Terms of Service

Welcome to the British Overseas Voters Forum (hereafter referred to as *the Forum*), hosted via BuddyBoss. By joining and participating in the Forum, you agree to abide by the following Terms of Service and Community Standards. These guidelines are designed to ensure a respectful, focused, and supportive environment for all members, in alignment with the mission and values of BOVF.

1. Purpose of the Forum

The Forum exists to support British citizens living overseas by providing a platform for discussion, collaboration, advocacy around issues that affect the overseas voting community and in particular working as a collective to deal with the BOVF Key Issues. Each group and forum within this platform serves a specific topic or campaign under this wider aim.

2. Community Standards

To maintain a healthy and constructive space, all members are expected to adhere to the following standards:

2.1 Single-Issue Focus

This Forum is made up of groups, and forums which focus on a single topics. Please keep discussions relevant to the rights of British Overseas Voters and related campaigns (such as Frozen Pensions, University Fees, or Spouse Visas), and issues directly affecting British citizens living abroad.  Although this Forum has a familiar ‘social media’ feel to it, posts of food or other such irrelevance are best placed elsewhere, such as Insta, or Facebook.  Please be mindful.

2.2 Respectful and Appropriate Political Dialogue

We encourage informed discussion around UK government policies and democratic rights which affect British Overseas Voters.  For example, there may be a discussion about Spousal Visas within the appropriate Forum which means it would be entirely correct to discuss UK policy relating to Spousal Visa’s in the context of UK immigration policy.  It would not be appropriate to debate the ethics or merits of asylum law or the effects of such immigration on British Society.  Party political debate that insults or mocks any UK political party or its supporters is not permitted.

2.3 Be Kind and Respectful

We’re all here to make a positive difference. Let’s treat each other with respect. Healthy debate is welcome, but personal attacks, sarcasm meant to belittle, or hostile behaviour will not be tolerated.

2.4 Avoid Divisive Commentary

Discussions that pit one group in society against another—such as framing others as ‘more or less deserving’—will be moderated.

2.5 Inclusive Language

When discussing pensions or other UK-wide issues, always use inclusive and general terms such as “UK pensioners”, “UK pensions”, or “the unjust pension system”. Avoid singling out individual parts of the UK in a way that might create division.  Too often the term ‘England’ is used to mean UK and when this happens, those from Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland can feel upset.

2.6 No Bullying or Hate Speech

Bullying of any kind is not permitted. This includes degrading comments about race, religion, culture, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, or nationality.

2.7 No Spam or Self-Promotion

Please do not use the Forum to promote personal businesses, fundraising campaigns, political candidacies, or unrelated websites.  Links which are related to the discussion taking place can, of course, be shared.

2.8 Trust and Confidentiality

What’s shared in the Forum should stay in the Forum. Please respect the privacy and confidentiality of other members.

As a general rule, we advise Forum participants to avoid talking about their own circumstances, but rather to frame questions with “What if a person…?”

3. Moderation Policy

Forum moderators reserve the right to take the following actions where rules are broken:

– Request amendments to posts
– Delete posts or comments
– Issue warnings
– Remove or block members from specific groups or from the entire Forum

Repeat offences will be treated seriously and may lead to permanent banning.

4. Reporting Concerns

If you see a post or comment that violates these Terms or Standards, please report it to the moderators using the ‘Report’ function, or contact us directly through the platform’s messaging system.

5. Getting Support, Information, Advice and Guidance

The British Overseas Voters Forum is primarily for campaigning for political and legislative change which affects those British citizens living abroad.

At times, and in the absence of anywhere else to ask, it is foreseen than some members will need support, information, advice or guidance.  The BOVF will endeavour to signpost those individuals to better alternative spaces for assistance, especially where we have good links with other groups doing work relating to the BOVF Key Issues.

Country specific groups, will each have a ‘general’ thread within their forums which under these extraordinary circumstances might offer solutions to questions posed by members.

6. Local Legal Observance

Different counteries have different laws and it is particularly imperative within the Country Branch groups and Forums that local peculiar laws are observed.  An example of this might be in Thailand, where there are stringent lèse-majesté laws.   Be mindful.

