Background
The Black Society
English

Terms of Service

Last Updated: October 11, 2025

Agreement to Terms

Welcome to The Black Society Community Network ("Platform," "we," "us," or "our"). By accessing or using our platform at blacksociety.co.uk, you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms"). If you do not agree to these Terms, please do not use our Platform.

The Black Society is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) registered in England and Wales. Our Platform is designed to serve the Black community in the United Kingdom by connecting individuals, organizations, and initiatives that build intergenerational wealth, create social and political power, reinforce cultural identity, facilitate enterprise development, and drive policy advocacy.

Eligibility

To use our Platform, you must:

  • Be at least 13 years of age
  • Have the legal capacity to enter into these Terms
  • Not be prohibited from using the Platform under UK law or any other applicable jurisdiction
  • Provide accurate and complete registration information

Users between the ages of 13 and 18 should use the Platform under parental guidance and supervision.

Account Registration and Security

Creating an Account

To access certain features of the Platform, you must register for an account by providing:

  • A valid email address
  • A username and password
  • Your name and date of birth
  • Any additional information required for verification or author status

You agree to provide accurate, current, and complete information during registration and to update this information to maintain its accuracy.

Account Security

You are responsible for:

  • Maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials
  • All activities that occur under your account
  • Notifying us immediately of any unauthorized access or security breach

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate accounts that we believe have been compromised or are being used in violation of these Terms.

Account Types

Our Platform offers different account types:

  • Standard User: Full access to community features and content
  • Verified User: Users who have completed our verification process and display a verification badge
  • Author: Users with platform-wide publishing capabilities and enhanced reach
  • Organization Account: Accounts representing partner organizations, businesses, or community groups

User Conduct and Community Guidelines

Acceptable Use

You agree to use the Platform in a manner that:

  • Respects the rights, dignity, and safety of all community members
  • Promotes positive engagement and constructive dialogue
  • Supports our charitable mission and community values
  • Complies with all applicable laws and regulations

Prohibited Conduct

You may not use the Platform to:

  • Harass, bully, or threaten other users
  • Post hate speech, discriminatory content, or incitement to violence based on race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or any other protected characteristic
  • Share false, misleading, or defamatory information
  • Impersonate another person or organization
  • Violate intellectual property rights by posting content you do not have the right to share
  • Engage in spam, phishing, or fraudulent activities
  • Share sexually explicit or inappropriate content
  • Promote illegal activities or violate any laws
  • Attempt to hack, disrupt, or compromise the security or functionality of the Platform
  • Collect or harvest user data without consent
  • Use automated systems (bots, scrapers) without our permission
  • Engage in commercial activities without authorization (except through approved business directory listings)

Content Moderation

We reserve the right to:

  • Remove content that violates these Terms or our community guidelines
  • Suspend or terminate accounts that engage in prohibited conduct
  • Report illegal activities to appropriate authorities
  • Take any other action we deem necessary to protect our community

User-Generated Content

Your Content

You retain ownership of the content you create and share on the Platform ("Your Content"). By posting Your Content, you grant us a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free, sublicensable license to use, reproduce, modify, adapt, publish, translate, distribute, and display Your Content in connection with operating and promoting the Platform.

This license continues even if you stop using the Platform, but you may request deletion of Your Content by deleting your account or specific posts.

Content Responsibility

You are solely responsible for Your Content and the consequences of posting it. You represent and warrant that:

  • You own or have the necessary rights to Your Content
  • Your Content does not violate these Terms or any applicable laws
  • Your Content does not infringe on the rights of any third party

Content Standards

All content posted on the Platform must:

  • Be respectful and constructive
  • Be relevant to the Black community and our mission
  • Comply with UK laws and regulations
  • Not contain malicious code, viruses, or harmful software

Reporting Inappropriate Content

If you encounter content that violates these Terms, please report it using our reporting tools or by contacting [email protected].

Verification and Author Status

Verification

Verification badges indicate that an account has been confirmed as authentic by our team. Verification is granted at our discretion based on criteria outlined in our Verification Rules.

Verified status may be revoked if:

  • The account violates these Terms
  • Information provided during verification is found to be false
  • The account changes ownership or purpose

Author Status

Authors have enhanced publishing capabilities and platform-wide reach. Author status is granted to:

  • Community pillar representatives
  • Economy sector leaders
  • Partner organization representatives
  • Approved community contributors

Authors must adhere to higher standards of conduct and content quality. Author status may be revoked for violations of these Terms or failure to maintain content standards.

Intellectual Property Rights

Platform Content

The Platform and its original content, features, and functionality are owned by The Black Society and are protected by international copyright, trademark, patent, trade secret, and other intellectual property laws.

You may not:

  • Copy, modify, or distribute Platform content without permission
  • Use our trademarks, logos, or branding without authorization
  • Reverse engineer or attempt to extract source code from the Platform

User Submissions

If you submit feedback, suggestions, or ideas about the Platform, you grant us the right to use and implement such submissions without compensation or attribution.

Third-Party Services and Links

The Platform may contain links to third-party websites, services, or content. We are not responsible for:

  • The content, accuracy, or practices of third-party services
  • Any transactions or interactions you have with third parties
  • Privacy practices of third-party services

Your use of third-party services is at your own risk and subject to their terms and policies.

