Private Facebook Group

We run a private members-only Facebook Group, which operates under a strict Code of Conduct about what can be posted.

We want our Facebook Group to be a safe space where members can ask questions and discuss matters that affect their daily struggle of living with ME. This online group can be a lifeline to people bed and housebound and therefore cut-off from other sources of contact. We ask that you support this section of our community as best you can.

If you would like to join our group, you need to first be a member of the charity: Join Us

You can visit our group website by clicking on "Go to HFwME Facebook Group" button located on the right panel.

The Committee can't add members to the group until they request to join. We screen all joining requests to make sure that only members are added (or carers / partners specifically nominated by members). You will therefore see a series of questions should automatically come up when you ask to join. Don't worry about this - we really only need your name so that we can trace you to our membership database and thereby verify you are a "real" person.

Code of Conduct

Hampshire Friends with M.E. (HFwME) is a closed Facebook group for members who have joined the HFwME charity. This group's aim is to provide a forum for social links with other members for contact, information and support. Our aim is to provide a platform for friendship and fun as well as support.

To ensure that members feel safe and respected within this group we ask that you abide by the following rules:

PLEASE DO NOT

Post information designed to promote a business or service that is not connected with ME/CFS
Post advertisements for any paid business or service
Post anything advocating suicide and self-harm
Post online campaigns or petitions
Post party political information or statements
Post anything sexually explicit
Post anything to promote criminal behaviour
Post anything that promotes any form of hate speech or intolerance

As we wish for a stress-free, fun-filled group we are against any form of bullying. We therefore ask that members comply with the following guidelines:

PLEASE DO NOT

Make aggressive or rude comments, passive or otherwise
Be negative about any individual member/s
Bully or harass any member, including using racist, homophobic, sexist, transphobic or sexually inappropriate language
Make assumptions about someone's background or circumstances, i.e. gender identity, sexual orientation, work status, marriage, social status etc

Please make sure when posting any information, that to the best of your knowledge it is factually correct, misinformation is harmful and often has serious consequences. If you don't know, ACT (Ask, Check, Thoroughly).

If a member is in any doubt whether a post could contravene the rules, they are welcome to contact a Facebook Group Administrator in advance for guidance.

If a member has a complaint they should contact a Facebook Group Administrator ("Admin") or the Membership Secretary. An acknowledgement of receipt will be sent and a full response given within two weeks. An Admin has the authority to take down posts, comments or threads that break the above rules. If an incident is deemed serious enough, they may take members out of the group for up to a month.

Further infractions may result in permanent removal from the group. The Admin will inform the Trustees of their action and the member can appeal to the Trustees about the decision. The Trustees will review the decision and respond within ten days. The Trustees' decision is final. All decisions will be made in accordance with the Equality Act 2010 and Data Protection Act.

Please do not block any Administrators and please be civil to them. Remember that they too have health conditions, please take this into account when contacting them.