Joining and Listing Terms

We know it’s tempting to skip these Terms of Service, but it’s important to establish what you can expect from us as you use Acorns.Community CIC Services, and what we expect from you in our agreement together.

Last updated: October 14, 2024

Acorns.Community CIC (“us,” “we,” or “our”) operates the acorns.community website (the “Service” or “the platform”). In this context, “you” or “Lister” refers to Home Edders, Providers, Hosters, and Partners adding a listing, while “Booker” or “Client” refers to those booking or engaging with those listings and “Both” refers to both Lister and Booker.

Welcome! By joining and/or adding a listing on our platform, you agree to the following terms. These agreements help maintain a fair and transparent marketplace for all users. Please read them carefully before adding a listing.

Please note that bookings for products and services are made directly with the Lister, not with Acorns.Community CIC. Our role is limited to listing the Lister’s services and (if applicable) facilitating appointment scheduling on their behalf. The Lister is solely responsible for the content and management of their listings on the platform. Acorns.Community CIC shares the information we are provided, but we do not verify it ourselves.

By utilising this service, you agree to the following as part of our Terms of Service. These agreements are designed to ensure a smooth experience for both service providers and customers.

Booking Management Suite

If you would like to be able to seamlessly accept bookings for your listings, so that your audience can secure their spot, that minimises back and forth messaging from simply utilising the ‘Reply to Listing’ and adding a ‘Request to Book’ option as well as integration with your calendar.

By purchasing the Promote – Saplings Package or Mighty – Oaks Package, you gain access to our booking management suite. This enables your clients, who connect with you via the Acorns.Community platform, to conveniently book your services directly through our website. They can continue to pay you direct via your GoCardless link which can be set up as a one-off or recurring direct debit instruction to further minimise your administration including the freedom to offer cash in person payments too for the requested bookings in your calendar added to by Acorns.Community CIC.

Bookers can also identify the listings that have the easy book and scheduling included by the ‘Book Now’ category label. You can upgrade here.

1. Eligibility

• You must be at least 18 years old to join and/or add a listing.
• Listers declare that they or their staff have no restrictions upon them to work with children or adults.
• Listers and Bookers declare that they have read the Safeguarding Policy and satisfied themselves with safety and security requirements.
• Those booking the service must be at least 18 years old to make a booking.
• Those booking the service accept that Acorns.Community CIC is not an agency nor employer and vetting and due diligence is your sole responsibility.
• Both are solely responsible for ensuring that the information you provide is accurate, complete, and up-to-date, including removal of expired listings.
• Both agree to provide accurate and complete information during the booking process.

2. Content Guidelines

• All listings and content must comply with our User Content and Lawful Use of Website and Community Code of Conduct, as outlined in our Terms of Service, and should follow our Safeguarding Policy for guidance.
• This means:
  • No offensive, harmful, or illegal content and is age appropriate.
  • Listings should not misrepresent the item, service, or property.
  • All images and descriptions must accurately reflect the item or service offered.
  • You warrant that you are the owner of the content or have express permission from the owner to publish (e.g. Photos, Media Content).
  • You warrant that you are the owner of the item or venue offered.
  • You do not distribute malicious software to the platform.
  • Respectful platform ethics and adherence to our community code of conduct on/off off the platform with communications in regards to listings.
• Safeguarding Compliance: We act merely as a platform for connecting users, we do not verify the safety and educational provisions of listings. This is the responsibility of the person making the booking to ensure these provisions meet their standards. We strongly recommend Listers to review our Safeguarding Policy before uploading a listing to understand your responsibilities and ensure compliance with safety and educational standards. We provide guidance and contact information for both Bookers and Listers.
• We reserve the right to remove or edit any listing or profile that violates these guidelines or is deemed inappropriate.

3. Listing Packages

• Fees: Listing package costs (if applicable) will be clearly displayed at checkout.
• Refunds: Acorns.Community CIC Packages and Listings are non-refundable unless otherwise specified in our refund policy, part of our Terms of Service.

4. Duration and Renewal

• ‘Spotlight Featured’ Listings expire after 10 days from publishing.
• Listings will remain active for the length of your annual package, after which they will expire unless you choose to renew them. You can choose to remove them yourself at any time or removed by us if they do not meet our policies.
• You will be notified before your listing package expires with the option to renew at the current rate.

5. Prohibited Listings

The following types of listings are not permitted:

• Any listing that does not comply with the eligibility requirements stated above.
• Illegal items or services.
• Counterfeit goods or fraudulent services.
• Adult content or services.
• Any item that violates intellectual property laws.

6. Booker Responsibilities

• The Booker is solely responsible for the vetting and due diligence of their bookings. By using this platform, you agree to indemnify and hold Acorns.Community CIC harmless from any claims, damages, or liabilities arising from your use of the listed services or any disputes between Bookers and Listers. Acorns.Community CIC is not an agency or employer, and our role is limited to listing services and, if applicable, facilitating appointment scheduling.
• You are responsible for fulfilling any commitments you make in your bookings, such as paying for an item or service.
• Any disputes between users/members must be resolved by the parties involved, although we may assist in dispute resolution if necessary.
• The Lister who is providing the service is responsible for delivering the service as described in the booking.
• Manage all questions and feedback promptly and positively.
• You agree to show up on time for any booked services and be in clear communication if there are any delays expected.
• Any special requests or details required from the booker (e.g., dietary restrictions, specific service needs) must be communicated to the lister in advance.

