Membership, Training & Refund Policy

Everything you need to know about your Nessie Community membership.

Welcome to Nessie Community.

This policy explains how membership, training, payments, cancellations and refunds work. It should be read alongside the Nessie Community Terms & Conditions, Privacy Notice and Community Code of Conduct.

Our aim is to provide a welcoming, supportive and high-quality experience and to be clear about the commitment you are making when you join.

• EBSA Member – Free
• Nessie Member – £7.50 per month or £90 annually
• Nessie Advanced Member – £15 per month or £165 annually
• Nessie Trainer – £25 per month or £265 annually
• Nessie Lead Trainer – £30 per month or £315 annually

All prices shown are inclusive of VAT. The price displayed is the total amount you pay.

Features and benefits for each membership level are described on the Nessie Community portal and may evolve as the Community develops.

There is a one-off £15 joining fee when you first join any paid Nessie Community membership.

If you pay monthly, you pay the joining fee when you join. It covers your first month of membership, and eleven monthly subscription payments follow.

If you pay annually, you do not pay the joining fee separately — it is already included within the annual price shown.

You pay this joining fee once only. If you later progress or move to another paid membership level, you will not be charged another joining fee.

There is no joining fee for the free EBSA Member level.

All paid Nessie Community memberships are a 12-month commitment.

You can choose to spread the cost of your membership across the year, or pay the full 12-month fee upfront.

Choosing monthly payments spreads the cost of your annual membership. It does not create a month-to-month rolling membership.

If you choose monthly payments, you are agreeing to the £15 joining fee, which covers your first month, together with the eleven monthly subscription payments that follow — subject to your statutory rights and any exceptional circumstances described in this policy.

Paying annually costs less: the annual price is the equivalent of one month's membership lower than paying across the year, and it already includes the joining fee.

Payments are processed securely through authorised payment providers. If a payment cannot be collected, paid membership access may be temporarily suspended while the outstanding payment is resolved.

Paid membership is a 12-month commitment and cannot ordinarily be ended part-way through the membership year simply to stop future monthly payments.

If you pay monthly, payments remain due for the remainder of your agreed 12-month term.

If you pay annually upfront, the annual membership fee will not ordinarily be refunded if you choose to leave during the membership year.

You may tell us that you do not wish to continue beyond the end of your current 12-month membership term.

We understand that exceptional circumstances can arise. If serious illness, bereavement or another significant unexpected circumstance affects your ability to continue, please contact us. We will consider requests fairly and compassionately on a case-by-case basis.

Nothing in this policy affects your statutory consumer rights.

Where membership is purchased online, consumers may have a statutory right to cancel within 14 days of entering into the membership contract.

If you ask for digital content, membership services or other benefits to be made available during this period, your cancellation or refund rights may be affected in accordance with applicable UK consumer law.

Where required, Nessie will obtain the appropriate consent or acknowledgement before providing immediate access to digital content.

Nothing in this policy is intended to restrict your statutory rights.

You may progress to a higher membership level during your 12-month membership year, subject to any eligibility or approval requirements for that level.

When you upgrade, your original membership anniversary and renewal date stays the same. You do not pay another £15 joining fee and the upgrade does not begin a new 12-month term.

If you pay monthly, your future payments will change to the rate for your new membership level from the agreed upgrade date.

If you paid annually upfront, Nessie may charge a pro-rata amount representing the difference between the two membership levels for the remaining part of your existing membership year.

If you wish to move to a lower paid membership level, this will normally take effect at the end of your current 12-month membership term.

Members have access to the learning, resources and benefits included within their current membership level.

Where membership includes learning leading to CPD certification, certificates are issued once the relevant completion, attendance, participation or assessment requirements have been met.

Previously issued CPD certificates remain valid if membership later ends.

Nessie may update, add, replace or withdraw individual resources or learning materials where reasonably necessary to keep the Community current, relevant and high quality.

Some training, workshops, events or digital products may be included within membership, while others may be available as separate purchases.

Payments for one-off digital products and online training are generally non-refundable once access has been provided, subject to statutory consumer rights.

Where digital content is made available immediately after purchase, choosing to access it straight away may affect the statutory 14-day cancellation right.

Refunds may be considered for duplicate payments, accidental purchases or technical issues that prevent access and cannot reasonably be resolved. Requests should normally be made within 14 days of purchase.

Joining instructions will normally be provided before live sessions, workshops or events.

For separately paid events, cancellations made more than 7 days before the event may be transferred to another available session where possible. Cancellations within 7 days are normally non-refundable.

