Freegle Wiki - User contributions [en-gb]

Freegle Affiliated Community Area Guidelines

2021-08-24T12:49:34Z

Roger:

====Core Area====
New Groups Team (NGT) defines a core area for a Community when they are considering approval. Communities will not be approved in the future within that area. The core area is determined in agreement with the group by NGT.

====Catchment Area====
Operating in a geographic area that is agreed with Freegle is a highly recommended requirement (not mandatory). NGT comply with this by allowing individual Community owners to decide their own catchment areas. The catchment area is the geographic area within which a Community accepts posts and members.
The catchment area is the area a Community subsequently may serve if it chooses, although recommended good practice is that this wider area should be in consultation with neighbouring Freegle Communities.

====Community Names====
New Community names must be approved by NGT. Freegle Affiliated Community Name and Logo Guidelines outlines agreed protocols.

====Community Size====
20,000 - 30,000 is believed to be the ideal population size for a Community to be as small and local as possible and still viable. It is based on a lot of previous experience and informal study of Community growth. This ideal is not always practical however and we do our best to be practical, take local situations and views into account and approve Communities which will grow and serve their local community.

====Principles====
It is recognised that the population and demographics of the UK are extremely diverse and that a strict population criteria or one which is rigidly linked to local government administrative boundaries is not practical.

Standard Freegle Community CORE areas should not overlap, specialist ones might overlap standard ones.

Experience from Freecycle and Freegle Communities indicates that successful Communities can usually serve areas with populations of between 20,000 and 100,000, depending on density but there are many examples of Communities successfully serving smaller or larger populations.
Given two or more viable options it is generally better to go with the smaller option and leave space for more Communities later.
Non-Metropolitan areas tend to serve a particular town together with satellite villages, or just the town if it is large.
Large Metropolitan areas and Cities are usually served by Communities aligned with metropolitan boroughs within the city.
Communities in rural areas tend to serve part of a county including named villages, but not normally bigger than a single county district.
Sometimes a Community will make more sense to cover parts of two or more districts due to geographical or social divisions but this should still stay within guidelines and suitable council boundaries.
Communities thrive where there is a mix of demographics leading to an equilibrium of supply and demand for items.

====Approval Conditions====
1. Community areas will be approved if:

*They serve a population of between 20,000 and 100,000 and there is no overlap with an existing Freegle Community area; and

Either:

*There is a clear town or population centre as a centre of gravity for the Community or:
*It is a rural area within a county district or natural geographic boundary or:
*It is an area covered by a metropolitan borough council

2. Community areas serving populations of less than 20,000 will be considered and can be approved if the following apply:

The area is rural and to include additional population would lead to impractical travelling times between members (including islands)and/or there is a strong sense of community within the area proposed.

3. Community areas serving populations of greater than 100,000 will be considered and can be approved if the following apply:

*It is a single settlement with a strong identity; and/or
*The population is dense and the distances between members are small; and/or to split the area would be jeopardise the success of the Community for demographic reasons.

NGT will normally bring issues surrounding the implementation of the above guidelines to the Development Working Group for discussion. In a small number of cases where the NGT have major doubts about approving an application and cannot reach a compromise then they may cite the particular application. The decision whether to bring a case to the Development Working Group will be at the discretion of the NGT. Permission for this will be obtained from the applicant who will not be named. The Development Working Group will try to agree a way forward. The decision on that case then will form a precedent for future similar cases.

====Links====
*[[Glossary]]
*[[Community Mapping]]
*Previous Freegle UK document: Group Affiliation Team Area Guidelines
*[[Document Approval Policy]]
*[[New Groups Team - NGT]]

[[category:Policies, Procedures, Remits]]
[[category:New Groups Team]]

Freegle Affiliated Community Area Guidelines

2021-08-24T12:47:40Z

Roger:

====Core Area====
New Groups Team (NGT) defines a core area for a Community when they are considering approval. Communities will not be approved in the future within that area. The core area is determined in agreement with the group by NGT.

====Catchment Area====
Operating in a geographic area that is agreed with Freegle is a highly recommended requirement (not mandatory). NGT comply with this by allowing individual Community owners to decide their own catchment areas. The catchment area is the geographic area within which a Community accepts posts and members.
The catchment area is the area a Community subsequently may serve if it chooses, although recommended good practice is that this wider area should be in consultation with neighbouring Freegle Communities.

====Community Names====
New Community names must be approved by NGT. Freegle Affiliated Community Name and Logo Guidelines outlines agreed protocols.

====Community Size====
20,000 - 30,000 is believed to be the ideal population size for a Community to be as small and local as possible and still viable. It is based on a lot of previous experience and informal study of Community growth. This ideal is not always practical however and we do our best to be practical, take local situations and views into account and approve Communities which will grow and serve their local community.

====Principles====
It is recognised that the population and demographics of the UK are extremely diverse and that a strict population criteria or one which is rigidly linked to local government administrative boundaries is not practical.

Standard Freegle Community CORE areas should not overlap, specialist ones might overlap standard ones.

Experience from Freecycle and Freegle Communities indicates that successful Communities can usually serve areas with populations of between 20,000 and 100,000, depending on density but there are many examples of Communities successfully serving smaller or larger populations.
Given two or more viable options it is generally better to go with the smaller option and leave space for more Communities later.
Non-Metropolitan areas tend to serve a particular town together with satellite villages, or just the town if it is large.
Large Metropolitan areas and Cities are usually served by Communities aligned with metropolitan boroughs within the city.
Communities in rural areas tend to serve part of a county including named villages, but not normally bigger than a single county district.
Sometimes a Community will make more sense to cover parts of two or more districts due to geographical or social divisions but this should still stay within guidelines and suitable council boundaries.
Groups thrive where there is a mix of demographics leading to an equilibrium of supply and demand for items.

====Approval Conditions====
1. Community areas will be approved if:

*They serve a population of between 20,000 and 100,000 and there is no overlap with an existing Freegle Community area; and

Either:

*There is a clear town or population centre as a centre of gravity for the Community or:
*It is a rural area within a county district or natural geographic boundary or:
*It is an area covered by a metropolitan borough council

2. Community areas serving populations of less than 20,000 will be considered and can be approved if the following apply:

The area is rural and to include additional population would lead to impractical travelling times between members (including islands)and/or there is a strong sense of community within the area proposed.

3. Community areas serving populations of greater than 100,000 will be considered and can be approved if the following apply:

*It is a single settlement with a strong identity; and/or
*The population is dense and the distances between members are small; and/or to split the area would be jeopardise the success of the Community for demographic reasons.

NGT will normally bring issues surrounding the implementation of the above guidelines to the Development Working Group for discussion. In a small number of cases where the NGT have major doubts about approving an application and cannot reach a compromise then they may cite the particular application. The decision whether to bring a case to the Development Working Group will be at the discretion of the NGT. Permission for this will be obtained from the applicant who will not be named. The Development Working Group will try to agree a way forward. The decision on that case then will form a precedent for future similar cases.

====Links====
*[[Glossary]]
*[[Community Mapping]]
*Previous Freegle UK document: Group Affiliation Team Area Guidelines
*[[Document Approval Policy]]
*[[New Groups Team - NGT]]

[[category:Policies, Procedures, Remits]]
[[category:New Groups Team]]

Freegle Affiliated Community Area Guidelines

2021-08-24T12:47:26Z

Roger:

====Core Area====
New Groups Team(NGT) defines a core area for a Community when they are considering approval. Communities will not be approved in the future within that area. The core area is determined in agreement with the group by NGT.

====Catchment Area====
Operating in a geographic area that is agreed with Freegle is a highly recommended requirement (not mandatory). NGT comply with this by allowing individual Community owners to decide their own catchment areas. The catchment area is the geographic area within which a Community accepts posts and members.
The catchment area is the area a Community subsequently may serve if it chooses, although recommended good practice is that this wider area should be in consultation with neighbouring Freegle Communities.

====Community Names====
New Community names must be approved by NGT. Freegle Affiliated Community Name and Logo Guidelines outlines agreed protocols.

====Community Size====
20,000 - 30,000 is believed to be the ideal population size for a Community to be as small and local as possible and still viable. It is based on a lot of previous experience and informal study of Community growth. This ideal is not always practical however and we do our best to be practical, take local situations and views into account and approve Communities which will grow and serve their local community.

====Principles====
It is recognised that the population and demographics of the UK are extremely diverse and that a strict population criteria or one which is rigidly linked to local government administrative boundaries is not practical.

Standard Freegle Community CORE areas should not overlap, specialist ones might overlap standard ones.

Experience from Freecycle and Freegle Communities indicates that successful Communities can usually serve areas with populations of between 20,000 and 100,000, depending on density but there are many examples of Communities successfully serving smaller or larger populations.
Given two or more viable options it is generally better to go with the smaller option and leave space for more Communities later.
Non-Metropolitan areas tend to serve a particular town together with satellite villages, or just the town if it is large.
Large Metropolitan areas and Cities are usually served by Communities aligned with metropolitan boroughs within the city.
Communities in rural areas tend to serve part of a county including named villages, but not normally bigger than a single county district.
Sometimes a Community will make more sense to cover parts of two or more districts due to geographical or social divisions but this should still stay within guidelines and suitable council boundaries.
Groups thrive where there is a mix of demographics leading to an equilibrium of supply and demand for items.

====Approval Conditions====
1. Community areas will be approved if:

*They serve a population of between 20,000 and 100,000 and there is no overlap with an existing Freegle Community area; and

Either:

*There is a clear town or population centre as a centre of gravity for the Community or:
*It is a rural area within a county district or natural geographic boundary or:
*It is an area covered by a metropolitan borough council

2. Community areas serving populations of less than 20,000 will be considered and can be approved if the following apply:

The area is rural and to include additional population would lead to impractical travelling times between members (including islands)and/or there is a strong sense of community within the area proposed.

3. Community areas serving populations of greater than 100,000 will be considered and can be approved if the following apply:

*It is a single settlement with a strong identity; and/or
*The population is dense and the distances between members are small; and/or to split the area would be jeopardise the success of the Community for demographic reasons.

NGT will normally bring issues surrounding the implementation of the above guidelines to the Development Working Group for discussion. In a small number of cases where the NGT have major doubts about approving an application and cannot reach a compromise then they may cite the particular application. The decision whether to bring a case to the Development Working Group will be at the discretion of the NGT. Permission for this will be obtained from the applicant who will not be named. The Development Working Group will try to agree a way forward. The decision on that case then will form a precedent for future similar cases.

