Sociability Events

Code of Conduct

Purpose

Sociability events are in-person gatherings for our community: people who use our app, members of the Disabled community, companions, allies, and anyone who wants to learn more about accessible spaces and inclusive community-building.


We want every event to be enjoyable and safe for everyone who attends. This Code of Conduct sets out what you can expect from us and what we expect from you. It applies to everyone at the event — attendees, companions and personal assistants, volunteers, anyone attending on behalf of an organisation, and Sociability staff.


By registering for a Sociability event, you confirm that you have read and agree to this Code of Conduct. We reserve the right to refuse attendance or ask someone to leave if this code is not followed.

Our commitment to you

We are committed to providing an event that is:


  • Welcoming — to Disabled and non-Disabled people, companions, and allies, regardless of disability, age, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religion or belief, or any other characteristic

  • Accessible — we choose venues carefully and share access information in advance; if you have concerns, please contact us before the event

  • Safe — we take reports of unacceptable behaviour seriously and will act on them

  • For the community — our events are not a sales opportunity. We will not accept organisations who want to attend solely to promote themselves

We are committed to providing an event that is:


  • Welcoming — to Disabled and non-Disabled people, companions, and allies, regardless of disability, age, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religion or belief, or any other characteristic

  • Accessible — we choose venues carefully and share access information in advance; if you have concerns, please contact us before the event

  • Safe — we take reports of unacceptable behaviour seriously and will act on them

  • For the community — our events are not a sales opportunity. We will not accept organisations who want to attend solely to promote themselves

Expected behaviour

We ask everyone attending a Sociability event to:


  • Be respectful and considerate of other attendees, including their identities, access needs, communication styles, and personal boundaries

  • Listen when someone states a boundary and respect it immediately without argument

  • Ask before you assist — do not push someone's wheelchair, move a mobility aid, guide someone, or otherwise physically assist an attendee without first asking and receiving their agreement

  • Respect privacy — be mindful that not everyone will want to discuss their impairment or access needs. Comfort levels vary, and it is not an open topic by default. If someone has not raised it themselves, do not assume they wish to

  • Keep access routes clear — do not block ramps, lifts, doorways, dropped kerbs or accessible toilets. Watch where you leave bags, coats and chairs

  • Make room in the group — when standing in a group, leave space so that wheelchair users and people using mobility aids can join the conversation and see who is speaking

  • Look out for one another — if you notice someone who seems uncomfortable or needs help, check in with them or alert a member of the Sociability team

We ask everyone attending a Sociability event to:


  • Be respectful and considerate of other attendees, including their identities, access needs, communication styles, and personal boundaries

  • Listen when someone states a boundary and respect it immediately without argument

  • Ask before you assist — do not push someone's wheelchair, move a mobility aid, guide someone, or otherwise physically assist an attendee without first asking and receiving their agreement

  • Respect privacy — be mindful that not everyone will want to discuss their impairment or access needs. Comfort levels vary, and it is not an open topic by default. If someone has not raised it themselves, do not assume they wish to

  • Keep access routes clear — do not block ramps, lifts, doorways, dropped kerbs or accessible toilets. Watch where you leave bags, coats and chairs

  • Make room in the group — when standing in a group, leave space so that wheelchair users and people using mobility aids can join the conversation and see who is speaking

  • Look out for one another — if you notice someone who seems uncomfortable or needs help, check in with them or alert a member of the Sociability team

Promotion, selling and recruitment

Our events are for the community to meet and spend time together. They are not a place for people to be sold to.


Unless we have agreed it with you in advance, please do not:


  • promote, sell or advertise a business, product, service or membership to attendees

  • hand out flyers, leaflets, samples or promotional items

  • collect contact details, sign-ups, donations or survey responses

  • recruit attendees for a programme, campaign, study or petition


Talking about what you do is completely fine. If someone asks, tell them. The line is approaching people in order to pitch to them, or continuing after they have shown they are not interested.

Our events are for the community to meet and spend time together. They are not a place for people to be sold to.


Unless we have agreed it with you in advance, please do not:


  • promote, sell or advertise a business, product, service or membership to attendees

  • hand out flyers, leaflets, samples or promotional items

  • collect contact details, sign-ups, donations or survey responses

  • recruit attendees for a programme, campaign, study or petition


Talking about what you do is completely fine. If someone asks, tell them. The line is approaching people in order to pitch to them, or continuing after they have shown they are not interested.