If Nessie cancels a separately paid event, participants will be offered an alternative date, transfer, event credit or full refund as appropriate.

Where Nessie reschedules an event and the new date is unsuitable, a transfer or refund will be offered where appropriate.

Approved refunds will normally be processed within 5–10 working days.

Participants are responsible for completing any required learning, assessments, attendance and other standards associated with Trainer programmes or accredited learning.

A refund will not normally be provided where accreditation or Trainer status is not achieved because a participant does not complete the required learning, does not meet the required standard or chooses to withdraw after learning has begun.

Successfully completing training does not automatically guarantee approval to become an authorised Nessie Trainer.

Nessie will determine whether the required standards have been met and whether an individual is suitable to represent Nessie before Trainer status is awarded.

Trainer resources, supervision, approved delivery materials and access to paid delivery opportunities are available only while an active Trainer membership is maintained.

Payment for Trainer Membership does not automatically give permission to deliver Nessie-branded training. Delivery is subject to Nessie approval and applicable training, safeguarding, conduct and quality requirements.

Trainer Membership does not guarantee paid work, a minimum number of opportunities or any particular level of income.

To maintain Trainer status, Nessie Trainers are expected to support a minimum of three community-based EBSA awareness sessions during each membership year.

These sessions are delivered free of charge to attendees, promote understanding of Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA), and use approved Nessie materials and branding unless otherwise agreed.

Where exceptional circumstances prevent a Trainer from meeting this expectation, Nessie will work with the member to seek a fair and reasonable solution.

Nessie Lead Trainer is a progression pathway for experienced Nessie Trainers and is subject to Nessie’s approval.

Lead Trainers may access additional learning, mentoring and development opportunities and may be invited to represent Nessie, support other Trainers, contribute to programme development and access additional paid delivery opportunities.

Lead Trainer Membership does not guarantee paid work or a minimum level of income.

Paid memberships provide access to Nessie Community benefits and are purchased for a 12-month term.

Membership fees are therefore generally non-refundable once membership has started, subject to statutory cancellation rights and the exceptional circumstances set out in this policy.

Partial refunds are not normally provided because a member has not used the Community, has not accessed particular content, has not attended live sessions or chooses not to use benefits available within their membership.

If Nessie is unable to provide a significant part of a paid membership service, any appropriate remedy, credit or refund will be considered in accordance with the circumstances and applicable consumer law.

All Nessie training materials, videos, presentations, downloads, templates, workbooks and resources remain the intellectual property of Nessie in Ed CIC or the relevant rights holder unless otherwise stated.

They are provided for the registered member’s permitted use and must not be copied, reproduced, shared, sold, uploaded to AI platforms or third-party sharing services, or distributed without prior written permission from Nessie.

Trainer and Lead Trainer members may use approved materials only for delivery specifically authorised by Nessie.

Membership is intended for the registered member. Login details must not be shared.

Nessie may suspend or remove access where Community guidelines are breached, behaviour is abusive, discriminatory, threatening or unsafe, content is shared without permission, accounts are shared or used fraudulently, or Nessie materials or branding are misused.

Refunds will not normally be provided where access is suspended or terminated because of a serious or repeated breach, subject to applicable consumer law.

Nessie Community will continue to develop. Nessie may update membership benefits, training content, resources, programme features or delivery methods to reflect feedback, evidence, legislation or organisational priorities.

Where a significant change materially affects a paid membership, members will be given reasonable notice wherever possible.

Changes to membership pricing will not ordinarily alter the price payable during an existing 12-month membership term unless agreed with the member.

Schools, local authorities and organisations may purchase memberships or training by invoice by prior arrangement. Any organisation-specific payment or booking terms will be confirmed at the point of purchase.

We understand that many Nessie Community members are supporting children and young people through challenging circumstances.

Requests falling outside this policy may be considered individually at Nessie’s discretion. We aim to respond with fairness, kindness and common sense while protecting the sustainability and integrity of Nessie Community.

Where a refund is agreed, it will normally be processed within 5–10 working days.

Nessie Community provides education, training, information and peer/community support. It is not a crisis service, counselling service, therapy provider, medical service or legal advice service.

Nothing within Nessie Community should be considered a substitute for appropriate professional medical, mental health, safeguarding or legal advice.

We aim to be fair, transparent and understanding. While clear policies are necessary to operate Nessie Community effectively, we will always do our best to resolve situations with kindness, common sense and compassion.

For questions about membership, training, payments, cancellations or refunds, please contact:

Nessie in Ed CIC

Email: hello@nessieined.com

Website: nessieined.com