Selection criteria
Impact Space is a participant-generated event for campaigners and fundraisers, so we ask people to apply so we can build a valuable event where everyone is there to give as well as gain.
As event organisers, our objective is to curate an event which is an interesting, stimulating, and sometimes challenging learning experience, in an environment which supports participants to be open about their difficulties and problems as well as share their successes. We reserve the right to decline an application if we feel that a given participant is not a good fit for the event and could undermine the experience for others.
Applications will be accepted on the basis of the expertise and experience a person has to contribute to exchange of knowledge in the areas of campaigning, fundraising or digital for social change. We expect participants to be bringing at least 2-3 years of relevant experience; this can include volunteer roles, local activism and work beyond the campaign sector.
Multiple participants from the same organisation
We offer a 25% discount for the second participant from the same organisation (non-commercial participants only), recognising the benefits of attending with colleagues, and of bringing people with different job roles. Each organisation is initially limited to two participants. Different national offices count as different organisations. Extra participants per organisation (> two) will be accepted on the basis of each extra participant having unique expertise to contribute.
Event privacy policy
Your details will be used by more onion in the following ways:
- To assess your application for attending the event
- For Applicants: Saved as a record of who applied
- For Participants: Used for essential communication pre and post event leading up to and immediately following the event
- Participants Name, Organisation, Role, Country URL and Twitter username will be publicly listed
- Participants Name, Organisation, Role, Country, Email, Phone details will only be distributed to other participants in electronic format after the event
- Participants agree that any photos, video or audio in which they appear and taken by more onion can be used and distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 UK: England & Wales license. (There will be a chance to indicate if you would prefer not to be included in photos.)
- For applicants and participants: invited to join and participate in various social networks in order to facilitate your engagement with the rest of the community
At any time you can ask for any of these uses to not apply to you and/or can remove yourself from any email list or other social network in which you are included.
How your details will not be used:
- Your details will not be sold, traded or otherwise distributed to others other than is specifically outlined above
- You won’t be added to any email list without having specifically opted-in for it.
Ticket subsidy criteria
We may offer a reduced participation fee to people from very small organisations, grassroots campaigners, or participants from eastern Europe. Any reduced fee is at the organiser’s discretion.
Payment Terms and Conditions
The ticket price is due in full 15 days from the date ot issue or by the day before the event – whichever comes first. Any reduced rate is only valid for these 15 days after which a new invoice may be issued if the rate has increased.
Participation is only confirmed upon receipt of the fee following a offer to attend (and assuming the participation offer hasn’t been withdrawn due to late payment of fees)
Payments by Credit Card via Pay Pal will also be billed for the processing fee more onion incurs so that more onion receives is the full invoiced amount
There are no discounts or refunds for only attending part of the event.
Cancellations and refunds
Our cancellation terms are as follows:
100% Refund: If cancelled more than 30 days in advance
75% Refund: If cancelled 14-29 days in advance
50% Refund: If cancelled less than 14 days in advance
0% Refund: If a registered participant does not show up at the event
All refunds will be dealt with after the event and once all fees have been received and expenses paid.
Participants from commercial sector
Agencies and consultants are valued participants at Impact Space (as well as organisers and sponsors) often bringing a wide range of experience from different projects and clients. And we know that meeting great partners can be a useful outcome of the event for many participants. However there are some constraints on their participation to protect the value of the event for all.
Commercial participants:
- May only present with permission of the organisers, who will ask about content and give guidance. All presentations within the main agenda must be focused on learning outcomes for participants.
Non-sponsoring commercial participants:
- Cannot distribute materials to all participants
- Cannot make announcements of promotions or other incentives to all participants
See code of conduct below for more information on ‘sales talk’ at the event.
Sponsorship policies
Sponsorship allows us to enhance the core event by trying new things, or investing in eg video or other knowledge capture, while giving the sponsor the profile of supporting the event.
- Sponsors have no automatic right to present. They may present if they have something of value to share (upon advance agreement).
- Sponsors’ commercial activity must be agreed with the organisers in advance (e.g. promotions, tables, announcements, distributions).
- Sponsors have no veto over the agenda or the topics. They may input the agenda like all participants (publicly or privately).
Impact Space code of conduct
At Impact Space we aim to create a warm and welcoming environment for learning and exchange, helping develop and share best practices within the non-profit sector and supporting individuals to build their networks and develop professionally.
