YouTurn Forum – Terms of use

Welcome

This YouTurn Forum is a supportive online community for parents, carers, adult family members and adult friends of individuals including children who may be involved in, vulnerable to, or at risk of serious violence, criminal exploitation, gang involvement, county lines activity, knife crime, or other harmful behaviours.

This forum provides a safe space to share experiences, ask questions, seek support, and learn from others facing similar challenges. We know from feedback and published research that many people feel worried, isolated, confused, angry or frightened when someone they care about becomes involved in risky situations. This forum exists to help people find support, information and hope.

This forum is intended to encourage early intervention, positive decision-making and safer outcomes for young people and families.

Who can use the forum?

To register and post on the forum, you must:

  • Be aged 18 years or over.
  • Provide a valid email address.
  • Choose a screen name that does not identify you or another person.
  • Agree to these Terms of use and other guidelines we share

YouTurn reserves the right to suspend or remove access to the forum where these terms are breached.

Privacy and anonymity

The forum can be viewed by members of the public. Registration is required to post.

To protect yourself and others:

  • Do not use your real name as your username.
  • Do not include names, addresses, schools, workplaces, social media accounts, telephone numbers, vehicle registrations or any other information that could identify yourself or another person.
  • Do not post photographs, videos or documents that identify individuals.
  • Do not share confidential information about another person.

Registration information

When you register, YouTurn will collect:

  • Your screen name – This is how you will be known on the forum. Do not use your real name or a username from another forum. Please ensure usernames are appropriate and not likely to cause offence to other users of the forum.
  • Email address – Other users will not be able to see your email address. However, moderators can access your email address. For this reason, please do not provide details of offences or offending that are unknown to the authorities, as we would have to pass this information and your email address to the police. We need your email address to complete registration and, in line with our privacy policy, will not forward it on to anyone else.
  • Password – Mike what format would you recommend?

Your information will be stored securely and processed in accordance with our Privacy Notice and applicable UK data protection legislation, including the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.

Your email address will not be visible to other forum users. remove

Moderation

All posts are pre-moderated before publication.

Moderation helps us;

  • Maintain a safe and supportive environment.
  • Protect users from harmful, abusive or unlawful content.
  • Reduce the risk of identifying individuals.
  • Ensure discussions remain respectful and constructive.

Moderators may edit, refuse, delay or remove content that breaches these terms of use.

Although we aim to review posts several times each day, there may occasionally be delays before posts become visible.

Forum guidelines

Users must:

  • Treat others with dignity and respect.
  • Share experiences in a supportive and constructive way.
  • Respect the privacy of others.
  • Keep discussions relevant to the purpose of the forum.

Users must not:

  • Post abusive, threatening, discriminatory or offensive content.
  • Encourage, promote or glorify criminal activity, violence, exploitation or gang involvement.
  • Provide instructions on how to commit offences or avoid detection.
  • Harass, intimidate or target other users.
  • Share content that is false, misleading or deliberately harmful.
  • Post personal information about another individual.
  • Upload material that infringes copyright or intellectual property rights.

Information and advice

The forum allows users to share personal experiences and perspectives.

Information shared by forum users:

  • Does not constitute professional, legal, medical or mental health advice.
  • May not be accurate, complete or suitable for your circumstances.
  • Should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional support.

Where appropriate, moderators may signpost users to specialist services, emergency support or professional advice.

Safeguarding and Information Sharing

The safety of children, young people and adults at risk is our highest priority.

Most information shared on the forum will remain confidential within the limits described in this agreement and our Privacy Notice.

However, YouTurn may share information with appropriate agencies, including the police, social care, health services or safeguarding partners where we reasonably believe that:

  • A child or vulnerable adult is at risk of significant harm.
  • There is a serious risk of harm to any person.
  • A criminal offence which is unknown to the authorities is disclosed, being planned or may occur.
  • Disclosure is necessary to protect life or prevent serious harm.
  • We are required to do so by law, court order or regulatory requirement.
  • Disclosure is otherwise lawful under safeguarding or data protection legislation.

Any decision to share information will be made carefully, proportionately and in accordance with our safeguarding responsibilities and legal obligations.

Mental health and crisis situations

The forum is not an emergency service.

If you or someone else is in immediate danger:

  • Call 999.
  • Contact emergency services.
  • Seek urgent support from appropriate crisis services.

Forum moderators cannot provide immediate crisis intervention.

One-to-One support

Some users may benefit from more personalised support.

Where appropriate, YouTurn may offer access to:

  • One-to-one support from trained practitioners.
  • Guidance from staff with relevant professional or lived experience.
  • Mental health support and signposting.
  • Referrals to local services and support networks.

 

Participation in the forum does not guarantee access to additional services.

Resources available

The forum may provide access to:

  • Information and guidance on exploitation, gangs, violence and knife crime.
  • Wellbeing resources.
  • Glossaries and educational materials.
  • Sources of support and advice.
  • Signposting to local and national services.
  • Information about Direction for Bedfordshire and other community resources.

Removal of Content and Accounts

YouTurn reserves the right to:

  • Edit or remove content.
  • Restrict posting privileges.
  • Suspend or permanently remove accounts.
  • Report unlawful content where appropriate.

This may occur where users breach these terms of use or where content presents a safeguarding, legal or reputational risk.

Changes to these terms

These terms of use may be updated from time to time to reflect changes in legislation, safeguarding requirements or forum operations.

Continued use of the forum following any changes constitutes acceptance of the updated terms.

Acceptance

By registering for and using the YouTurn forum, you confirm that:

  • You are aged 18 years or over.
  • You have read and understood these Terms of Use.
  • You agree to comply with the Forum Rules.
  • You understand the limits of confidentiality and circumstances in which information may be shared.

You understand that the forum is publicly viewable and that you are responsible for protecting your own anonymity and the privacy of others.