====Links====
*[[Glossary]]
*[[Community Mapping]]
*Previous Freegle UK document: Group Affiliation Team Area Guidelines
*[[Document Approval Policy]]
*[[New Groups Team - NGT]]

[[category:Policies, Procedures, Remits]]
[[category:New Groups Team]]

Our Aims

2021-08-23T14:01:57Z

Roger:

Thanks for agreeing to volunteer for Freegle. Freegle is run nationally and in local Communities entirely by volunteers.
Here's how we'll help you and what you can do for us.

'''Freegle nationally is committed to:'''
*Providing the IT infrastructure to list and host local Communities
*Providing support for all aspects of running a Community by email, in national Communities and the wiki
*Representing Freegle nationally and promoting freegling to national bodies and agencies
*Running national social media and other publicity, and encouraging local freegling by provision of technical and promotional facilities
*Providing policies, guidance and insurance to help ensure the safe running of Communities
*Supporting all volunteers regardless of age, background or social profile
*Being open about how Freegle works and keeping everyone well informed
*Ensuring that Freegle is run collaboratively, with all volunteers able to take part in decision making
*Encouraging volunteers to join as an official Member of the Freegle Ltd Industrial and Provident Society

'''Local volunteers agree to run their Community by:'''
*Implementing Freegle rules and best practice
*Having current computer and internet access, understanding and skills
*Moderating their Community messages and memberships at least daily, with moderating coverage 7 days a week
*Helping members with problems and information in a consistently positive way
*Keeping in touch and communicating with Freegle nationally

and it would also be great if local teams:
*Know the area that is served by their Freegle Community and have an interest in local and national environmental causes.
*Publicise their Community to build membership, eg do social media, press releases, run stalls, run events.
*Work with local councils or other relevant local bodies, businesses, charities etc 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]]
*http://freegle.in//joinfreegleltd
*[[Document Approval Policy]]

This document was discussed on Development Group and adopted by the Board, August 2016.

[[category:The Basics]]

Our Aims

2021-08-23T13:52:57Z

Roger:

Thanks for agreeing to volunteer for Freegle. Freegle is run nationally and in local Communities entirely by volunteers.
Here's how we'll help you and what you can do for us.

'''Freegle nationally is committed to:'''
*Providing the IT infrastructure to list and host local Communities
*Providing support for all aspects of running a Community by email, in national Communities and the wiki
*Representing Freegle nationally and promoting freegling to national bodies and agencies
*Running national social media and other publicity, and encouraging local freegling by provision of technical and promotional facilities
*Providing policies, guidance and insurance to help ensure the safe running of Communities
*Supporting all volunteers regardless of age, background or social profile
*Being open about how Freegle works and keeping everyone well informed
*Ensuring that Freegle is run collaboratively, with all volunteers able to take part in decision making
*Encouraging volunteers to join as an official Member of the Freegle Ltd Industrial and Provident Society

'''Local volunteers agree to run their Community by:'''
*Implementing Freegle rules and best practice
*Having current computer and internet access, understanding and skills
*Moderating their Community messages and memberships at least daily, with moderating coverage 7 days a week
*Helping members with problems and information in a consistently positive way
*Keeping in touch and communicating with Freegle nationally

and it would also be great if local teams:
*Know the area that is served by their Freegle Community and have an interest in local and national environmental causes.
*Publicise their Community to build membership, eg do social media, press releases, run stalls, run events.
*Work with local councils or other relevant local bodies, businesses, charities etc to increase freegling in the community.
*Keep in touch with neighbouring volunteer teams.

'''Links:'''
*[[Freegle Aims]]
*[[Basic Requirements of a Freegle Group]]
*[[Best Practice]]
*[[Freegle Affiliation Policy]]
*[[Community Affiliation Requirements Policy]]
*[[National Volunteers Procedure]]
*[[Freegle Equality and Diversity Policy]]
*http://freegle.in//joinfreegleltd
*[[Document Approval Policy]]

This document was discussed on Development Group and adopted by the Board, August 2016.

[[category:The Basics]]

Our Aims

2021-08-23T13:51:29Z

Roger:

Thanks for agreeing to volunteer for Freegle. Freegle is run nationally and in local Communities entirely by volunteers.
Here's how we'll help you and what you can do for us.

'''Freegle nationally is committed to:'''
*Providing the IT infrastructure to list and host local Communities
*Providing support for all aspects of running a Community by email, in national Communities and the wiki
*Representing Freegle nationally and promoting freegling to national bodies and agencies
*Running national social media and other publicity, and encouraging local freegling by provision of technical and promotional facilities
*Providing policies, guidance and insurance to help ensure the safe running of Communities
*Supporting all volunteers regardless of age, background or social profile
*Being open about how Freegle works and keeping everyone well informed
*Ensuring that Freegle is run collaboratively, with all volunteers able to take part in decision making
*Encouraging volunteers to join as an official Member of the Freegle Ltd Industrial and Provident Society

'''Local volunteers agree to run their Community by:'''
*Implementing Freegle rules and best practice
*Having current computer and internet access, understanding and skills
*Moderating their Community messages and memberships at least daily, with moderating coverage 7 days a week
*Helping members with problems and information in a consistently positive way
*Keeping in touch and communicating with Freegle nationally

and it would also be great if local teams:
*Know the area that is served by their Freegle Community and have an interest in local and national environmental causes.
*Publicise their Community to build membership, eg do social media, press releases, run stalls, run events.
*Work with local councils or other relevant local bodies, businesses, charities etc to increase freegling in the community.
*Keep in touch with neighbouring volunteer teams.

'''Links:'''
*[[Freegle Aims]]
*[[Basic Requirements of a Freegle Community]]
*[[Best Practice]]
*[[Freegle Affiliation Policy]]
*[[Community Affiliation Requirements Policy]]
*[[National Volunteers Procedure]]
*[[Freegle Equality and Diversity Policy]]
*http://freegle.in//joinfreegleltd
*[[Document Approval Policy]]

This document was discussed on Development Group and adopted by the Board, August 2016.

[[category:The Basics]]

Our Aims

2021-08-23T13:49:54Z

Roger:

Thanks for agreeing to volunteer for Freegle. Freegle is run nationally and in local Communities entirely by volunteers.
Here's how we'll help you and what you can do for us.

'''Freegle nationally is committed to:'''
*Providing the IT infrastructure to list and host local Communities
*Providing support for all aspects of running a Community by email, in national Communities and the wiki
*Representing Freegle nationally and promoting freegling to national bodies and agencies
*Running national social media and other publicity, and encouraging local freegling by provision of technical and promotional facilities
*Providing policies, guidance and insurance to help ensure the safe running of Communities
*Supporting all volunteers regardless of age, background or social profile
*Being open about how Freegle works and keeping everyone well informed
*Ensuring that Freegle is run collaboratively, with all volunteers able to take part in decision making
*Encouraging volunteers to join as an official Member of the Freegle Ltd Industrial and Provident Society

'''Local volunteers agree to run their Community by:'''
*Implementing Freegle rules and best practice
*Having current computer and internet access, understanding and skills
*Moderating their Community messages and memberships at least daily, with moderating coverage 7 days a week
*Helping members with problems and information in a consistently positive way
*Keeping in touch and communicating with Freegle nationally

and it would also be great if local teams:
*Know the area that is served by their Freegle Community and have an interest in local and national environmental causes.
*Publicise their Community to build membership, eg do social media, press releases, run stalls, run events.
*Work with local councils or other relevant local bodies, businesses, charities etc to increase freegling in the community.
*Keep in touch with neighbouring volunteer teams.

'''Links:'''
*[[Freegle Aims]]
*[[Basic Requirements of a Freegle Group]]
*[[Best Practice]]
*[[Freegle Affiliation Policy]]
*[[Community Affiliation Requirements Policy]]
*[[National Volunteers Procedure]]
*[[Freegle Equality and Diversity Policy]]
*http://freegle.in//joinfreegleltd
*[[Document Approval Policy]]

This document was discussed on Development Group and adopted by the Board, August 2016.

[[category:The Basics]]

Maps

2021-08-23T13:41:50Z

Roger: Created page with "There are three ways that a Community has it's area defined within Freegle. ====Core Community Area (CGA)==== This is the exclusive area that a Community is approved to cove..."

There are three ways that a Community has it's area defined within Freegle.

====Core Community Area (CGA)====

This is the exclusive area that a Community is approved to cover, decided with GAT when a Community is affiliated within the[[Freegle Affiliated Community Area Guidelines]].

====Default Posting Area (DPA)====

This is the area that Freegle Direct recognises as the posting area for each Community. Our system works on postcode recognition, so when someone joins the site they will be offered the Community that covers their DPA first. They are, of course, welcome to join whichever Community they want, but if they subsequently post a message on the site without logging in first, the system will default to the DPA to place their message on the relevant Community. Once logged in, a member can easily choose which Community they wish their message to appear on.

DPAs are defined by each Community and can be adjusted via Modtools in Settings/groups option and the new polygon details sent to geeks@ilovefreegle.org. The Support team (support@ilovefreegle.org) are very happy with remapping DPAs for any Community. DPAs can't overlap, so there might need to be negotiation between abutting Communities to make sure everyone is happy with any changes. DPAs can extend beyond a Community’s Core area to cover areas not covered by any other Community’s Core or DPA.

====Catchment Area====

This is the area that each Community are happy to accept posts and members from, which can be as wide as they like. It is not affected by the Core area and DPA, but is down to each local team to discuss and decide how large an area would be beneficial to their Community members.

====Links====
*[[Freegle Affiliated Community Area Guidelines]]
*[[Glossary]]
*[[Group Affiliation Team - GAT]]

[[category:Policies, Procedures, Remits]]

Freegle Affiliated Group Area Guidelines

2021-08-23T13:31:10Z

Roger:

These guidelines are used in order to implement Freegle policy and were adopted by the Board at their meeting of 30th October 2014.

====Core Area====
NGT defines a core area for a group when they are considering approval. Groups will not be approved in the future within that area. The core area is determined in agreement with the group by NGT.

====Catchment Area====
Operating in a geographic area that is agreed with Freegle is a highly recommended requirement (not mandatory). NGT comply with this by allowing individual group owners to decide their own catchment areas. The catchment area is the geographic area within which a group accepts posts and members.
The catchment area is the area a group subsequently may serve if it chooses, although recommended good practice is that this wider area should be in consultation with neighbouring Freegle groups.

====Group Names====
New group names must be approved by NGT. Freegle Affiliated Group Name and Logo Guidelines outlines agreed protocols.

====Group Size====
20,000 - 30,000 is believed to be the ideal population size for a group to be as small and local as possible and still viable. It is based on a lot of previous experience and informal study of group growth. This ideal is not always practical however and we do our best to be practical, take local situations and views into account and approve groups which will grow and serve their local community.

