to be made by Freegle Ltd.

4.2. Freegle Ltd is exempt from HMRC's Off-Payroll Working rules (often called "IR35"). More information is available in Appendix B - Position on Off-Payroll Working rules (IR35).

====5. Responsibilities and Standard of Work====
5.1. The Contractor will:

5.1.1. Use best endeavours to complete the item of work within any agreed timeline. If it becomes clear this is not possible, the Contractor must inform Freegle Ltd.

5.1.2. Comply with Freegle Ltd policies, including Health & Safety, Equality, Diversity and Data Protection.

5.1.3. Provide services with reasonable care and skill.

5.1.4. Respond to Freegle Ltd's reasonable requests in relation to the provision of the above services.

5.1.5. Do nothing which is likely to bring Freegle Ltd into disrepute or which is contrary to the interests of Freegle Ltd.

5.1.6 (Optional, delete if not required) Indemnify and keep Freegle Ltd indemnified from and against all claims, losses and liability suffered or incurred by Freegle Ltd as a result (whether direct or indirect) of any negligent or deliberate act or omission of the Contractor.

====6. Intellectual Property and Confidentiality====
6.1. The Contractor assigns to Freegle Ltd all intellectual property rights arising as a result of the Contractor providing the above services to Freegle Ltd. The Contractor agrees to execute any further documents reasonably requested by Freegle Ltd to perfect the above assignment of rights during and termination of this agreement.

6.2. All Confidential Information remains the property of Freegle Ltd. On termination of this agreement, or at the request of Freegle Ltd at any time during the agreement, the Contractor shall hand over all Confidential Information or copies to Freegle Ltd or irretrievably delete any electronic copies of Confidential Information.

====7. Changes====
7.1 Any significant alteration to, or termination of this agreement will be agreed in writing and are subject to xxxxxxxxx months' notice.

For Freegle Ltd:
Name: ___________________
Position: ___________________
Signed: ___________________
Date: ___________________

For xxxxxxxxxxx
Name: ___________________
Position: ___________________
Signed: ___________________
Date: ___________________

====Appendix A – Statement of Work====
8 xxxxTitle for Statement of Workxxxxxx

8.1 xxxxDetails of agreed workxxxxxx

8.2. Freegle Ltd will pay the Contractor up to xx days (xx hours) per calendar month for provision of these services.

8.3. Freegle Ltd will pay a fee of £xxxx per day (£xx.xx per hour) for this work.

====Appendix B - Position on Off-Payroll Working rules (IR35)====
On the 6th April 2021, HMRC changed the Off-Payroll Working Rules (often called "IR35") with regard to individuals who supply services via personal service companies or other intermediaries.

Freegle is exempt from these rules, under the rules for small companies[i], as:

* Its turnover is below the threshold of £10.2million
* Its balance sheet is below the threshold of £5.1million
* It has less than 50 employees

Currently Freegle does not qualify under any of these criteria. Only 2 need to apply for a client to be exempt from IR35.

Details on the turnover, balance sheet and # of employees for Freegle can be found in our annual return and Accounts Documents: https://mutuals.fca.org.uk/Search/Society/9593

You are responsible for determining if and how you are impacted by the IR35 rules. More information can be found on the HMRC website and specifically[ii] in the Contractor Factsheet[iii].

A copy of this communication available at: https://docs.google.com/document/d/16HDj3ZjWXtOWuuERQ5mFGTHbyBQQ8yWYCxcjafaN0kg

________________________________________

[i] https://www.gov.uk/guidance/april-2020-changes-to-off-payroll-working-for-clients

[ii] https://www.gov.uk/topic/business-tax/ir35

[iii] https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/929570/Changes_to_off-payroll_working_rules_factsheet_for_contractors.pdf

'''Links:'''
*[[Paying People in Freegle Guidelines]]
*[[Freegle Board]]
*[[Document Approval Policy]] - this document is equivalent to a Procedure, and will need Board agreement for amendment.
*This model contract was adopted by the Board in March 2021. See [[Finance Documents Review]] for the record of subsequent reviews and amendments.

====8. Appendix B – Statement of Work====

................

Link: [[Contracted Roles]]

[[Category:Organisation & Governance]]
[[Category:Finance]]
[[Category:Policies, Procedures, Remits]]

DICE Network

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A case study was published in February 2026, following a collaboration between Exeter University and Freegle (Edward).

Introduction from the case study:

The DICE Network+ is a three-year UKRI EPSRC-funded programme that seeks to leverage the power of the digital revolution to drive a circular economy across sectors and value chains. Led by the University of Exeter, the expert academic team comprises eleven investigators from nine UK universities. They are creating an inclusive, connected community harnessing interdisciplinary collaboration and research to guide industry partners, government bodies and policy makers towards a digitally enabled, sustainable and circular economy.

Link to the case study paper: https://dice-networkplus.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/260213-Freegle-Case-Study-Final-Draft.pdf

Link to Discourse announcement: https://discourse.ilovefreegle.org/t/stats-research/9531

Link: [[Other sites/interfaces]]

[[Category:Partners & Other Sites]]