7. BOVF Terms and Conditions

Use License

• Permission is granted to temporarily download one copy of the materials (information or software) on BOVF’s website for personal, non-commercial transitory viewing only. This is the grant of a license, not a transfer of title, and under this license, you may not:

• modify or copy the materials;
• use the materials for any commercial purpose, or for any public display (commercial or non-commercial);
• attempt to decompile or reverse engineer any software contained on BOVF’s website;
• remove any copyright or other proprietary notations from the materials; or
• transfer the materials to another person or “mirror” the materials on any other server.

• This license shall automatically terminate if you violate any of these restrictions and may be terminated by BOVF at any time. Upon terminating your viewing of these materials or upon the termination of this license, you must destroy any downloaded materials in your possession whether in electronic or printed format.

Diversity and Inclusion Policy

At the British Overseas Voters Forum (BOVF), we firmly believe in fostering a culture of inclusion and mutual respect. We recognize that our strength and excellence come from the diversity of our team, which includes Members, Activists, and Supporters. This diversity encompasses a wide array of individual differences, life experiences, knowledge, innovation, self-expression, and unique talents. Together, these elements contribute to our vibrant culture, our esteemed reputation, and our collective achievements.

We actively pursue the inclusion of varied perspectives and experiences, understanding that diversity enriches our dialogue, decision-making, and insights into the needs of the British Overseas Citizens we serve. As such, we are committed to building a team that reflects a wide spectrum of backgrounds and views. In our search for new team members, we welcome and encourage the unique contributions that individuals can bring, including their educational background, opinions, cultural heritage, ethnicity, race, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, languages spoken, veteran status, religious beliefs, and any other aspects that make them unique.

Our commitment to diversity and inclusion is not just about fulfilling a moral obligation—it’s about embracing the wealth of creativity, innovation, and problem-solving potential that comes from a multitude of perspectives working together towards a common goal. We believe that an inclusive environment, where team members feel valued and integrated, fosters a sense of belonging and significantly contributes to our effectiveness and success.

Disclaimer

The materials on BOVF’s website are provided on an ‘as is’ basis. BOVF makes no warranties, expressed or implied, and hereby disclaims and negates all other warranties including, without limitation, implied warranties or conditions of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, or non-infringement of intellectual property or other violation of rights.

Further, BOVF does not warrant or make any representations concerning the accuracy, likely results, or reliability of the use of the materials on its website or otherwise relating to such materials or on any sites linked to this site.

Limitations

In no event shall BOVF or its suppliers be liable for any damages (including, without limitation, damages for loss of data or profit, or due to business interruption) arising out of the use or inability to use the materials on BOVF’s website, even if BOVF or a BOVF authorized representative has been notified orally or in writing of the possibility of such damage.

Accuracy of Materials

The materials appearing on BOVF’s website could include technical, typographical, or photographic errors. BOVF does not warrant that any of the materials on its website are accurate, complete, or current. BOVF may make changes to the materials contained on its website at any time without notice. However, BOVF does not make any commitment to update the materials.

Links

BOVF has not reviewed all of the sites linked to its website and is not responsible for the contents of any such linked site. The inclusion of any link does not imply endorsement by BOVF of the site. Use of any such linked website is at the user’s own risk.

Membership Conduct and Organization Principles

As Members, Activists, or Supporters of the British Overseas Voters Forum, you acknowledge the rich diversity within our organization, encompassing a broad spectrum of political interests, ideologies, and affiliations with various political parties within the UK. While BOVF is steadfastly non-partisan, our commitment to political engagement in promoting the rights of British Overseas Citizens, and particularly British Overseas Voters, is unwavering. We are dedicated to executing a strategic plan that includes campaigning, lobbying, and taking all legally permissible actions to enhance the rights and representation of our members.

We embrace our role as a political entity, though non-partisan, and are devoted to advancing the interests of British Overseas Citizens through lawful and reasonable means. Any actions or behaviors aimed at compromising the effectiveness of our organization, including but not limited to, promoting views, comments, or opinions antithetical to the objectives of BOVF, will lead to the immediate termination of association in the case of registered supporters and or membership in the case of those who have joined. This includes the removal of the individual’s or group’s name from our records and undertaking necessary measures to publicly disassociate from such views or comments, ensuring the integrity and unity of our mission remain intact.