====Principles====
It is recognised that the population and demographics of the UK are extremely diverse and that a strict population criteria or one which is rigidly linked to local government administrative boundaries is not practical.

Standard Freegle group CORE areas should not overlap, specialist ones might overlap standard ones.

Experience from Freecycle and Freegle groups indicates that successful groups can usually serve areas with populations of between 20,000 and 100,000, depending on density but there are many examples of groups successfully serving smaller or larger populations.
Given two or more viable options it is generally better to go with the smaller option and leave space for more groups later.
Non-Metropolitan areas tend to serve a particular town together with satellite villages, or just the town if it is large.
Large Metropolitan areas and Cities are usually served by groups aligned with metropolitan boroughs within the city.
Groups in rural areas tend to serve part of a county including named villages, but not normally bigger than a single county district.
Sometimes a group will make more sense to cover parts of two or more districts due to geographical or social divisions but this should still stay within guidelines and suitable council boundaries.
Groups thrive where there is a mix of demographics leading to an equilibrium of supply and demand for items.

====Approval Conditions====
1. Group areas will be approved if:

*They serve a population of between 20,000 and 100,000 and there is no overlap with an existing Freegle group area; and

Either:

*There is a clear town or population centre as a centre of gravity for the group or:
*It is a rural area within a county district or natural geographic boundary or:
*It is an area covered by a metropolitan borough council

2. Group areas serving populations of less than 20,000 will be considered and can be approved if the following apply:

The area is rural and to include additional population would lead to impractical travelling times between members (including islands)and/or there is a strong sense of community within the area proposed.

3. Group areas serving populations of greater than 100,000 will be considered and can be approved if the following apply:

*It is a single settlement with a strong identity; and/or
*The population is dense and the distances between members are small; and/or to split the area would be jeopardise the success of the group for demographic reasons.

NGT will normally bring issues surrounding the implementation of the above guidelines to the Development Working Group for discussion. In a small number of cases where the NGT have major doubts about approving an application and cannot reach a compromise then they may cite the particular application. The decision whether to bring a case to the Development Working Group will be at the discretion of the NGT. Permission for this will be obtained from the applicant who will not be named. The Development Working Group will try to agree a way forward. The decision on that case then will form a precedent for future similar cases.

====Links====
*[[Glossary]]
*[[Group Mapping]]
*Previous Freegle UK document: Group Affiliation Team Area Guidelines
*[[Document Approval Policy]]
*[[New Groups Team - NGT]]

[[category:Policies, Procedures, Remits]]
[[category:New Groups Team]]

Freegle Affiliated Group Area Guidelines

2021-08-23T13:29:29Z

Roger:

These guidelines are used in order to implement Freegle policy and were adopted by the Board at their meeting of 30th October 2014.

====Core Area====
NGT defines a core area for a group when they are considering approval. Groups will not be approved in the future within that area. The core area is determined in agreement with the group by NGT.

====Catchment Area====
Operating in a geographic area that is agreed with Freegle is a highly recommended requirement (not mandatory). NGT comply with this by allowing individual group owners to decide their own catchment areas. The catchment area is the geographic area within which a group accepts posts and members.
The catchment area is the area a group subsequently may serve if it chooses, although recommended good practice is that this wider area should be in consultation with neighbouring Freegle groups.

====Group Names====
New group names must be approved by NGT. Freegle Affiliated Group Name and Logo Guidelines outlines agreed protocols.

====Group Size====
20,000 - 30,000 is believed to be the ideal population size for a group to be as small and local as possible and still viable. It is based on a lot of previous experience and informal study of group growth. This ideal is not always practical however and we do our best to be practical, take local situations and views into account and approve groups which will grow and serve their local community.

====Principles====
It is recognised that the population and demographics of the UK are extremely diverse and that a strict population criteria or one which is rigidly linked to local government administrative boundaries is not practical.

Standard Freegle group CORE areas should not overlap, specialist ones might overlap standard ones.

Experience from Freecycle and Freegle groups indicates that successful groups can usually serve areas with populations of between 20,000 and 100,000, depending on density but there are many examples of groups successfully serving smaller or larger populations.
Given two or more viable options it is generally better to go with the smaller option and leave space for more groups later.
Non-Metropolitan areas tend to serve a particular town together with satellite villages, or just the town if it is large.
Large Metropolitan areas and Cities are usually served by Communities aligned with metropolitan boroughs within the city.
Groups in rural areas tend to serve part of a county including named villages, but not normally bigger than a single county district.
Sometimes a group will make more sense to cover parts of two or more districts due to geographical or social divisions but this should still stay within guidelines and suitable council boundaries.
Groups thrive where there is a mix of demographics leading to an equilibrium of supply and demand for items.

====Approval Conditions====
1. Group areas will be approved if:

*They serve a population of between 20,000 and 100,000 and there is no overlap with an existing Freegle group area; and

Either:

*There is a clear town or population centre as a centre of gravity for the group or:
*It is a rural area within a county district or natural geographic boundary or:
*It is an area covered by a metropolitan borough council

2. Group areas serving populations of less than 20,000 will be considered and can be approved if the following apply:

The area is rural and to include additional population would lead to impractical travelling times between members (including islands)and/or there is a strong sense of community within the area proposed.

3. Group areas serving populations of greater than 100,000 will be considered and can be approved if the following apply:

*It is a single settlement with a strong identity; and/or
*The population is dense and the distances between members are small; and/or to split the area would be jeopardise the success of the group for demographic reasons.

NGT will normally bring issues surrounding the implementation of the above guidelines to the Development Working Group for discussion. In a small number of cases where the NGT have major doubts about approving an application and cannot reach a compromise then they may cite the particular application. The decision whether to bring a case to the Development Working Group will be at the discretion of the NGT. Permission for this will be obtained from the applicant who will not be named. The Development Working Group will try to agree a way forward. The decision on that case then will form a precedent for future similar cases.

====Links====
*[[Glossary]]
*[[Group Mapping]]
*Previous Freegle UK document: Group Affiliation Team Area Guidelines
*[[Document Approval Policy]]
*[[New Groups Team - NGT]]

[[category:Policies, Procedures, Remits]]
[[category:New Groups Team]]

Freegle Affiliated Group Area Guidelines

2021-08-23T13:28:34Z

Roger:

These guidelines are used in order to implement Freegle policy and were adopted by the Board at their meeting of 30th October 2014.

====Core Area====
NGT defines a core area for a group when they are considering approval. Groups will not be approved in the future within that area. The core area is determined in agreement with the group by NGT.

====Catchment Area====
Operating in a geographic area that is agreed with Freegle is a highly recommended requirement (not mandatory). NGT comply with this by allowing individual group owners to decide their own catchment areas. The catchment area is the geographic area within which a group accepts posts and members.
The catchment area is the area a group subsequently may serve if it chooses, although recommended good practice is that this wider area should be in consultation with neighbouring Freegle groups.

====Group Names====
New group names must be approved by NGT. Freegle Affiliated Group Name and Logo Guidelines outlines agreed protocols.

====Group Size====
20,000 - 30,000 is believed to be the ideal population size for a group to be as small and local as possible and still viable. It is based on a lot of previous experience and informal study of group growth. This ideal is not always practical however and we do our best to be practical, take local situations and views into account and approve groups which will grow and serve their local community.

====Principles====
It is recognised that the population and demographics of the UK are extremely diverse and that a strict population criteria or one which is rigidly linked to local government administrative boundaries is not practical.

Standard Freegle group CORE areas should not overlap, specialist ones might overlap standard ones.

Experience from Freecycle and Freegle groups indicates that successful Communities can usually serve areas with populations of between 20,000 and 100,000, depending on density but there are many examples of groups successfully serving smaller or larger populations.
Given two or more viable options it is generally better to go with the smaller option and leave space for more groups later.
Non-Metropolitan areas tend to serve a particular town together with satellite villages, or just the town if it is large.
Large Metropolitan areas and Cities are usually served by Communities aligned with metropolitan boroughs within the city.
Groups in rural areas tend to serve part of a county including named villages, but not normally bigger than a single county district.
Sometimes a group will make more sense to cover parts of two or more districts due to geographical or social divisions but this should still stay within guidelines and suitable council boundaries.
Groups thrive where there is a mix of demographics leading to an equilibrium of supply and demand for items.

====Approval Conditions====
1. Group areas will be approved if:

*They serve a population of between 20,000 and 100,000 and there is no overlap with an existing Freegle group area; and

Either:

*There is a clear town or population centre as a centre of gravity for the group or:
*It is a rural area within a county district or natural geographic boundary or:
*It is an area covered by a metropolitan borough council

2. Group areas serving populations of less than 20,000 will be considered and can be approved if the following apply:

The area is rural and to include additional population would lead to impractical travelling times between members (including islands)and/or there is a strong sense of community within the area proposed.

3. Group areas serving populations of greater than 100,000 will be considered and can be approved if the following apply:

*It is a single settlement with a strong identity; and/or
*The population is dense and the distances between members are small; and/or to split the area would be jeopardise the success of the group for demographic reasons.

NGT will normally bring issues surrounding the implementation of the above guidelines to the Development Working Group for discussion. In a small number of cases where the NGT have major doubts about approving an application and cannot reach a compromise then they may cite the particular application. The decision whether to bring a case to the Development Working Group will be at the discretion of the NGT. Permission for this will be obtained from the applicant who will not be named. The Development Working Group will try to agree a way forward. The decision on that case then will form a precedent for future similar cases.

====Links====
*[[Glossary]]
*[[Group Mapping]]
*Previous Freegle UK document: Group Affiliation Team Area Guidelines
*[[Document Approval Policy]]
*[[New Groups Team - NGT]]

[[category:Policies, Procedures, Remits]]
[[category:New Groups Team]]

Freegle Affiliated Group Area Guidelines

2021-08-23T13:27:34Z

Roger:

These guidelines are used in order to implement Freegle policy and were adopted by the Board at their meeting of 30th October 2014.

====Core Area====
NGT defines a core area for a group when they are considering approval. Groups will not be approved in the future within that area. The core area is determined in agreement with the group by NGT.

====Catchment Area====
Operating in a geographic area that is agreed with Freegle is a highly recommended requirement (not mandatory). NGT comply with this by allowing individual group owners to decide their own catchment areas. The catchment area is the geographic area within which a group accepts posts and members.
The catchment area is the area a group subsequently may serve if it chooses, although recommended good practice is that this wider area should be in consultation with neighbouring Freegle groups.

====Group Names====
New Community names must be approved by NGT. Freegle Affiliated Community Name and Logo Guidelines outlines agreed protocols.