Partner Organizations

Our Platform may integrate with partner organizations such as The Voice, MOBO, Mobilise, and others. When you interact with partner content or services:

  • You may be subject to additional terms and policies
  • Information may be shared with partners as described in our Privacy Policy
  • We are not responsible for partner actions or content

Business Directory and Economic Sectors

Business Listings

Businesses may create listings in our economic sector directories. By creating a business listing, you:

  • Confirm you have the authority to represent the business
  • Agree to provide accurate business information
  • Accept responsibility for all content in your listing
  • Comply with applicable advertising and consumer protection laws

Supply Chain and Transactions

The Platform may facilitate connections between businesses and consumers, but we are not a party to any transactions. We do not:

  • Guarantee the quality, safety, or legality of products or services
  • Endorse any business or professional listed on the Platform
  • Assume liability for disputes between users and businesses

Donations and Fundraising

The Platform may feature fundraising campaigns and donation opportunities. When making donations:

  • Donations are processed by third-party payment processors
  • Donations to The Black Society (CIO) may be eligible for Gift Aid
  • We cannot guarantee tax deductibility for all donations
  • Refund policies vary by campaign and are subject to charity regulations

Privacy and Data Protection

Your use of the Platform is also governed by our Privacy Policy, which explains how we collect, use, and protect your personal information. By using the Platform, you consent to our data practices as described in the Privacy Policy.

Disclaimers and Limitations of Liability

Platform "As Is"

THE PLATFORM IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, OR NON-INFRINGEMENT.

We do not warrant that:

  • The Platform will be uninterrupted, secure, or error-free
  • The Platform will meet your requirements or expectations
  • Any content on the Platform is accurate, complete, or reliable
  • Defects will be corrected

Limitation of Liability

TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, THE BLACK SOCIETY SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, OR ANY LOSS OF PROFITS OR REVENUES, WHETHER INCURRED DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, OR ANY LOSS OF DATA, USE, GOODWILL, OR OTHER INTANGIBLE LOSSES RESULTING FROM:

  • Your use or inability to use the Platform
  • Any unauthorized access to or use of our servers or your personal information
  • Any interruption or cessation of transmission to or from the Platform
  • Any bugs, viruses, or harmful code transmitted through the Platform
  • Any errors or omissions in content
  • Any user content or conduct of third parties on the Platform

OUR TOTAL LIABILITY TO YOU FOR ALL CLAIMS ARISING FROM OR RELATED TO THE PLATFORM SHALL NOT EXCEED £100 OR THE AMOUNT YOU HAVE PAID US IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS, WHICHEVER IS GREATER.

Charitable Organization Status

As a Charitable Incorporated Organisation, The Black Society operates for charitable purposes. Any surplus generated through the Platform is reinvested in our charitable mission and community programmes.

Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless The Black Society, its trustees, officers, employees, volunteers, and partners from any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, costs, or expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising from:

  • Your use of the Platform
  • Your violation of these Terms
  • Your violation of any rights of another party
  • Your Content posted on the Platform

Termination

By You

You may terminate your account at any time by:

Upon termination, your right to use the Platform will immediately cease.

By Us

We may suspend or terminate your account and access to the Platform at any time, with or without notice, for:

  • Violation of these Terms
  • Fraudulent, abusive, or illegal activity
  • Extended periods of inactivity
  • Any other reason at our discretion

Effect of Termination

Upon termination:

  • Your license to use the Platform ends
  • We may delete Your Content (subject to legal retention requirements)
  • Provisions of these Terms that should survive termination will remain in effect

Dispute Resolution

Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of England and Wales, without regard to conflict of law principles.

Informal Resolution

Before initiating formal proceedings, we encourage you to contact us at [email protected] to seek informal resolution of any disputes.

Jurisdiction

Any disputes arising from these Terms or your use of the Platform shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.

Changes to Terms

We may modify these Terms at any time. When we make changes:

  • We will update the "Last Updated" date at the top of these Terms
  • We will notify you of material changes via email or Platform notification
  • Your continued use of the Platform after changes constitutes acceptance of the new Terms

If you do not agree to the modified Terms, you must stop using the Platform and may delete your account.

General Provisions

Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and The Black Society regarding the Platform.

Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions will remain in full force and effect.

Waiver

Our failure to enforce any right or provision of these Terms will not be considered a waiver of those rights.

Assignment

You may not assign or transfer these Terms or your account without our written consent. We may assign our rights and obligations under these Terms without restriction.

No Agency

No agency, partnership, joint venture, or employment relationship is created between you and The Black Society as a result of these Terms or your use of the Platform.

Force Majeure

We shall not be liable for any failure or delay in performance due to circumstances beyond our reasonable control, including acts of God, war, terrorism, riots, embargoes, acts of civil or military authorities, fire, floods, accidents, pandemics, strikes, or shortages of transportation, facilities, fuel, energy, labor, or materials.

Contact Information

If you have questions about these Terms, please contact us:

The Black Society
Email: [email protected]
Support: [email protected]
Address: Southwark, London, United Kingdom

By using The Black Society Community Network, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms of Service. Thank you for being part of our community.