Membership Policy
1. Our Commitment to a Safe Community
The POND Network is committed to maintaining a safe, supportive, and confidential environment. To help us achieve this, and to ensure the integrity of our platform, we operate a managed membership policy.
This policy outlines the different types of membership and the criteria and processes for joining our community.
2. Types of Membership & Criteria
Our platform supports two types of membership designed to build and enrich our community: Individual Membership for our core community and Organisational Membership for trusted partners.
A. Individual Membership (Parents & Carers)
Our primary membership is for parents and carers of neurodivergent children and young people. To be eligible, a prospective member must meet the following criteria:
- Be a parent, primary carer, or legal guardian of at least one child who is neurodivergent (e.g., autistic, ADHD, dyslexic, dyspraxic) or is suspected to be neurodivergent.
- Be a resident of the United Kingdom.
- Be over 18 years of age.
- Agree to abide by our Terms of Use and Community Guidelines.
B. Organisational Membership (Professionals & Partners)
To enhance the resources and support available to our members, we form strategic alliances with a select number of relevant organisations and professionals. Organisational membership is designed to connect our community with valuable services in an efficient and trusted manner.
- Organisations must be UK-based registered charities, CICs, qualified professionals, or other entities whose services provide a clear and positive benefit to the neurodivergent community.
- Membership for organisations is strictly by review and invitation from The POND Network's administration team to ensure alignment with our community's values and needs.
- All organisational members must agree to a specific code of conduct, which prohibits unsolicited marketing and requires that their engagement on the platform is for the primary benefit of the community.
3. How to Join
A. For Parents & Carers (Individual Membership)
There are two ways for parents and carers to join The POND Network:
1. Invitation from an Existing Member:
Current members can invite other parents or carers who they know personally and who meet our membership criteria. By inviting someone, a member is vouching for their suitability for our supportive community.
2. Request an Invitation:
If you do not know an existing member but meet our criteria, you can request an invitation by completing the online request form:
B. For Organisations & Professionals
Organisational membership is managed directly by our administration team. If you are a professional or represent an organisation and believe a strategic alliance would be of significant benefit to our community, please contact us for consideration at site@thepondnetwork.org.
4. Review and Approval Process
The administration team at The POND Network reserves the right to approve or deny any membership request at its discretion. This process is in place to protect our community and ensure that all members, both individual and organisational, align with our mission and values.
We aim to review all invitation requests within 5-7 working days. We thank you for your understanding and your commitment to helping us build a trusted network.
5. Contact Us
If you have any questions about this policy, please contact us at site@thepondnetwork.org.