====Group Size====
20,000 - 30,000 is believed to be the ideal population size for a group to be as small and local as possible and still viable. It is based on a lot of previous experience and informal study of group growth. This ideal is not always practical however and we do our best to be practical, take local situations and views into account and approve groups which will grow and serve their local community.

====Principles====
It is recognised that the population and demographics of the UK are extremely diverse and that a strict population criteria or one which is rigidly linked to local government administrative boundaries is not practical.

Standard Freegle group CORE areas should not overlap, specialist ones might overlap standard ones.

Experience from Freecycle and Freegle groups indicates that successful Communities can usually serve areas with populations of between 20,000 and 100,000, depending on density but there are many examples of groups successfully serving smaller or larger populations.
Given two or more viable options it is generally better to go with the smaller option and leave space for more groups later.
Non-Metropolitan areas tend to serve a particular town together with satellite villages, or just the town if it is large.
Large Metropolitan areas and Cities are usually served by Communities aligned with metropolitan boroughs within the city.
Groups in rural areas tend to serve part of a county including named villages, but not normally bigger than a single county district.
Sometimes a group will make more sense to cover parts of two or more districts due to geographical or social divisions but this should still stay within guidelines and suitable council boundaries.
Groups thrive where there is a mix of demographics leading to an equilibrium of supply and demand for items.

====Approval Conditions====
1. Group areas will be approved if:

*They serve a population of between 20,000 and 100,000 and there is no overlap with an existing Freegle group area; and

Either:

*There is a clear town or population centre as a centre of gravity for the group or:
*It is a rural area within a county district or natural geographic boundary or:
*It is an area covered by a metropolitan borough council

2. Group areas serving populations of less than 20,000 will be considered and can be approved if the following apply:

The area is rural and to include additional population would lead to impractical travelling times between members (including islands)and/or there is a strong sense of community within the area proposed.

3. Group areas serving populations of greater than 100,000 will be considered and can be approved if the following apply:

*It is a single settlement with a strong identity; and/or
*The population is dense and the distances between members are small; and/or to split the area would be jeopardise the success of the group for demographic reasons.

NGT will normally bring issues surrounding the implementation of the above guidelines to the Development Working Group for discussion. In a small number of cases where the NGT have major doubts about approving an application and cannot reach a compromise then they may cite the particular application. The decision whether to bring a case to the Development Working Group will be at the discretion of the NGT. Permission for this will be obtained from the applicant who will not be named. The Development Working Group will try to agree a way forward. The decision on that case then will form a precedent for future similar cases.

====Links====
*[[Glossary]]
*[[Group Mapping]]
*Previous Freegle UK document: Group Affiliation Team Area Guidelines
*[[Document Approval Policy]]
*[[New Groups Team - NGT]]

[[category:Policies, Procedures, Remits]]
[[category:New Groups Team]]

Freegle Affiliated Community Area Guidelines

2021-08-23T12:32:24Z

Roger: Created page with "====Core Area==== NGT defines a core area for a Community when they are considering approval. Communities will not be approved in the future within that area. The core area..."

====Core Area====
NGT defines a core area for a Community when they are considering approval. Communities will not be approved in the future within that area. The core area is determined in agreement with the group by NGT.

====Catchment Area====
Operating in a geographic area that is agreed with Freegle is a highly recommended requirement (not mandatory). NGT comply with this by allowing individual Community owners to decide their own catchment areas. The catchment area is the geographic area within which a Community accepts posts and members.
The catchment area is the area a Community subsequently may serve if it chooses, although recommended good practice is that this wider area should be in consultation with neighbouring Freegle Communities.

====Community Names====
New Community names must be approved by NGT. Freegle Affiliated Community Name and Logo Guidelines outlines agreed protocols.

====Community Size====
20,000 - 30,000 is believed to be the ideal population size for a Community to be as small and local as possible and still viable. It is based on a lot of previous experience and informal study of Community growth. This ideal is not always practical however and we do our best to be practical, take local situations and views into account and approve Communities which will grow and serve their local community.

====Principles====
It is recognised that the population and demographics of the UK are extremely diverse and that a strict population criteria or one which is rigidly linked to local government administrative boundaries is not practical.

Standard Freegle Community CORE areas should not overlap, specialist ones might overlap standard ones.

Experience from Freecycle and Freegle Communities indicates that successful Communities can usually serve areas with populations of between 20,000 and 100,000, depending on density but there are many examples of Communities successfully serving smaller or larger populations.
Given two or more viable options it is generally better to go with the smaller option and leave space for more Communities later.
Non-Metropolitan areas tend to serve a particular town together with satellite villages, or just the town if it is large.
Large Metropolitan areas and Cities are usually served by Communities aligned with metropolitan boroughs within the city.
Communities in rural areas tend to serve part of a county including named villages, but not normally bigger than a single county district.
Sometimes a Community will make more sense to cover parts of two or more districts due to geographical or social divisions but this should still stay within guidelines and suitable council boundaries.
Groups thrive where there is a mix of demographics leading to an equilibrium of supply and demand for items.

====Approval Conditions====
1. Community areas will be approved if:

*They serve a population of between 20,000 and 100,000 and there is no overlap with an existing Freegle Community area; and

Either:

*There is a clear town or population centre as a centre of gravity for the Community or:
*It is a rural area within a county district or natural geographic boundary or:
*It is an area covered by a metropolitan borough council

2. Community areas serving populations of less than 20,000 will be considered and can be approved if the following apply:

The area is rural and to include additional population would lead to impractical travelling times between members (including islands)and/or there is a strong sense of community within the area proposed.

3. Community areas serving populations of greater than 100,000 will be considered and can be approved if the following apply:

*It is a single settlement with a strong identity; and/or
*The population is dense and the distances between members are small; and/or to split the area would be jeopardise the success of the Community for demographic reasons.

NGT will normally bring issues surrounding the implementation of the above guidelines to the Development Working Group for discussion. In a small number of cases where the NGT have major doubts about approving an application and cannot reach a compromise then they may cite the particular application. The decision whether to bring a case to the Development Working Group will be at the discretion of the NGT. Permission for this will be obtained from the applicant who will not be named. The Development Working Group will try to agree a way forward. The decision on that case then will form a precedent for future similar cases.

====Links====
*[[Glossary]]
*[[Community Mapping]]
*Previous Freegle UK document: Group Affiliation Team Area Guidelines
*[[Document Approval Policy]]
*[[New Groups Team - NGT]]

[[category:Policies, Procedures, Remits]]
[[category:New Groups Team]]

Our Aims

2021-08-23T11:52:44Z

Roger:

Thanks for agreeing to volunteer for Freegle. Freegle is run nationally and in local Communities entirely by volunteers.
Here's how we'll help you and what you can do for us.

'''Freegle nationally is committed to:'''
*Providing the IT infrastructure to list and host local Communities
*Providing support for all aspects of running a Community by email, in national Communities and the wiki
*Representing Freegle nationally and promoting freegling to national bodies and agencies
*Running national social media and other publicity, and encouraging local freegling by provision of technical and promotional facilities
*Providing policies, guidance and insurance to help ensure the safe running of Communities
*Supporting all volunteers regardless of age, background or social profile
*Being open about how Freegle works and keeping everyone well informed
*Ensuring that Freegle is run collaboratively, with all volunteers able to take part in decision making
*Encouraging volunteers to join as an official Member of the Freegle Ltd Industrial and Provident Society

'''Local volunteers agree to run their Community by:'''
*Implementing Freegle rules and best practice
*Having current computer and internet access, understanding and skills
*Moderating their Community messages and memberships at least daily, with moderating coverage 7 days a week
*Helping members with problems and information in a consistently positive way
*Keeping in touch and communicating with Freegle nationally

and it would also be great if local teams:
*Know the area that is served by their Freegle Community and have an interest in local and national environmental causes.
*Publicise their Community to build membership, eg do social media, press releases, run stalls, run events.
*Work with local councils or other relevant local bodies, businesses, charities etc to increase freegling in the community.
*Keep in touch with neighbouring volunteer teams.

'''Links:'''
*[[Freegle Aims]]
*[[Basic Requirements of a Freegle Community]]
*[[Best Practice]]
*[[Freegle Affiliation Policy]]
*[[Community Affiliation Requirements Policy]]
*[[National Volunteers Procedure]]
*[[Freegle Equality and Diversity Policy]]
*http://freegle.in//joinfreegleltd
*[[Document Approval Policy]]

This document was discussed on Development Group and adopted by the Board, August 2016.

[[category:The Basics]]

Community Affiliation Requirements Policy

2021-08-23T11:46:30Z

Roger:

===Requirements===
The requirements for all Communities affiliated to Freegle Ltd are:
*All items offered or requested have to be free - mandatory
*All items offered or requested have to be legal - mandatory
*Selling of items is not allowed - mandatory
*Be a non-profit Community - mandatory
*Swapping is not allowed - mandatory
*Inclusion of the Freegle logo on the homepage - mandatory
*Inclusion of a link to the Freegle website on the homepage - mandatory
*All Freegle Volunteers will receive national announcements - mandatory
*Do not allow messages asking to borrow items - highly recommended
*Operate in a geographical area agreed with Freegle – highly recommended

This means that the requirements above are our basic shared values. The mandatory requirements must be followed by all Communities listed on the Freegle website, and Communities are strongly encouraged to also adopt those that are highly recommended.

The [[Freegle Volunteer Agreement]] outlines the expectations of Freegle and Volunteers.

===Local Rules===
All Communities have to comply with the mandatory requirements and the expectation is that they will also comply with those that are highly recommended. As Communities are independent, local guidelines and rules can be adopted, although it is best to have as few as possible. All Communities should be run for the benefit of its members and to ensure that Freegle nationally is seen as a positive community service. There are [[Best Practice]] guidelines which outline our agreed ways of working.

===Geographic Area===
Freegle Ltd agrees a core geographic area of operation for each Community that is affiliated, but the catchment area the Community chooses to operate with is a local decision. Freegle will only agree one Community for each core area; it is highly recommended that the Community operates in that agreed core geographic area.

===Changes to Affiliation Requirements===
Affiliation requirements can only be changed by Freegle Member vote. Additional or amended mandatory requirements require at least 66% of the vote in order to be adopted. See [[Document Approval Policy]].

This policy was adopted by the Board at their meeting of 27th August 2014 and amended by the AGM in November 2019.

