Forum Rules and Guidelines

The ECHO Forum aims to be a structured, safe platform providing a friendly place online to discuss anything to do with caring for a child with a heart condition along with any other associated conditions or needs. The Forum is run on a volunteer basis by a team of forum members who have experienced or have a link to specific topics discussed on the forum.

This is a new initiative, and we want this platform to be led and shaped by the ECHO community, we welcome any feedback you may have. If there are topics, you would like to be added or feel there are areas for improvement please get in touch with us.

If you see anything on the forum which causes you concern or feel is inappropriate or offensive, please report it immediately. Please do not act on this directly, report it to the ECHO team.

The Forum is not monitored 24 hours a day, if you need to talk to someone urgently the Samaritans offer a 24 hour telephone service. Call them anytime from any phone 116 123
“We offer a safe place for you to talk any time you like, in your own way – about whatever’s getting to you.”

The Forum should not be used in emergency situations. If you or your young person is in crisis please contact your GP to arrange a same day, emergency appointment or immediately attend A&E or call 999 out of GP hours.

Guidelines

Please follow these guidelines to help ensure the ECHO Forum is kept a friendly and safe space for all users:

• Be kind: We’re all in this together to create a welcoming environment. Let’s treat everyone with respect. Healthy debates are natural, but kindness is required.
• Be polite: Don’t post or private message anything which could be considered offensive, abusive.
• Protect your and other people’s privacy: Although this is a closed forum, please ensure you are still following safe internet practice. It is important that you protect yourself and others, please protect your identity or the identity of others where appropriate. Try not to use individual’s names or detailed circumstances.
• No hate speech or bullying: Bullying of any kind isn’t allowed, and degrading comments about things such as race, religion, culture, sexual orientation, gender or identity will not be tolerated.
• Sharing information: Any medical or health advice or information which ECHO deems to be false, unhelpful or inflammatory will be removed. We always advise you speak to your child’s cardiac practitioner.
• No promotions or spam: Self-promotion, spam and irrelevant links aren’t allowed and an ECHO team member will remove them.
• Please be considerate: ECHO forum team are all unpaid volunteers who work very hard to keep the forum safe and welcoming.

Posts that may be edited or deleted

The following types of posts are likely to be edited or deleted:

• Posts containing personal insults, attacks, innuendo, attempts at provocation, or flaming
• Sexist, racist, ageist, homophobic, transphobic, or disablist posts
• Sexually explicit or obscene posts
• Posts containing offensive or harmful material
• Posts that are intolerant of beliefs/religion
• Advice that could cause potential harm to an ECHO member

Discussing moderation on the forum

We do not allow the discussion of specific moderation decisions on our forum. If you have any concerns about moderating decisions please contact the team directly.

Accounts

Members must only have one account.

Using private messages

Private Messages are useful for connecting with people in similar situations or even to develop friendships. However, please do not send PMs containing unsolicited advertising, spam, of a sexual nature.

Any advice posted on the ECHO Forum is for support purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for advice by a qualified professional.

Before using the forum, please read the forum terms and conditions.

• Visit the ECHO forum