1. About The Metaphor Society

The Metaphor Society is a community for the exploration, discussion and study of metaphor in its many forms. It provides members with access to meetings, presentations, recordings, educational materials and opportunities for shared discussion.

The Metaphor Society is owned and managed by Andrew T. Austin and The Fresh Brain Company Ltd.

2. Acceptance of this policy

By applying for, purchasing or renewing membership of The Metaphor Society, you agree to comply with:

• This Membership Policy
• The Membership Standards Policy
• The Privacy Policy
• Any reasonable rules governing Society meetings or community spaces
• Any additional terms clearly presented when a service is purchased

These policies form part of the conditions under which membership and access to Society services are provided.

3. Open and inclusive membership

The Metaphor Society is open to people from all backgrounds and levels of experience. No particular professional qualification, training, occupation or academic background is required unless a specific event or activity expressly states otherwise.

Membership is available regardless of:

• Age, subject to any minimum age required by law
• Disability
• Gender reassignment
• Marriage or civil partnership
• Pregnancy or maternity
• Race, colour, nationality, ethnic origin or national origin
• Religion or belief
• Sex
• Sexual orientation
• Educational background
• Professional background
• Level of previous training or experience
• Socioeconomic or cultural background

Members and applicants will be treated fairly, respectfully and without unlawful discrimination.

The Society may make reasonable adjustments to improve accessibility where it is reasonably able to do so. Requests for adjustments should be sent to freshnewbrain@gmail.com .

4. Membership applications

Applications must contain accurate and current information. An applicant must not impersonate another person, provide deliberately misleading information or create an account for an unlawful or improper purpose.

Submission of an application or payment does not automatically guarantee acceptance as a member.

The Society may request further information where reasonably necessary to process an application, confirm identity, protect the community or prevent fraud or misuse.

5. Acceptance and refusal of membership

The Metaphor Society reserves the right to accept or refuse an application for membership at its discretion.

The Society is not required to provide an explanation for refusing an application, provided that the decision is lawful and is not based on unlawful discrimination.

Membership may be refused where, for example:

• The application contains false or misleading information
• The applicant has previously breached Society policies
• The applicant presents a credible risk to members or the community
• The application appears fraudulent or abusive
• Payment has failed or been reversed
• The Society reasonably considers that membership would be unsuitable

6. Membership fees

Membership fees will be displayed at the time of joining or renewal. The Society may offer monthly, annual or other membership periods.

Members are responsible for ensuring that their payment and contact information remains accurate.

Where membership renews automatically, the member authorises the relevant payment provider to collect the applicable renewal payment until the recurring membership is cancelled.

The Society may change its membership fees. Any new price will normally apply from the member’s next renewal and will not retrospectively alter a membership period that has already been paid for.

7. Cancelling membership

Members may cancel their membership at any time.

Cancellation prevents future membership renewal payments from being collected. Unless otherwise stated, cancellation does not immediately end access to the membership services already paid for. Access will normally continue until the end of the current paid membership period.

Members may cancel through any cancellation facility provided within their account or by emailing:

freshnewbrain@gmail.com

Members should cancel before their next scheduled renewal date. Cancelling after a renewal payment has been collected will not normally result in a refund.

8. Refund policy

Membership provides access to an ongoing collection of meetings, recordings, resources, community spaces and other member services. Once membership access has been provided, membership fees are not normally refundable.

In particular, refunds will not normally be provided because:

• A member changes their mind after joining
• A member does not use the membership
• A member does not attend a meeting or event
• A member fails to cancel before a renewal payment
• A member no longer wishes to receive membership communications
• A member disagrees with a speaker, contributor or discussion
• A member’s access is suspended or terminated for a policy breach

Membership payments are refundable where:

• An application is refused after payment has been taken
• A duplicate payment has been taken in error
• The Society agrees that a payment was taken incorrectly
• A refund is required under applicable consumer law

Nothing in this policy removes or restricts any statutory rights that cannot lawfully be excluded.

9. Statutory cancellation rights

Depending on the way membership was purchased and the services that have already been supplied, a member may have statutory cancellation rights under UK consumer law.

Where a member asks for membership services or digital access to begin during a statutory cancellation period, the Society may begin providing access immediately where the member has expressly requested this.

Where permitted by law, any refund due following statutory cancellation may be reduced to reflect services already provided before the cancellation request was received.

Requests relying on a statutory cancellation right should be sent to freshnewbrain@gmail.com .