Links:
*AGM Resolution [[https://discourse.ilovefreegle.org/t/agm-2019-agenda-item-8-1-affiliation/684]]
*[[Disaffiliation Procedure]]
*[[Basic Information]]
*[[Glossary]]
*Previous Freegle UK document : [[Basic Requirements of a Freegle Group]]

[[category:Policies, Procedures, Remits]]
[[category:The Basics]]

Freegle Affiliated Group Area Guidelines

2021-08-23T10:41:42Z

Roger:

These guidelines are used in order to implement Freegle policy and were adopted by the Board at their meeting of 30th October 2014.

====Core Area====
NGT defines a core area for a Community when they are considering approval. Communities will not be approved in the future within that area. The core area is determined in agreement with the group by NGT.

====Catchment Area====
Operating in a geographic area that is agreed with Freegle is a highly recommended requirement (not mandatory). NGT comply with this by allowing individual Community owners to decide their own catchment areas. The catchment area is the geographic area within which a Community accepts posts and members.
The catchment area is the area a Community subsequently may serve if it chooses, although recommended good practice is that this wider area should be in consultation with neighbouring Freegle Communities.

====Community Names====
New Community names must be approved by NGT. Freegle Affiliated Community Name and Logo Guidelines outlines agreed protocols.

====Community Size====
20,000 - 30,000 is believed to be the ideal population size for a Community to be as small and local as possible and still viable. It is based on a lot of previous experience and informal study of Community growth. This ideal is not always practical however and we do our best to be practical, take local situations and views into account and approve Communities which will grow and serve their local community.

====Principles====
It is recognised that the population and demographics of the UK are extremely diverse and that a strict population criteria or one which is rigidly linked to local government administrative boundaries is not practical.

Standard Freegle Community CORE areas should not overlap, specialist ones might overlap standard ones.

Experience from Freecycle and Freegle Communities indicates that successful Communities can usually serve areas with populations of between 20,000 and 100,000, depending on density but there are many examples of Communities successfully serving smaller or larger populations.
Given two or more viable options it is generally better to go with the smaller option and leave space for more Communities later.
Non-Metropolitan areas tend to serve a particular town together with satellite villages, or just the town if it is large.
Large Metropolitan areas and Cities are usually served by Communities aligned with metropolitan boroughs within the city.
Communities in rural areas tend to serve part of a county including named villages, but not normally bigger than a single county district.
Sometimes a Community will make more sense to cover parts of two or more districts due to geographical or social divisions but this should still stay within guidelines and suitable council boundaries.
Groups thrive where there is a mix of demographics leading to an equilibrium of supply and demand for items.

====Approval Conditions====
1. Community areas will be approved if:

*They serve a population of between 20,000 and 100,000 and there is no overlap with an existing Freegle Community area; and

Either:

*There is a clear town or population centre as a centre of gravity for the Community or:
*It is a rural area within a county district or natural geographic boundary or:
*It is an area covered by a metropolitan borough council

2. Community areas serving populations of less than 20,000 will be considered and can be approved if the following apply:

The area is rural and to include additional population would lead to impractical travelling times between members (including islands)and/or there is a strong sense of community within the area proposed.

3. Community areas serving populations of greater than 100,000 will be considered and can be approved if the following apply:

*It is a single settlement with a strong identity; and/or
*The population is dense and the distances between members are small; and/or to split the area would be jeopardise the success of the Community for demographic reasons.

NGT will normally bring issues surrounding the implementation of the above guidelines to the Development Working Group for discussion. In a small number of cases where the NGT have major doubts about approving an application and cannot reach a compromise then they may cite the particular application. The decision whether to bring a case to the Development Working Group will be at the discretion of the NGT. Permission for this will be obtained from the applicant who will not be named. The Development Working Group will try to agree a way forward. The decision on that case then will form a precedent for future similar cases.

====Links====
*[[Glossary]]
*[[Community Mapping]]
*Previous Freegle UK document: Group Affiliation Team Area Guidelines
*[[Document Approval Policy]]
*[[New Groups Team - NGT]]

[[category:Policies, Procedures, Remits]]
[[category:New Groups Team]]

Freegle Affiliated Group Area Guidelines

2021-08-23T10:24:29Z

Roger:

These guidelines are used in order to implement Freegle policy and were adopted by the Board at their meeting of 30th October 2014.

====Core Area====
NGT defines a core area for a ommunity when they are considering approval. Communities will not be approved in the future within that area. The core area is determined in agreement with the group by NGT.

====Catchment Area====
Operating in a geographic area that is agreed with Freegle is a highly recommended requirement (not mandatory). NGT comply with this by allowing individual Community owners to decide their own catchment areas. The catchment area is the geographic area within which a Community accepts posts and members.
The catchment area is the area a Community subsequently may serve if it chooses, although recommended good practice is that this wider area should be in consultation with neighbouring Freegle Communities.

====Community Names====
New Community names must be approved by NGT. Freegle Affiliated Community Name and Logo Guidelines outlines agreed protocols.

====Community Size====
20,000 - 30,000 is believed to be the ideal population size for a Community to be as small and local as possible and still viable. It is based on a lot of previous experience and informal study of Community growth. This ideal is not always practical however and we do our best to be practical, take local situations and views into account and approve Communities which will grow and serve their local community.

====Principles====
It is recognised that the population and demographics of the UK are extremely diverse and that a strict population criteria or one which is rigidly linked to local government administrative boundaries is not practical.

Standard Freegle Community CORE areas should not overlap, specialist ones might overlap standard ones.

Experience from Freecycle and Freegle Communities indicates that successful Communities can usually serve areas with populations of between 20,000 and 100,000, depending on density but there are many examples of Communities successfully serving smaller or larger populations.
Given two or more viable options it is generally better to go with the smaller option and leave space for more Communities later.
Non-Metropolitan areas tend to serve a particular town together with satellite villages, or just the town if it is large.
Large Metropolitan areas and Cities are usually served by Communities aligned with metropolitan boroughs within the city.
Communities in rural areas tend to serve part of a county including named villages, but not normally bigger than a single county district.
Sometimes a Community will make more sense to cover parts of two or more districts due to geographical or social divisions but this should still stay within guidelines and suitable council boundaries.
Groups thrive where there is a mix of demographics leading to an equilibrium of supply and demand for items.

====Approval Conditions====
1. Community areas will be approved if:

*They serve a population of between 20,000 and 100,000 and there is no overlap with an existing Freegle Community area; and

Either:

*There is a clear town or population centre as a centre of gravity for the Community or:
*It is a rural area within a county district or natural geographic boundary or:
*It is an area covered by a metropolitan borough council

2. Community areas serving populations of less than 20,000 will be considered and can be approved if the following apply:

The area is rural and to include additional population would lead to impractical travelling times between members (including islands)and/or there is a strong sense of community within the area proposed.

3. Community areas serving populations of greater than 100,000 will be considered and can be approved if the following apply:

*It is a single settlement with a strong identity; and/or
*The population is dense and the distances between members are small; and/or to split the area would be jeopardise the success of the Community for demographic reasons.

NGT will normally bring issues surrounding the implementation of the above guidelines to the Development Working Group for discussion. In a small number of cases where the NGT have major doubts about approving an application and cannot reach a compromise then they may cite the particular application. The decision whether to bring a case to the Development Working Group will be at the discretion of the NGT. Permission for this will be obtained from the applicant who will not be named. The Development Working Group will try to agree a way forward. The decision on that case then will form a precedent for future similar cases.

====Links====
*[[Glossary]]
*[[Community Mapping]]
*Previous Freegle UK document: Group Affiliation Team Area Guidelines
*[[Document Approval Policy]]
*[[New Groups Team - NGT]]

[[category:Policies, Procedures, Remits]]
[[category:New Groups Team]]

Spammers

2021-04-09T14:50:28Z

Roger:

Spam is the Internet equivalent of junk mail - email you didn't ask for, and probably don't want. Freegle members will often have their own spam filters to detect and remove spam.

With the introduction of Freegle Direct Version 3, filters intercept most spam.

Messages which might be spam appear in ModTools for review - Message>Review.

Instructions about how to treat these, and the legal framework are visible on the page, or if not, can be seen by clicking the Show help button.

Suspect email addresses can be reported in mod tools, using the Spammer button

Fuller details about possible SPAM Posts and people SPAMMING are below.

=== Modtools Main Menu ===
==== Options when posts are displayed ====
*
[[ File:newspam1.jpg ]]
*
===== Pending =====
*
[[ File:newspam2.jpg ]]
*
===== Approved =====
*
[[ File:newspam3.jpg ]]
*
Make your own judgement about whether this is a genuine and valid post. If you feel it is not then clicking the red Spam button will simply delete the post.
*
===== Review =====
*
[[ File:newspam4.jpg ]]
*
Automated system checks may result in a message being shown under Message Review. The reason a post has been flagged for review will be shown.
Again make your own judgement about whether this is a genuine and valid post. If you feel it is not then clicking the red Spam button will simply delete the post. Clicking the Not spam button will approve the post, or send it to Pending if the member is on moderation.
To submit a Spammer report see topic [[https://wiki.ilovefreegle.org/Spammers#SPAM_checking_before_submission| SPAM checking before submission]]
*

==== Options when members are displayed ====
*
[[ File:newspam5.jpg ]]
*
===== Approved Review button options available =====
*
[[ File:newspam6.jpg ]]
*
===== Member Review button options available =====
*
[[ File:newspam7.jpg ]]
*
Automated system checks may spot something unusual resulting in a person being shown under Member Review.
The Remove and Ban buttons only apply to your group.
If after reviewing their posting and chat history they seem OK then you can click Ignore.
If you are certain after thorough checking that the person is a spammer then, on their details under Members>Approved, use the Spammer button to submit a report for review. See topic [[SPAM checking before submission]] for guidance.
If you think they are fine, then please add a mod Note so that other moderators will see why.
The Whitelist button must only be used for people who have legitimate reasons to join many groups. An application for whitelisting would then be reviewed.
*
===== Chat Review =====
*
Example:
*
[[ File:newspam8.jpg ]]
*
Chat Review button options available:
*
[[ File:newspam9.jpg ]]
*

Click on View Chat to see why the system has highlighted this chat.
A member may have included a telephone number, an email address or a website link for illustration which is fine. An offer to pay petrol money for an item to be taken to them is not suspicious and is a local group decision. In such instances you can approve the chat.
If you would rather the intended recipient does not see the chat then click Delete. If the chat is definitely spam then click Spam.
Use of the Approve and Whitelist button is as for the Whitelist button on Approved members.

We are legally allowed to do this (we have confirmed this with the regulator) for the purposes of detecting spam/scam. If we happen to find other violations of our rules, then we are allowed to act on them.

You will see chat messages here for review if the recipient is a member of one of your groups. You might see some where the conversation is about a post on another group, because it's not possible for the system to tell reliably whether a message relates to a specific post, multiple posts, or no post at all. It's fine to act on the message if you see it.

