How we look after this space
A few simple things keep it a place people want to come back to.
- 1
Be kind, not judgemental
Everyone's somewhere different. Nobody has to be sober, sorted or ready to take part.
- 2
Share experience, not instructions
Say what helped you. Don't tell people what they must do, and never give medical or legal advice as fact.
- 3
Keep people safe
Don't share names, addresses, photos of others, or anything that could identify someone. No advice on getting or using substances.
- 4
No selling or recruiting
No adverts, paid services, fundraising or links that ask for money.
- 5
If someone's in danger, call 999
This isn't a crisis service and nobody is watching around the clock. Point people to urgent help.
Being here without being seen
Lots of people can't, or don't want to, sit in groups — because of anxiety, mental health, mobility, or simply because rooms like that aren't for them. This space was built for that too. You're welcome here without being seen.
- A nickname is all you need — it doesn't have to be your real name.
- Your email address is never shown to other people.
- You can read everything without posting, for as long as you like.
- No video calls, no meetings, nothing to attend.
- Reports are private — the person won't know who sent one.
- A post is paused straight away if it's reported as unsafe or sharing personal details, or after three separate reports.
- A BesideYou moderator then checks it, and either brings it back or removes it. Repeated harm can mean an account can no longer post.
- You can mute anyone, so you no longer see what they post.
Moderators are volunteers from the BesideYou team, not clinicians or counsellors, and reports aren't checked around the clock.