10. Membership standards

All members are expected to comply with the Membership Standards Policy and to contribute to a respectful, constructive and safe community.

Members must not:

• Harass, intimidate, threaten or abuse another person
• Discriminate against another member or participant
• Deliberately disrupt Society meetings, events or discussions
• Share confidential or private information without permission
• Record meetings or members without appropriate authorisation
• Share member-only materials outside the membership
• Allow another person to use their membership account
• Misrepresent their relationship with The Metaphor Society
• Use the Society to promote unlawful, exploitative or harmful activity
• Act in a way that creates a credible risk to the Society or its members

A difference of opinion, disagreement with a presentation or respectful criticism will not, by itself, be treated as misconduct.

11. Suspension or termination of membership

Membership may be suspended or terminated where the Society reasonably considers that a member has breached this policy, the Membership Standards Policy or another applicable Society rule.

Membership may also be suspended or terminated where:

• A payment has failed, been reversed or remains outstanding
• An account has been shared with another person
• Member-only content has been copied or distributed without permission
• The member has behaved abusively or disruptively
• The member has placed another person at risk
• The member has provided materially false information
• The member has misused the Society’s name, materials or community
• Continued membership would expose the Society or its members to harm

Depending on the circumstances, the Society may:

• Issue an informal reminder
• Provide a formal warning
• Restrict access to a particular meeting or community space
• Suspend membership while a concern is considered
• Terminate membership immediately

The Society is not required to use these measures in a particular order. Serious misconduct may result in immediate suspension or termination.

12. Decisions about membership conduct

Decisions about warnings, restrictions, suspension or termination will be made by Andrew T. Austin, The Fresh Brain Company Ltd or a person authorised to act on behalf of The Metaphor Society.

The Society may consider information from meeting hosts, moderators, members, witnesses, platform records and relevant written communications.

The Society is not a court or statutory disciplinary body. Its decisions concern access to its own membership services and community.

The Society may decline to disclose confidential information, information concerning another person or material that could expose another person to harm.

13. Requesting a review

A member whose membership has been terminated may submit a written request for the decision to be reviewed.

The request should:

• Be sent within 14 days of notification of termination
• Identify the decision being challenged
• Explain why the member believes the decision should be reconsidered
• Include any relevant information not previously considered

A request for review does not automatically restore membership or access while the review is taking place.

The outcome of the review will be final for the purposes of membership administration.

14. Membership accounts and access

Membership is personal to the named member and may not be transferred, sold or shared.

Members must keep their login information secure and must not permit another person to use their account.

Members should notify the Society promptly if they believe their account has been accessed without authorisation.

The Society may temporarily restrict access where necessary to address security concerns, payment problems, maintenance, suspected account sharing or a possible policy breach.

15. Member-only materials

Membership may provide access to recordings, presentations, articles, downloads, discussion archives and other educational materials.

Unless expressly stated otherwise, these materials are provided for the member’s personal use. Members must not:

• Share login details or direct access links
• Upload member materials to another website or platform
• Sell, sublicense or commercially distribute the materials
• Record or redistribute Society meetings without permission
• Remove copyright or attribution notices

16. Changes to membership services

The Society may change the format, timetable, speakers, resources, platforms or features included within membership.

Individual meetings, speakers or resources are not guaranteed. Events may occasionally be postponed, replaced or cancelled because of illness, technical failure, availability or circumstances outside the Society’s reasonable control.

The Society may update or remove archived material where it is outdated, no longer relevant, legally problematic or unsuitable for continued publication.

17. Educational nature of the Society

Membership of The Metaphor Society is provided for education, exploration, discussion and community participation.

Membership does not:

• Confer a professional qualification
• Provide accreditation or a licence to practise
• Create a therapist-client relationship
• Provide medical, psychiatric, legal or financial advice
• Guarantee professional, personal or commercial outcomes

Members remain responsible for acting within their own competence, qualifications, professional standards and applicable laws.

18. Ending The Metaphor Society or a membership service

The Fresh Brain Company Ltd may discontinue The Metaphor Society or a particular membership service where it is no longer reasonably practicable to continue it.

Where the Society ends a prepaid membership service before the end of the member’s paid period for reasons unrelated to the member’s conduct, an appropriate refund or alternative arrangement may be offered, taking account of the services already provided.

19. Changes to this policy

This Membership Policy may be updated to reflect changes to Society services, membership arrangements, legal requirements or community standards.

The latest version will be published on the Society website. Material changes affecting current members may also be communicated by email or through the membership area.