==== Spammer details held by the system ====
Accessed via Modtools menu at the left:
*
[[ File:newspam10.jpg ]]
*
This shows the options:
*
[[ File:newspam11.jpg ]]
*
Confirmed Spammers - These are members who have been confirmed as spammers. These reports are reviewed before a member appears on this list. Once someone is on this list, they then would be banned from all Freegle groups and warning messages sent to anyone who has had correspondence with the scammer. 
If you are certain that the person is not a spammer then submit a request for removal at https://discourse.ilovefreegle.org/c/tech/3. You must provide good reasons why this person should not be a Confirmed Spammer. Your request will be reviewed. 
Pending Add – These are members who have reported as spammers by a moderator. These reports will be reviewed to decide whether to add them to the spammer list. Please remember that people may not be spammers even if they are reported. For example: 
Members may join many groups because they are over-enthusiastic or have relatives in different places. 
Mail can be spoofed or accounts can be hacked - so a member can appear to send spam but not be a spammer. 
For someone to be added to the list they need to have clear intent to deliberately spam/scam, or be a massive multijoiner. Only a limited number of people have the ability to confirm or reject someone as a spammer. 
Whitelisted - These are members who have been exempted from the spammer list. Generally they are people who have legitimate reasons to join many groups. 
Pending Remove - These are members who are on the spammer list but someone has asked for them to be removed.
=== SPAM checking before submission ===
Before you click the white Spammer button you need to do some investigation:
You may get a post from a new member offering one of the known scammer items. 
You may identify something from Chat or by some other means that the circumstances are highly suspect. e.g. “I have now moved to some_distant_location but courier fees to send it to you would not be expensive”. 
Check the past posting and chat history of the member and how that person uses the group. 

If they appear to make regular posts on the group that are offers and wanteds they are not likely to be spammers. Check a few chats, see if they have sent spam or scam type replies to people or are they genuinely arranging collections? If they are chatting normally, then they should not be reported. No member should be reported without a look to see what their past activity is. 
An isolated incident of something doubtful should be resolved with the member or locally within your group. Their account may have been hacked or spoofed so check for that. 
If it is a suspicious new member then Google their email address, or even just the bit before “@”, and see if anything shows up. 
If a picture of an item attached to a post seems suspicious because it is not from a domestic setting then Google the image. 
A link to a website in a post may be just a useful illustration so check it out. 

You should only be reporting genuine spammers or scammers and on rare occasions, someone we think could be a danger to other members. Even apparently strange people can be checked out to see what they are saying to members before being reported. 
After doing the investigation above, if you consider that the person is a serious risk to Freegle then you should use the white Spammer button on the Member Details page to submit your report for review. Your report must include as much helpful evidence as possible. That report would then be reviewed and if it is considered that the person is a real scammer they would be added to the Confirmed Spammer List. Then they would be banned from all Freegle groups and warning messages sent to anyone who has had correspondence with the scammer. 
If new facts come to light which show it to be a false alarm then the person can be removed from the Confirmed Spammer List, but they would then have to re-join a Freegle group. 
The Spammer Team can be contacted directly at spammerlist@ilovefreegle.org if there are further queries.

=== Procedure for Support Team when reviewing spammer submissions ===

We cannot always rely completely on what the mods report, they aren't always right and some reports are a little exaggerated and vague, so they need checking properly to avoid adding someone innocent. If we just approve everything on another mods say so, there is little point in us being spam checkers. We need a checking procedure arranged between us. 

When a spam report comes in the first thing to do is hold it, so nobody else tries to deal with it at the same time as you are checking it out. 

Then copy the email address, or member number, of the reported member and go to support tools. In 'find member', paste the email or number and the membership pops up with all the info about how that person uses the group. 

If they appear to make regular posts on the group that are offers and wanteds they are not likely to be spammers. Check a few chats, see if they have sent spammy or scam type replies to people or are they genuinely arranging collections? If they are chatting normally, then they should not be added to spam. No member should be added without a look to see what their past activity is. If they are not spammers then reject the report and drop the reporting mod an email to explain why and copy in Support so they know too. 

We should only be adding genuine spammers or scammers and on rare occasions, someone we think could be a danger to other members. We have had a couple of weirdos pop up who were added for member safety. Even weird people can be checked out to see what they are saying to members before being added. 

If a member is NOT to be added to the spammer list then email an explanation to the reporting moderator copying spammerlist@ilovefreegle.org 
If a member IS to be added to the spammer list then email an explanation containing the spamming member email and the reason to spammerlist@ ilovefreegle.org 

That is the fairest way to do it for the member concerned. There is nothing worse than losing all your groups and chats where you are in the middle of arranging collections.

Links:
email address for Spammers Team: spammerlist@ilovefreegle.org
*[[Specific Problems]]
*[[How To Deal With]]
*[[ModTools]]

[[Category:Specific_Problems]]
[[category:ModTools]]

Spammers

2020-10-08T13:00:10Z

Roger:

Spam is the Internet equivalent of junk mail - email you didn't ask for, and probably don't want. Freegle members will often have their own spam filters to detect and remove spam.

With the introduction of Freegle Direct Version 3, filters intercept most spam.

Messages which might be spam appear in ModTools for review - Message>Review.

Instructions about how to treat these, and the legal framework are visible on the page, or if not, can be seen by clicking the Show help button.

Suspect email addresses can be reported in mod tools, using the Spammer button

Fuller details about possible SPAM Posts and people SPAMMING are below.

=== Modtools Main Menu ===
==== Options when posts are displayed ====
*
[[ File:newspam1.jpg ]]
*
===== Pending =====
*
[[ File:newspam2.jpg ]]
*
===== Approved =====
*
[[ File:newspam3.jpg ]]
*
Make your own judgement about whether this is a genuine and valid post. If you feel it is not then clicking the red Spam button will simply delete the post.
*
===== Review =====
*
[[ File:newspam4.jpg ]]
*
Automated system checks may result in a message being shown under Message Review. The reason a post has been flagged for review will be shown.
Again make your own judgement about whether this is a genuine and valid post. If you feel it is not then clicking the red Spam button will simply delete the post. Clicking the Not spam button will approve the post, or send it to Pending if the member is on moderation.
To submit a Spammer report see topic [[SPAM checking before submission]]
*
==== Options when members are displayed ====
*
[[ File:newspam5.jpg ]]
*
===== Approved Review button options available =====
*
[[ File:newspam6.jpg ]]
*
===== Member Review button options available =====
*
[[ File:newspam7.jpg ]]
*
Automated system checks may spot something unusual resulting in a person being shown under Member Review.
The Remove and Ban buttons only apply to your group.
If after reviewing their posting and chat history they seem OK then you can click Ignore.
If you are certain after thorough checking that the person is a spammer then, on their details under Members>Approved, use the Spammer button to submit a report for review. See topic [[SPAM checking before submission]] for guidance.
If you think they are fine, then please add a mod Note so that other moderators will see why.
The Whitelist button must only be used for people who have legitimate reasons to join many groups. An application for whitelisting would then be reviewed.
*
===== Chat Review =====
*
Example:
*
[[ File:newspam8.jpg ]]
*
Chat Review button options available:
*
[[ File:newspam9.jpg ]]
*

Click on View Chat to see why the system has highlighted this chat.
A member may have included a telephone number, an email address or a website link for illustration which is fine. An offer to pay petrol money for an item to be taken to them is not suspicious and is a local group decision. In such instances you can approve the chat.
If you would rather the intended recipient does not see the chat then click Delete. If the chat is definitely spam then click Spam.
Use of the Approve and Whitelist button is as for the Whitelist button on Approved members.
==== Spammer details held by the system ====
Accessed via Modtools menu at the left:
*
[[ File:newspam10.jpg ]]
*
This shows the options:
*
[[ File:newspam11.jpg ]]
*
Confirmed Spammers - These are members who have been confirmed as spammers. These reports are reviewed before a member appears on this list. Once someone is on this list, they then would be banned from all Freegle groups and warning messages sent to anyone who has had correspondence with the scammer. 
If you are certain that the person is not a spammer then submit a request for removal at https://discourse.ilovefreegle.org/c/tech/3. You must provide good reasons why this person should not be a Confirmed Spammer. Your request will be reviewed. 
Pending Add – These are members who have reported as spammers by a moderator. These reports will be reviewed to decide whether to add them to the spammer list. Please remember that people may not be spammers even if they are reported. For example: 
Members may join many groups because they are over-enthusiastic or have relatives in different places. 
Mail can be spoofed or accounts can be hacked - so a member can appear to send spam but not be a spammer. 
For someone to be added to the list they need to have clear intent to deliberately spam/scam, or be a massive multijoiner. Only a limited number of people have the ability to confirm or reject someone as a spammer. 
Whitelisted - These are members who have been exempted from the spammer list. Generally they are people who have legitimate reasons to join many groups. 
Pending Remove - These are members who are on the spammer list but someone has asked for them to be removed.
=== SPAM checking before submission ===
Before you click the white Spammer button you need to do some investigation:
You may get a post from a new member offering one of the known scammer items. 
You may identify something from Chat or by some other means that the circumstances are highly suspect. e.g. “I have now moved to some_distant_location but courier fees to send it to you would not be expensive”. 
Check the past posting and chat history of the member and how that person uses the group. 

If they appear to make regular posts on the group that are offers and wanteds they are not likely to be spammers. Check a few chats, see if they have sent spam or scam type replies to people or are they genuinely arranging collections? If they are chatting normally, then they should not be reported. No member should be reported without a look to see what their past activity is. 
An isolated incident of something doubtful should be resolved with the member or locally within your group. Their account may have been hacked or spoofed so check for that. 
If it is a suspicious new member then Google their email address, or even just the bit before “@”, and see if anything shows up. 
If a picture of an item attached to a post seems suspicious because it is not from a domestic setting then Google the image. 
A link to a website in a post may be just a useful illustration so check it out. 

You should only be reporting genuine spammers or scammers and on rare occasions, someone we think could be a danger to other members. Even apparently strange people can be checked out to see what they are saying to members before being reported. 
After doing the investigation above, if you consider that the person is a serious risk to Freegle then you should use the white Spammer button on the Member Details page to submit your report for review. Your report must include as much helpful evidence as possible. That report would then be reviewed and if it is considered that the person is a real scammer they would be added to the Confirmed Spammer List. Then they would be banned from all Freegle groups and warning messages sent to anyone who has had correspondence with the scammer. 
If new facts come to light which show it to be a false alarm then the person can be removed from the Confirmed Spammer List, but they would then have to re-join a Freegle group.

