Community Code of Conduct

At Giving What We Can, we are dedicated to hosting safe and inclusive events that are warm and welcoming for all attendees. We deeply care about creating a supportive environment that fosters the open exchange of ideas about how we can all make the world a much better place.

This Code of Conduct outlines the behaviour expected of all participants — attendees, speakers, volunteers, organisers, and sponsors — to ensure that our events remain positive, productive, and professional experiences for everyone.

This Code of Conduct is always accessible at givingwhatwecan.org/codeofconduct, and more about our community values can be found here.

We are welcoming

Giving What We Can embraces our diverse community and is committed to providing a warm and welcoming experience for everyone, irrespective of their gender, age, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, religion, or lack thereof.

In keeping with this commitment, any form of harassment or hate speech is strictly prohibited at any event venue, including during talks, workshops, receptions, online media, and associated social events. Individuals found in violation of these rules may face serious consequences, such as being asked to leave the event or being barred from future events, at the discretion of the organisers.

We set clear expectations

All participants are expected to:

  • Respect the boundaries and confidentiality of other participants.
  • Foster a supportive environment by looking out for one another.
  • Avoid disruptive behaviour or excessive drinking.
  • Refrain from bullying, threatening behaviour or any kind of harassment.

Harassment includes offensive verbal comments or imagery related to personal characteristics, deliberate intimidation, stalking, following, harassing photography or recording, sustained disruption of events, unwelcome physical contact, or sexual attention. Participants are expected to comply immediately if asked to stop any of these behaviours.

We respect privacy in media

While participating in Giving What We Can events, attendees understand that photographs and videos may be taken that include them. These images may be used by Giving What We Can in print or digital media for purposes such as publicity, illustration, advertising, and web content.

We ask our event organisers to take reasonable steps to respect the privacy of individuals, but please be mindful that photos or videos taken may be used as described above. If attendees prefer to be excluded from any photographs or videos, we advise them to inform the event organiser. We also encourage attendees to ask for permission when feasible before taking or sharing photographs or videos of others.

We support, assist, and accommodate

Giving What We Can encourages all participants to let the organisers or the GWWC team know of any special needs they might have in advance of an event and we encourage organisers to take meaningful steps to accommodate. We aim for our community events to be as inclusive as feasible, accommodating a range of needs (e.g. accessibility, dietary requirements, and family needs).

If any participant experiences harassment, notices that someone else is being harassed, or has any other concerns, they should report the incident immediately.

We act on reports

Giving What We Can is committed to enforcing this Code of Conduct and investigating all reported incidents. We handle all issues with discretion, respond as needed, and will not hesitate to remove participants when necessary.

If you feel uncomfortable or think there may be a potential violation of the code of conduct, please report it. You can report any issues to community@givingwhatwecan.org or to our Head of Community & Partnerships James Rayton at james.rayton@givingwhatwecan.org.

If you have any questions about the code of conduct, please reach out to us at community@givingwhatwecan.org.