7. Lister Responsibilities

• The Lister is solely responsible for the content and management of their listings. Acorns.Community CIC shares the information provided by the Lister but does not verify its accuracy or completeness. Both Bookers and Listers agree to hold Acorns.Community CIC harmless from any claims or disputes related to the use of the platform or services provided.
• You are responsible for fulfilling any commitments you make in your listings, such as selling an item or providing a service.
• Any disputes between users/members must be resolved by the parties involved, although we may assist in dispute resolution if necessary.
• The Lister who is providing the service is responsible for delivering the service as described in the booking.
• Manage all questions and feedback promptly and positively.
• You agree to show up on time for any booked services and be in clear communication if there are any delays expected.
• Any special requests or details required from the booker (e.g., dietary restrictions, specific service needs) must be communicated to the client in advance.

8. Booking Payment and Fees

• Payments required for Listers bookings must be clear and describe how you wish to receive payment. i.e. card/cash/ including updating your GoCardless payment link.
• Discover Acorns and Promote Saplings Packages is the Lister taking direct payments via GoCardless for example, or off the platform i.e. cash.
• Coming soon: Mighty – Oaks Package, payments can be automated upon the platform via our payment processor Stripe (processing charges apply and a service fee). The button will change from ‘Book Request’ to ‘Book Now’.
• The price of bookings, should include all taxes or fees (if applicable), and be clearly displayed before the booking is confirmed.
• Ensure listing’s chosen variables are listed and explained clearly; You can display your extras, discounts, tiered discounts, booking slots, variable pricing, multiply price by number of places, multiple places per booking, sibling/quantity discounts etc.
• Making payment is made easy through Listers own autonomous GoCardless link on their profiles.

9. Cancellation Policy

• Listers: Cancellations by your clients are subject to your cancellation policy and their consumer rights, you will need to display this on your booking note, or upon your listing, or both.
• Bookers: Message your Lister as soon as possible to see if a booking change is possible. Cancellations must be made according to your Listers cancellation policy given and agreed at the time of booking/requesting to book.. If a parent or educator cancels within the allowed timeframe, a full or partial refund may be issued. Please review the specific cancellation terms for each service upon booking.

10. Changes to Bookings

• Listers: If you need to change the booking, please contact each of your clients directly to advise the reason and an alternative date if applicable or provide a refund if not suitable them. Serving your clients with the best possible outcome is paramount.
• Bookers: Message your Lister as soon as possible to see if a booking change is possible. Cancellations must be made according to your Listers cancellation policy given and agreed at the time of booking/requesting to book. If a parent or educator cancels within the allowed timeframe, a full or partial refund may be issued. Please review the specific cancellation terms for each each service upon booking.

11. Reviews

• Reviews can be created only from those that have booked and participated in the services listed and is in line with our User Content and Lawful Use of Website in our Terms of Service with our Community Code of Conduct.
• We encourage those that have negative feedback to contact Listers directly to ideally resolve before choosing to leave a review.
• We advise Listers as part of your client’s customer journey with you, at the end of each session to actively engage in feedback for future promotion of what’s going well and improvements to what can be changed or modified. This way unexpected feedback/reviews can be avoided and managed well.

12. Refunds

• Refunds should be processed promptly according to the Listers refund policy agreed with at the time of booking and should be processed promptly according to the Lister’s refund and cancellation policy and consumer rights and delivered with good communication.
• Bookers should take note of the listers refund and cancellation in the booking note.
• Acorns.Community CIC Packages and Listings are non-refundable unless otherwise specified in our refund policy, part of our Terms of Service.

13. Dispute Resolution

• In the event of a dispute between the client/booker and the lister, both parties should attempt to resolve the issue directly. If this is not possible, please contact us, and we will help facilitate a resolution.
• If Acorns.Community CIC receives any client complaints, we’ll pass them on to the Lister. We ask that the Lister acknowledges and responds to these complaints within 72 hours, whether they come directly from the client or through us.
• In the event Acorns.Community CIC receives complaints, please see our Complaint Policy.

14. Termination and Removal

• We may remove any listing at our discretion, especially if it violates our policies.
• We may also suspend or terminate your account if repeated violations occur.

15. Modifications to Terms

• We reserve the right to update or modify these terms at any time.
• Any changes to our Terms of Service, of which this is a part, and our Policies will be communicated via update notices at the top of our website and will take effect immediately.

If you have any questions, please refer to our FAQ or contact our support team.

For a full list of our general terms and policies, including how we respect your privacy, limitation of liability and governing law, please refer to our Terms of Service. This includes our GDPR Privacy Policy, Data Protection Policy, Complaints Policy and Safeguarding Policy, which provides guidance on safety and educational provisions for your listings and services.