=== Procedure for Support Team when reviewing spammer submissions ===

We cannot always rely completely on what the mods report, they aren't always right and some reports are a little exaggerated and vague, so they need checking properly to avoid adding someone innocent. If we just approve everything on another mods say so, there is little point in us being spam checkers. We need a checking procedure arranged between us. 

When a spam report comes in the first thing to do is hold it, so nobody else tries to deal with it at the same time as you are checking it out. 

Then copy the email address, or member number, of the reported member and go to support tools. In 'find member', paste the email or number and the membership pops up with all the info about how that person uses the group. 

If they appear to make regular posts on the group that are offers and wanteds they are not likely to be spammers. Check a few chats, see if they have sent spammy or scam type replies to people or are they genuinely arranging collections? If they are chatting normally, then they should not be added to spam. No member should be added without a look to see what their past activity is. If they are not spammers then reject the report and drop the reporting mod an email to explain why and copy in Support so they know too. 

We should only be adding genuine spammers or scammers and on rare occasions, someone we think could be a danger to other members. We have had a couple of weirdos pop up who were added for member safety. Even weird people can be checked out to see what they are saying to members before being added. 

That is the fairest way to do it for the member concerned. There is nothing worse than losing all your groups and chats where you are in the middle of arranging collections.

Links:
*[[Specific Problems]]
*[[How To Deal With]]
*[[ModTools]]

[[Category:Specific_Problems]]
[[category:ModTools]]

Spammers

2020-10-07T12:25:31Z

Roger:

Spam is the Internet equivalent of junk mail - email you didn't ask for, and probably don't want. Freegle members will often have their own spam filters to detect and remove spam.

With the introduction of Freegle Direct Version 3, filters intercept most spam.

Messages which might be spam appear in ModTools for review - Message>Review.

Instructions about how to treat these, and the legal framework are visible on the page, or if not, can be seen by clicking the Show help button.

Suspect email addresses can be reported in mod tools, using the Spammer button

Fuller details about possible SPAM Posts and people SPAMMING are below.

=== Modtools Main Menu ===
==== Options when posts are displayed ====
*
[[ File:newspam1.jpg ]]
*
===== Pending =====
*
[[ File:newspam2.jpg ]]
*
===== Approved =====
*
[[ File:newspam3.jpg ]]
*
Make your own judgement about whether this is a genuine and valid post. If you feel it is not then clicking the red Spam button will simply delete the post.
*
===== Review =====
*
[[ File:newspam4.jpg ]]
*
Automated system checks may result in a message being shown under Message Review. The reason a post has been flagged for review will be shown.
Again make your own judgement about whether this is a genuine and valid post. If you feel it is not then clicking the red Spam button will simply delete the post. Clicking the Not spam button will approve the post, or send it to Pending if the member is on moderation.
To submit a Spammer report see topic [[SPAM checking before submission]]
*
==== Options when members are displayed ====
*
[[ File:newspam5.jpg ]]
*
===== Approved Review button options available =====
*
[[ File:newspam6.jpg ]]
*
===== Member Review button options available =====
*
[[ File:newspam7.jpg ]]
*
Automated system checks may spot something unusual resulting in a person being shown under Member Review.
The Remove and Ban buttons only apply to your group.
If after reviewing their posting and chat history they seem OK then you can click Ignore.
If you are certain after thorough checking that the person is a spammer then, on their details under Members>Approved, use the Spammer button to submit a report for review. See topic [[SPAM checking before submission]] for guidance.
If you think they are fine, then please add a mod Note so that other moderators will see why.
The Whitelist button must only be used for people who have legitimate reasons to join many groups. An application for whitelisting would then be reviewed.
*
===== Chat Review =====
*
Example:
*
[[ File:newspam8.jpg ]]
*
Chat Review button options available:
*
[[ File:newspam9.jpg ]]
*

Click on View Chat to see why the system has highlighted this chat.
A member may have included a telephone number, an email address or a website link for illustration which is fine. An offer to pay petrol money for an item to be taken to them is not suspicious and is a local group decision. In such instances you can approve the chat.
If you would rather the intended recipient does not see the chat then click Delete. If the chat is definitely spam then click Spam.
Use of the Approve and Whitelist button is as for the Whitelist button on Approved members.
==== Spammer details held by the system ====
Accessed via Modtools menu at the left:
*
[[ File:newspam10.jpg ]]
*
This shows the options:
*
[[ File:newspam11.jpg ]]
*
Confirmed Spammers - These are members who have been confirmed as spammers. These reports are reviewed before a member appears on this list. Once someone is on this list, they then would be banned from all Freegle groups and warning messages sent to anyone who has had correspondence with the scammer. 
Pending Add – These are members who have reported as spammers by a moderator. These reports will be reviewed to decide whether to add them to the spammer list. Please remember that people may not be spammers even if they are reported. For example: 
Members may join many groups because they are over-enthusiastic or have relatives in different places. 
Mail can be spoofed or accounts can be hacked - so a member can appear to send spam but not be a spammer. 
For someone to be added to the list they need to have clear intent to deliberately spam/scam, or be a massive multijoiner. Only a limited number of people have the ability to confirm or reject someone as a spammer. 
Whitelisted - These are members who have been exempted from the spammer list. Generally they are people who have legitimate reasons to join many groups. 
Pending Remove - These are members who are on the spammer list but someone has asked for them to be removed.
=== SPAM checking before submission ===
Before you click the white Spammer button you need to do some investigation:
You may get a post from a new member offering one of the known scammer items. 
You may identify something from Chat or by some other means that the circumstances are highly suspect. e.g. “I have now moved to some_distant_location but courier fees to send it to you would not be expensive”. 
Check the past posting and chat history of the member and how that person uses the group. 

If they appear to make regular posts on the group that are offers and wanteds they are not likely to be spammers. Check a few chats, see if they have sent spam or scam type replies to people or are they genuinely arranging collections? If they are chatting normally, then they should not be reported. No member should be reported without a look to see what their past activity is. 
An isolated incident of something doubtful should be resolved with the member or locally within your group. Their account may have been hacked or spoofed so check for that. 
If it is a suspicious new member then Google their email address, or even just the bit before “@”, and see if anything shows up. 
If a picture of an item attached to a post seems suspicious because it is not from a domestic setting then Google the image. 
A link to a website in a post may be just a useful illustration so check it out. 

You should only be reporting genuine spammers or scammers and on rare occasions, someone we think could be a danger to other members. Even apparently strange people can be checked out to see what they are saying to members before being reported. 
After doing the investigation above, if you consider that the person is a serious risk to Freegle then you should use the white Spammer button on the Member Details page to submit your report for review. Your report must include as much helpful evidence as possible. That report would then be reviewed and if it is considered that the person is a real scammer they would be added to the Confirmed Spammer List. Then they would be banned from all Freegle groups and warning messages sent to anyone who has had correspondence with the scammer. 
If new facts come to light which show it to be a false alarm then the person can be removed from the Confirmed Spammer List, but they would then have to re-join a Freegle group.

=== Procedure for Support Team when reviewing spammer submissions ===

We cannot always rely completely on what the mods report, they aren't always right and some reports are a little exaggerated and vague, so they need checking properly to avoid adding someone innocent. If we just approve everything on another mods say so, there is little point in us being spam checkers. We need a checking procedure arranged between us. 

When a spam report comes in the first thing to do is hold it, so nobody else tries to deal with it at the same time as you are checking it out. 

Then copy the email address, or member number, of the reported member and go to support tools. In 'find member', paste the email or number and the membership pops up with all the info about how that person uses the group. 

If they appear to make regular posts on the group that are offers and wanteds they are not likely to be spammers. Check a few chats, see if they have sent spammy or scam type replies to people or are they genuinely arranging collections? If they are chatting normally, then they should not be added to spam. No member should be added without a look to see what their past activity is. If they are not spammers then reject the report and drop the reporting mod an email to explain why and copy in Support so they know too. 

We should only be adding genuine spammers or scammers and on rare occasions, someone we think could be a danger to other members. We have had a couple of weirdos pop up who were added for member safety. Even weird people can be checked out to see what they are saying to members before being added. 

That is the fairest way to do it for the member concerned. There is nothing worse than losing all your groups and chats where you are in the middle of arranging collections.

Links:
*[[Specific Problems]]
*[[How To Deal With]]
*[[ModTools]]

[[Category:Specific_Problems]]
[[category:ModTools]]

File:Newspam11.jpg

2020-10-06T13:12:44Z

Roger:

File:Newspam10.jpg

2020-10-06T13:12:28Z

Roger:

File:Newspam9.jpg

2020-10-06T13:12:11Z

Roger:

File:Newspam8.jpg

2020-10-06T13:11:45Z

Roger:

File:Newspam7.jpg

2020-10-06T13:11:12Z

Roger:

File:Newspam6.jpg

2020-10-06T13:10:57Z

Roger:

File:Newspam5.jpg

2020-10-06T13:10:25Z

Roger:

File:Newspam4.jpg

2020-10-06T13:09:50Z

Roger:

File:Newspam3.jpg

2020-10-06T13:08:59Z

Roger:

File:Spam1.jpg

2020-10-06T13:05:07Z

Roger: Roger reverted File:Spam1.jpg to an old version

File:Spam7.jpg

2020-10-06T13:03:45Z

Roger: Roger reverted File:Spam7.jpg to an old version

File:Spam12.jpg

2020-10-06T13:02:31Z

Roger: Roger reverted File:Spam12.jpg to an old version

File:Spam4.jpg

2020-10-06T13:01:43Z

Roger: Roger reverted File:Spam4.jpg to an old version

File:Newspam2.jpg

2020-10-06T12:56:04Z

Roger:

File:Newspam1.jpg

2020-10-06T12:53:27Z

Roger:

File:Spam4a.jpg

2020-10-06T11:20:03Z

Roger: new image

== Summary ==
new image

File:Spam4.jpg

2020-10-06T11:17:31Z

Roger: Roger uploaded a new version of File:Spam4.jpg

File:Spam15.jpg

2020-10-06T11:15:32Z

Roger: new image

== Summary ==
new image

File:Spam14.jpg

2020-10-06T11:14:36Z

Roger: new image

== Summary ==
new image

File:Spam12.jpg

2020-10-06T11:04:35Z

Roger: Roger uploaded a new version of File:Spam12.jpg

File:Spam10.jpg

2020-10-06T10:55:05Z

Roger: Roger uploaded a new version of File:Spam10.jpg

File:Spam9.jpg

2020-10-06T10:54:26Z

Roger: Roger uploaded a new version of File:Spam9.jpg

File:Spam8.jpg

2020-10-06T10:53:52Z

Roger: Roger uploaded a new version of File:Spam8.jpg

File:Spam7.jpg

2020-10-06T10:52:50Z

Roger: Roger uploaded a new version of File:Spam7.jpg

File:Spam6.jpg

2020-10-06T10:52:13Z

Roger: Roger uploaded a new version of File:Spam6.jpg

File:Spam5.jpg

2020-10-06T10:47:11Z

Roger: Roger uploaded a new version of File:Spam5.jpg

File:Spam3.jpg

2020-10-06T10:41:46Z

Roger: Roger uploaded a new version of File:Spam3.jpg

File:Spam2.jpg

2020-10-06T10:40:51Z

Roger: Roger uploaded a new version of File:Spam2.jpg

File:Spam1.jpg

2020-10-06T10:39:44Z

Roger: Roger uploaded a new version of File:Spam1.jpg

ModTools

2020-02-14T18:20:01Z

Roger:

==Why use Modtools?==
ModTools is a Chrome and Firefox plug-in that has been specifically designed to make moderating Freegle groups much easier than just using Yahoo.