If you are attending on behalf of an organisation

  • Tell us when you register, and let us know who will be attending

  • If you would like to share something about your organisation, ask us beforehand. We will sometimes say yes, and we will agree with you how and when

  • We will not accept organisations attending solely to promote themselves

  • Please plan to take part in the event as a whole, rather than attending briefly at the start or end

  • If this is not followed, we may ask your group to leave and may decline future requests to attend

Unacceptable behaviour

The following will not be tolerated at any Sociability event:


  • Discriminatory language or behaviour of any kind targeting disability, race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, age, or any other characteristic

  • Harassment, intimidation, or threatening behaviour — including unwanted physical contact, following someone, repeatedly approaching someone after they have indicated they do not wish to engage, or any conduct — verbal or physical — that makes another person feel unsafe or unwelcome

  • Touching or moving someone's mobility aid, assistive equipment, or support animal without their permission, or distracting or feeding an assistance animal that is working

  • Unagreed promotion, selling or recruitment, as set out above

  • Behaviour that disrupts the event or the comfort of other attendees — including dominating an activity, talking over the team, or repeatedly steering the event away from what it is for


If you are unsure whether something is appropriate: if you have to ask, it probably isn't.

The following will not be tolerated at any Sociability event:


  • Discriminatory language or behaviour of any kind targeting disability, race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, age, or any other characteristic

  • Harassment, intimidation, or threatening behaviour — including unwanted physical contact, following someone, repeatedly approaching someone after they have indicated they do not wish to engage, or any conduct — verbal or physical — that makes another person feel unsafe or unwelcome

  • Touching or moving someone's mobility aid, assistive equipment, or support animal without their permission, or distracting or feeding an assistance animal that is working

  • Unagreed promotion, selling or recruitment, as set out above

  • Behaviour that disrupts the event or the comfort of other attendees — including dominating an activity, talking over the team, or repeatedly steering the event away from what it is for


If you are unsure whether something is appropriate: if you have to ask, it probably isn't.

Health and Safety

  • Please take reasonable care of your own safety and be considerate of those around you

  • Be aware of your personal belongings at all times

  • Please do not attend if you are feeling unwell, have a fever, or are displaying symptoms of a contagious illness

  • Emergency contact details and access needs shared at registration will be held securely by the Sociability team and used only to support you at the event

  • A member of the Sociability team will be identifiable at each event — please note who they are so you know who to approach if you need anything


If you have any health or safety concerns about attending, please email us at community@sociability.app before the event and we will do our best to help.

In an emergency

  • Ensure your own safety first

  • Call 999 (or ask someone nearby to call) for police, fire, or ambulance

  • Alert a Sociability team member — they will be identifiable at the event and can help coordinate assistance

  • Follow any instructions from venue staff or emergency services — our events may take place across multiple locations, including public spaces. If you are asked to leave or move on by emergency services or venue staff, please do so. Be aware that lifts should not be used in a fire evacuation unless directed by emergency services

  • Do not return to any affected area until you are told it is safe to do so


If you have a medical condition or access need that emergency services or the Sociability team should be aware of, please ensure this is included in your registration details.

Photography and media

Consent for photography and media use is collected at the point of registration. Please be mindful of this during the event.


  • Do not photograph or record attendees who have not given their consent

  • If someone asks you to stop, or to delete an image, please do so immediately

  • The same applies to anything you post publicly. Do not share photos, video or names of other attendees on social media without asking them first

  • If you are attending on behalf of an organisation, please do not use photographs from the event in your own marketing unless we have agreed it with you

Reporting a breach of this Code of Conduct

We take all reports seriously. If something happens at an event that you feel breaches this Code of Conduct:


During the event

  • Approach a Sociability team member directly — they are there to help and will respond promptly

  • You do not need to confront the person responsible yourself

  • If you are in immediate danger or feel unsafe, please remove yourself from the situation and alert a team member or call 999


After the event

  • Email us at community@sociability.app with as much detail as you are comfortable sharing (what happened, when, who was involved)

  • Reports will be treated with discretion and taken seriously


What happens next

  • Depending on the nature of the behaviour, we may speak to the person involved, ask them to leave the event, or bar them from future events

  • Where the person is attending on behalf of an organisation, this may also apply to the organisation as a whole

  • We will follow up with anyone who has made a report to let them know what action has been taken


You will never be penalised or disadvantaged for making a good-faith report.

Questions or feedback

If you have any questions about this Code of Conduct, or feedback on how we can improve it, please contact us at community@sociability.app.

The Sociability team taking a group photo with their arms raised in the air. Everyone has big smiles on their faces.
Three members of the Sociability team, one wheelchair user and two non-disabled people laughing together while completing a brainstorming activity.
Three members of the Sociability team, one wheelchair user and two non-disabled people laughing together while completing a brainstorming activity.