As a place where we share ideas and experience, challenge each other and learn, it’s important that we create a space where participants feel safe and supported to be vulnerable, and admit and explore failure and challenge, but also brave enough to put forward views or ideas that may challenge others.
What makes Impact Space special? Two key principles
- We each take responsibility for our own experience
Unlike most events, at an Impact Space event you are free to craft your own conference by not only choosing sessions to attend, but proposing and shaping sessions on topics you want to see. You’re free to leave sessions, to only do what you want to, and join other sessions or sit out when you like too – and accept others doing this. And the same can apply to other aspects of the experience: if there’s something that you wish was different, think about what you could do to make it happen, whether that’s speaking up to get a conversation back on track, or asking if you can open a window. - We share responsibility for the whole experience
Most of the agenda and content is proposed by participants. It depends on the group as a whole to support that process through participation: sharing knowledge and experience, helping to define a question, offering to take notes, or suggesting that a group should split, or close at the right moment. We also take collective responsibility for the overall environment – encouraging and supporting one another’s learning and wellbeing.
From these principles flow these values about how we interact:
We take part in different ways Different kinds of sessions (short presentations, workshops, social spaces, skillshares) may work better for different people, or different content. Some people communicate differently: talking or writing, large or small groups, listening or talking, structured presentation or free-flow conversation – certain sessions may suit you better than others, or they might suit someone else.
We take the time to help one another learn Everyone who attends an Impact Space event has relevant experience to bring, and bringing together people with different roles and specialisms is one of the strengths of the event. Participants need to feel free to ask ‘basic’ questions about an area, if it isn’t their specialism. Someone may be struggling to follow or express themselves because of their language skills. Notice blank faces, embrace their interest in ‘your’ area and take the time to help people catch up or speak up.
We contribute in different ways We also bring different personalities and skills we can use to support each other, whether that’s confidently proposing sessions, noticing and supporting others who are hesitant or struggling to find space to talk, or offering to take notes. And of course participating in the conversation without leading it is also a necessary part of a session.
We’re respectful with the information people share In general Impact Space runs on the ‘Chatham House Rule’ – you can share without attribution (Presentations are normally open for sharing unless the speaker specifies otherwise.) Open Space sessions are between the attendees only, and they only need to write up the notes they agree together that others can see.
We come to give as well as gain Everyone gains when we’re all ready to be open and share ideas, case studies, test results, resources and more in a spirit of lifting the whole sector. Reflecting on and sharing your own experience can be as valuable a learning experience as scribbling notes from someone else’s case study.
We support each other to be vulnerable We learn most when we feel safe and supported, ready to reflect on mistakes, or be open to doing things differently. We help each other to work through challenges and be open to change.
Handling conflict
Conflict is unusual, but disagreements will arise. In all our interactions, we encourage the ‘golden rule’
‘Don’t be a jerk’
Treating others respectfully, even (especially?) when we disagree, is a basic principle, but we must realise at times that our concepts of respect may not always be the same, and also that misunderstandings can arise, particularly in a group with different languages and cultural expectations. We might say something that in content or tone, causes another person to feel silenced or harmed.
- If you feel able to, then tell someone else if they have affected you negatively.
- If you can see that someone is uncomfortable or stressed by someone’s speech or behaviour, you can gently intervene on their behalf, or ask them if they’re OK.
- If you are told that you’ve hurt or upset someone, accept and reflect on this knowledge before responding. This is not an easy or perfect process, but one in which we are constantly learning how to relate to each other.
You’re welcome to call upon the facilitation team for support.
Of course, harassment or bullying are not acceptable at Impact Space, just like in any other environment, and participants who behave in such a way may be asked to leave.
‘Sales talk’
Agencies and consultants are valued participants at Impact Space (as well as organisers and sponsors) often bringing a wide range of experience from different projects and clients. And we know that meeting great suppliers can be a useful outcome of the event for many participants. However we ask suppliers to avoid sales talk outside of the ‘speedpitching’ dedicated ‘selling’ session over drinks on the Thursday evening. Obviously introductions and sharing relevant experience in context are fine.
If you feel a conversation is straying into sales talk, you should feel free to politely suggest that we save it for the speedpitching, or move it to a separate 1-1 outside the event, if both sides want that to happen.