Community Guidelines Template

(for in person or online communities)

Community Guidelines Template

Feel free to copy/ paste/ adapt.

---

Welcome

This community (Sparkle on Substack) exists to support people through shared interests, thoughtful conversation and meaningful connection.

Whether you’re joining a chat, discussion thread, online gathering, workshop or in-person event, these guidelines help create a space where everyone can participate with confidence and respect.

By joining this community, you agree to contribute to that spirit and participate.

1. Treat Everyone with Respect

Please be kind, courteous and considerate in all interactions.

We welcome people from different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives. Discrimination, harassment or exclusion based on race, disability, gender, sexuality, religion, age or any other protected characteristic will not be tolerated. Comments will be deleted and you will be removed from the group.

2. Honour Personal Boundaries

Everyone has different levels of comfort around conversation, networking and social interaction.

Please:

• Respect when someone chooses not to engage.

• Accept “no”, “not now” or silence as a complete answer.

• Please avoid repeatedly contacting people who have not responded or who have asked for space.

3. Keep Communication Appropriate

Connections made through this community should remain respectful and consensual.

Please do not:

• Send repeated unsolicited messages.

• Contact someone across multiple platforms after they have not responded.

• Create new accounts to contact someone who has blocked you.

• Pressure others into coaching, collaboration, friendship, business opportunities or personal relationships.

4. Share with Care

Many people share personal experiences, creative work, ideas and vulnerabilities within communities.

Please:

• Respect confidentiality.

• Do not share another member’s work, comments or personal information without permission.

• Ask before quoting or screenshotting community discussions, feedback, messages. Our rule of thumb is that if it’s publically available online on the wider web you can screen shot but it’s still polite to ask permission to share.

5. Contribute Constructively

We are here to learn from one another. If you would like to disclose a disability or communication style that helps explain the way you want to interact feel free.

When sharing feedback with others in classes, chats or verbally in person:

• Take an appropriate amount of time based of who is in the room. For example if 6 people want to share in an hour long session - 10 mins each will work.

• Be thoughtful, specific and constructive.

• Speak from your own experience, holding up a mirror to support the participant rather than telling others what they should do.

• Approach disagreements, clashes with curiosity and respect.

6. Help Create a Positive Community Culture

Every member contributes to the atmosphere of a community which is not exclusive to the community but more an ethos of online conduct including other public spaces you might write or share.

We encourage:

• Generosity & Curiosity

• Encouragement

• Good faith discussion

• Respectful disagreement

We discourage:

• Personal attacks

• Dismissive behaviour

• Bullying or intimidation

• Disruptive or self centred conduct

7. Photography, Recording and Screenshots

Please respect other people’s privacy.

• Do not share screenshots, recordings or photographs of community members without permission.

• If attending in-person events, ask before taking photographs that include others.

• If the organiser plans to record or photograph an event, participants should be informed in advance.

8. Raising Concerns

If something makes you uncomfortable, please contact the organiser privately via email or dm.

Concerns will be handled sensitively and confidentially where possible. The aim is always to support the wellbeing and safety of the wider community.

9. Facilitator Discretion

The organiser may make decisions about participation, communication, group structure or event arrangements to support a safe and productive environment. Members are expected to respect reasonable facilitator requests and decisions.

10. Participation

The organiser reserves the right to remove posts, restrict participation or remove members whose behaviour is inconsistent with these guidelines or negatively affects the community.

Additional terms relating to refunds, event attendance or membership cancellations may apply and should be published separately where relevant.

Our Shared Intention

This community exists to foster connection, learning, creativity and mutual support.

We value trust, generosity, curiosity and respect. We believe communities thrive when people feel welcomed, heard and able to participate without fear of harassment or judgement.

Thank you for helping create a space where people can learn, grow and belong.

---

Photo by Nick Morrison on Unsplash

Template note: Feel free to adapt these guidelines to suit your community, audience and platform. Clear expectations help create communities where people can participate safely, confidently and respectfully.

Created by Amy I Beeson 🐝 and Claire Venus ✨ 2026 - there is no need to credit us unless you’d like to.