There are many features that you can enable to suit the requirements of your group.

It is very easy to get started and you can choose to use the basic initial set up for speeding up moderation tasks or add more advanced features at any time.

Some of these features include the ability to
*Quickly change member posting settings and messages
*Easily moderate more than one group
*Moderate from your mobile device
*Retrieve and send your group stats

*Receive spammer alerts and make reports
We know that our members have lost money as a result of scam emails so this is a particularly valuable feature.

==Starting with Modtools==

If you're using a phone/tablet, then you should get the ModTools app from the Play Store or iTunes. That has a built-in plugin which means you can do everything from there.

If you're not on a phone/tablet, you can use Modtools from any browser (e.g. a laptop, a tablet, a phone) but to do some things it needs the browser plugin which only works on Chrome or Firefox so you'll need to use one of those regularly, even if you moderate from your phone too. If you don't have one or the other just search for a free download. If you don't have a preference, use Chrome.

#Make sure you are logged in to Yahoo. You'll need to be logged in to '''both''' Yahoo and ModTools for ModTools to work.
#Go to [https://modtools.org/modtools ModTools].
#You may be prompted to log in again with Yahoo.
#Now install the browser plugin.
##At the very bottom of the menu on the left side of ModTools you will see an icon for Chrome and another one for Firefox. Click on the one for the browser you are using.
##You may be asked for permissions, just accept them. The browser may need to be closed then restarted.

===Settings===
Select ''Settings'' from the left hand menu bar.

====Personal Settings====
These settings are just about you.
#Enter your ''display name'', this is your own name or the name you would like displayed publicly to other users.
#if the ''email address'' you use to moderate is not the one showing change it here.
#Choose whether or not to receive a sound (''beep'') alert for pending moderation tasks.
#Save changes.

====Group Settings====
These settings affect how this group behaves for you. If you change them, it'll only affect you.
#Choose your group from the drop down menu
#Mod Configs allow you to add buttons to choose and send out standard admin messages. ''Mod Config to use for this group'' is set to 'default'. You can change this later, if you prefer.
#''Push Notifications'' give the option of receiving alerts on a mobile device for pending moderator tasks.
#''Show messages in all groups'' and ''show members in all groups'' only apply if you mod more than one group.
#Save changes.
====Global Settings====
These settings affect how this group behaves for all mods and members. If you change them, it'll affect other people.
#Make your group choices from the drop down boxes. If you are unsure at this stage, leave as default, you can always change them later.
#Save changes.

This is all you need to do to get modding with modtools.
There are more features to allow extra personalisation. You may like to get going with the basic features and once you are confident, come back to these later
== Possible SPAM Posts and people SPAMMING ==
=== Modtools Main Menu ===
==== Options when posts are displayed ====
===== Submitting Spammer reports =====
This is available for pending posts, approved posts and approved members.
You may get a post from a new member offering one of the known scammer items. Also you may identify something from Chat or by some other source that the circumstances are highly suspect. e.g. “I have now moved to some_distant_location but courier fess to send it to you would not be expensive”. In that case you would submit a Spammer report using the white button that is part of the Modtools page.
*
[[ File:spam1.jpg ]]

Your report should include as much helpful evidence as possible.
That report would then be reviewed and if it is considered that the person is a real scammer they would be added to the Confirmed Spammer List. Then they would be banned from all Freegle groups and warning messages sent to anyone who has had correspondence with the scammer.
If new facts come to light which show it to be a false alarm then the person can be removed from the Confirmed Spammer List, but they would then have to re-join a Freegle group.
===== Dealing with less suspicious posts =====
Circumstances to use these buttons:
*
[[ File:spam2.jpg ]] or [[ File:spam3.jpg ]]
*
The coloured Spam button at the bottom of a post is NOT to be used to report a spammer. You may also see a Spam Message button. Again repeated Spam clicks for a member may result in the member being reported as a spammer. They are purely an option to deal with a doubtful post. Make your own decision depending on the content of the post as it may be a perfectly valid post.
If a member has sent a SPAM post to your group, possibly because their account has been hacked, then you can separately advise them then delete the post using the standard SPAM button above which should be in every group’s Modtools modconfig.
==== Warnings contained in the main Modtools menu at the left ====
===== SpamAssassin Flagging a possible SPAM post =====
This would show in the main Modtools menu at the left:
*
[[ File:menu1.jpg ]]

Example of a post trapped by SpamAssassin:
*
[[ File:warning.jpg ]]
*
[[ File:spam6a.jpg ]] [[ File:spam6b.jpg ]] [[ File:spam6c.jpg ]]
*
Click “Not a spammer” if it is a valid post and the post will be moved to Pending. 
“Report as a spammer” should not be used for isolated incidents on your group. If the post or member is a serious threat nationally then use this button and on the following screen give full reasons for your report. This will then be sent to a team who will review it for validity.
If a trusted member has sent a SPAM post to your group, possibly because their account has been hacked or spoofed, then you can separately advise them then delete the post using the standard SPAM button which should be in every group’s Modtools modconfig.

===== System Flagging a possible SPAM post =====
Example of a post trapped due to worrying words:
*
[[ File:spam13.jpg ]]
*
Click “Spam” if it clearly contains spam. The post will just be deleted. 
Click “Not Spam” if some wording has been used innocently. The post will be moved to Pending or Approved depending on the settings for that member.

===== System Flagging a possible SPAMMING member =====
This would show in the main Modtools menu at the left:
*
[[ File:menu2.jpg ]]

You will have these three options:
*
[[ File:spam6a.jpg ]] [[ File:spam6b.jpg ]] [[ File:spam6c.jpg ]]
*
Make your own decision depending whether the person is known on your group as it may be a genuine member. The person may already have been reported for being a spammer, then this fact will be shown on the information that the system displays. 
Clicking “Report as a spammer” should not be used for isolated incidents on your group. If the post or member is a serious threat nationally then use this button and on the following screen give full reasons for your report. This will then be sent to a team who will review it for validity. 
Clicking “Not a spammer” moves them back into Pending or Approved as appropriate. 
Click Whitelist if you are certain that the person is not a spammer. You will then be required to state the reason why this person should be whitelisted – i.e. they will no longer be highlighted as a possible spammer.
===== Possible SPAM Chat Reported by System =====
This will show in the Modtools menu at the left.
*
[[ File:menu5.jpg ]]
*
[[ File:spam9.jpg ]]
*
Actual SPAM messages will be easy to identify e.g. there may only be a link to a website. However there may be some content, such as a phone number or email address, in Chat between members which the system could highlight as suspicious. Look at the conversation then decide what action to take.
Clicking on the Spam button above will let the system learn what constitutes SPAM. It will not issue a report about the sender in the way that the standard SPAM button in every group’s Modtools modconfig does. 
"Not spam" means you don't think they are a spammer. If they join more groups you may see them again, so that if they actually are a spammer we'll get a chance to spot that, rather than lose the chance because early on someone thought they were OK. 
"Release and whitelist" - the member is just whitelisted in the system so the post is OK to be sent out if they include the same information again. 
The other buttons are self-explanatory. 
If you suddenly get a lot of spam chat messages then they do not have to be flagged as Spam individually. They can all be deleted with the button at the bottom of them all.
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[[ File:spam10.jpg ]]
==== Spammer details held by the system ====

Again in the Modtools menu at the left:
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[[ File:menu3.jpg ]]
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Confirmed - These are members who have been reported as spammers. These reports are reviewed before a member appears on this list.
Once someone is on this list, they will automatically be removed from groups.
If you think someone is on this list wrongly, you can request that they be removed using the button below.

Pending Add – These are members who have reported as spammers by a moderator. These reports will be reviewed to decide whether to add them to the spammer list.
Please remember that people may not be spammers even if they are reported. For example:
• Members may join many groups because they are over-enthusiastic or have relatives in different places.
• Mail can be spoofed or accounts can be hacked - so a member can appear to send spam but not be a spammer.
For someone to be added to the list they need to have clear intent to deliberately spam/scam, or be a massive multijoiner.
Only a limited number of people have the ability to confirm or reject someone as a spammer.

Pending Remove - These are members who are on the spammer list but someone has asked for them to be removed.

Whitelisted - These are members who have been exempted from the spammer list. Generally they are people who have legitimate reasons to join many groups.

==Help and other links==
There is a dedicated Yahoo Group open to all modtools users

[https://uk.groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/ModTools/info https://uk.groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/ModTools/info]

Freegle reuse groups can contact [mailto:mentors@ilovefreegle.org mentors @ ilovefreegle.org]

Other pages on this wiki that might help:

*[[Substitution Strings]]

==History==
In the middle of 2013, Yahoo decided to change the way Groups worked (Neo), which removed the ability of Edward's Mod Plug-in to interact with them and thus render it unusable.

Edward suggested on Central that he could write a new tool that would offer the same range of facilities. It was unanimously welcomed as we had confidence that Edward would be able to do it and do it well.

The new Modtools was funded by a crowdfunding appeal

http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/yahoo-groups-moderation-tools?

Message from Edward on the Indiegogo site:

''In the early hours of this morning we reached the $10K target which will allow me to develop and support the replacement for the modplugin, to work with the Neo interface changes.

''This is excellent news and I am very grateful to all of you who have supported this, financially and otherwise. I will try to build something that reflects the trust and generosity you've shown.''

''Edward''''

A new version was released in February 2016.

Freegle now provides a free licence to all Freegle groups.

In December 2016 the ability for Freegle Direct to host groups on the national website, without needing Yahoo as a background infrastructure, made Modtools a completely stand alone moderation tool for those groups which choose to leave Yahoo altogether.

[[category:Admin]]