Central Support

We mutually support each other in Freegle. Each of the owners, moderators and volunteers of Freegle affiliated groups are equal in our organisation. However, we all have different skills and experience and we are evolving systems and procedures that make it easier to find help and support.

For queries about everyday running of your groups, ask questions on Central Groups or the Working Groups. A wide variety of people are there who are pleased to share their experiences and advice.

If you are a new group and would like a more personal approach to help you through those early days, then the Green Mod School is there to offer help and support.

If you would like to speak to someone who can perhaps point you in the right direction for help without having to post a message on a large group, the Mailbox team at info@ilovefreegle.org could help. The Mailbox remit explains the parameters they work within.

Recognising that sometimes issues arise that need a formal and confidential route, we are in the process of forming a Mediation Service and an Appeals Panel.

The Mediation Service is proposed as a more formal way of resolving disputes between various parties within Freegle. We work collaboratively, so there are informal support mechanisms in place, from talking things over with your fellow moderators (or long suffering spouse or partner!), to discussing on a regional or area mod support group, or bringing issues onto the Freegle central or working groups. But sometimes we recognise that issues escalate and there might be a need for third party help. This is the point the Mediation Service could step in to help.

The Appeals Panel is the next step along if mediation strategies have failed, or there have been decisions made that you feel are plainly wrong and detrimental to Freegle or personally. The process of convening an Appeals Pane is not one envisaged to be taken lightly, but it has been agreed necessary in order that everyone feels they have had a fair hearing.

The Reps have a role which differs to other elected positions, so there are processes surrounding their conditions of office which are specific to them. These include the Ending Term of Office Procedures which includes the facility of an Arbitration Panel, which is a Panel similar to the Appeal Panel above but purely to deal with the particular issues relating to these elected positions.

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