Governing Law

These terms and conditions are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the United Kingdom, and you irrevocably submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts in that location.

8. Changes to These Terms

BOVF reserves the right to amend these Terms of Service and Community Standards as necessary. Continued use of the Forum implies acceptance of any updated terms.

Thank you for being part of the British Overseas Voters Forum.

By participating, you help build a stronger, fairer voice for UK citizens around the world.

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Privacy Policy

Introduction

British Overseas Voters Forum (“BOVF,” “we,” “our,” or “us”) respects your privacy and is committed to protecting your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and protect your personal data when you use “The Forum,” our online community powered by BuddyBoss.

Information We Collect

Personal Information You Provide

When you register on The Forum, you provide personal information, including:

• Name and username

• Email address

• Profile information (such as biography, interests, and location)

• Profile images or avatars

• Any other information voluntarily provided through forum discussions, comments, or messages

Information Collected Automatically

We collect certain technical information automatically when you use our site, including:

• IP address

• Browser type and device information

• Operating system

• Pages you view and interactions within The Forum

• Dates and times of your visits

How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

• To create and manage your Forum account

• To personalize your Forum experience

• To facilitate communication between members

• To ensure the security and integrity of our site

• To improve our services and user experience

• To send administrative notifications, announcements, and community updates

• To respond to your inquiries, comments, or support requests

• To analyze site usage and performance

Legal Basis for Processing Your Personal Data

We process your personal data under GDPR and DPA 2018 on the following lawful grounds:

• Consent: When you explicitly consent to specific purposes, such as email communications.

• Contractual Necessity: Processing necessary to provide you with access and membership to The Forum.

• Legitimate Interests: For maintaining security, improving services, and managing administrative tasks related to The Forum.

Sharing of Your Information

We will never sell or rent your personal information to third parties.

We may share your information in the following limited circumstances:

• With Other Forum Members: Information you choose to display in your public profile or post publicly will be accessible to other members of The Forum.

• Service Providers: We may share your data with trusted third-party providers who help us operate The Forum, such as hosting services (e.g., BuddyBoss), analytics providers, and email notification services. These providers are contractually bound to safeguard your information.

• Legal Obligations: We may disclose your information if legally required or to protect the rights, property, or safety of BOVF, our members, or others.

International Data Transfers

As the Forum serves a global community, your data may be transferred and stored internationally, including in countries outside your residence, subject to appropriate safeguards.

Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to safeguard your personal information from unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction.

Data Retention

We retain your personal information as long as necessary to provide you with access to The Forum, fulfill the purposes described above, comply with legal obligations, or resolve disputes.

If you delete your account or request deletion, we will remove your personal information from public view and retain only necessary data for administrative, legal, or security purposes.

Your Privacy Rights

You have the right to:

• Access and receive a copy of the personal data we hold about you

• Correct inaccurate or incomplete personal data

• Request deletion of your personal data

• Object to or restrict processing of your personal data

• Withdraw your consent for data processing at any time (without affecting the lawfulness of processing based on consent before withdrawal)

To exercise these rights, please contact us at the details provided below.

Your Rights Under GDPR and DPA 2018

Under GDPR and DPA 2018, you have the right to:

• Access: Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.

• Rectification: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data.

• Erasure: Request deletion of your personal data (“right to be forgotten”).

• Restrict Processing: Limit how we use your data.

• Data Portability: Request transfer of your data to another service.

• Object: Object to our processing of your data under certain circumstances.

• Withdraw Consent: Withdraw previously granted consent at any time.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the details provided at the end of this policy.

You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), the UK supervisory authority for data protection issues (www.ico.org.uk).

Cookies and Similar Technologies

Our use of cookies is detailed separately in our Cookie Policy on The Forum website.

Third-Party Links and Services

Our Forum may include links or integrations with third-party websites or services. These sites have their own privacy policies, and we are not responsible for their practices. Please review their privacy policies before providing personal information.

Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically. Any changes will be posted here with an updated “Last Updated” date at the top. We encourage you to review this policy regularly.

Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding your personal data or this Privacy Policy, please contact us using the BOVF Contact page.

You can access our contact page HERE.

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