User Group Agreement

PREAMBLE

The London Action Resource Centre is a collectively owned and run building dedicated to the furthering of social justice and environmental issues, locally, nationally and globally. We believe this is done through direct action, refusing to be a spectator or waiting for someone else to do it for us. It is about taking back power and realising our potential to bring about change.

This is an anti-capitalist, non-hierarchical space. This building is intended as a resource for groups seeking social change, not as a social space or a drop-in centre. No one is “in charge”, no one is employed, this is not a service so making it work is down to all of us. The aim is to create a safe supportive and non-threatening space without discrimination or oppression of others. In fact we seek actively to overcome such prejudice.

We believe that respect for the planet goes hand in hand with respect for its people, so wherever possible, we’re trying to reduce the impact the building has on the planet. That means taking care to save as much energy as possible (and even generating our own at some stage), using ecological building materials and generally working to reduce, re-use and recycle what we can.

Users of the building are asked to contribute time to its upkeep. We all also share the responsibility for raising enough money to keep the doors open.

Regular monthly LARC User Group meetings happen on the first Wednesday of each month from 7:30pm and are open to all. The meeting takes collective responsibility for LARC and user groups are asked to attend and actively contribute to these meetings. Any and all decisions are made at the user group meetings.

Anyone using or visiting the building is asked to agree to the principles laid out above and in the following agreement and to generally contribute to make it a success. People actively working against these principles may be asked to stop using the building.

CAPITALISM

  • The building currently costs £7,300 a year to run and improve, equivalent to £20 per day.
  • LARC receives no outside funding, the only source of support is donations by building users
  • Individuals and groups are encouraged to make donations proportionate to their means whenever they use the building
  • Tins for donations are located at strategic points throughout the building, it is also possible to make contributions electronically to our bank account (ask about this at a user group meeting)

BOOKINGS PER EVENT TYPE

  • Anyone wishing to have use of a space at LARC must write a note in the diary. Details of the information required are affixed to the front of the diary, which can be found on the desk in the office upstairs.
  • See the booking appendix for details of the information required of groups / individuals wishing to book a space.

NEW GROUPS WISHING TO HOLD REGULAR MEETINGS IN LARC

  • New groups will be provided with a copy of this user group agreement and shown round the building around the time of their first meeting
  • Groups wishing to use LARC on a regular basis must attend a LARC user group meeting and propose their use of the space.
  • If consensus is achieved in the LARC user group meeting, any new user group is expected to:
    • Agree to send a representative to attend monthly meetings
    • Accept user group agreement
    • Contribute to upkeep by giving time and/or money
    • Understand that there is a 3 month / 3 meeting attendance probationary period before they are issued with keys
    • Provide the email addresses of members to the larc@lists.aktivix.org organising list who will forward relevant emails to their group/read that email list and respond accordingly for their group
    • Understand that failing to abide by the above will result in possible revocation of rights to use the building / key-ownership etc.

ONE-OFF BOOKINGS

  • All one-off bookings need to be agreed at user group meetings
  • A representative must come to the user group meeting before their event, if nobody can attend they must find a regular LARC user group to make their proposal for them
  • A contribution must be made to LARC funds, a reasonable donation for the size/spaces used and length of meeting is expected (see the capitalism section)
  • When booking the space for an extended period and/or booking multiple spaces, the meeting-proposer needs to come to the user group meeting offering a reasonable donation in advance
  • Note: crash space will not be provided unless under emergency circumstances (see crash space section)
  • See below for procedure on benefit gigs / fundraisers

EMERGENCY MEETINGS

  • Emergency meetings are defined as bookings which are made with short notice and cannot be discussed at a user group meeting
  • Groups wanting to book at short notice will be made aware that access cannot always be arranged and that our preference is for bookings to be made with at least a month’s notice
  • Emergency meetings should be made through an existing LARC user group, these must be noted in the diary
  • If an existing user group cannot be found to provide access then efforts will be made to find a key holder to give access etc
  • Please refer to the donations section
  • If it is to become a regular meeting, a meeting-proposer needs to attend the next monthly LARC user-group meeting

FUNDRAISERS

  • The group proposing the event must attend meetings both before & after their benefit
  • For groups that do not habitually use LARC a deposit of £30 will be expected to book a one-off event.
  • The proposing group is expected to donate a portion of their proceeds to LARC
  • The proposing group is responsible for clean-up (please leave it better than you found it)
  • All music must stop by 12 midnight, the building is to be cleaned, cleared and shut by 1am
  • Proposing group must have a keyholder who is happy to attend gig and lock up the building
  • Proposing group should be aware that noise is an issue and LARC is part of a residential community as well as a political community that relies on the space. With this in mind:
  • Amplification must be appropriate to the size of the building and the community in which it exists
  • It is important to keep the pavement outside clear during events
  • Respect and care must be taken of building spaces & contents thereof
  • Security for events is the responsibility of the people putting on the event, maintaining control of the door is essential (see also below for general security notes)
  • The roof garden is the smoking area during events
  • Be considerate in the language you use when promoting your event as we have a strict advertising policy:
    • Do not advertise the sale of alcohol anywhere
    • Do not advertise any entry charge anywhere (even if it’s by donations)
    • If you are charging for entry then do not make this apparent from the street

CRASH SPACE

  • LARC is not intended as a crash space
  • In exceptional circumstances this may be considered.
  • Guests are subject to prior approval & referral, ideally at a user group meeting
  • Responsibility for people crashing here lies with those that refer them
  • Notification must be sent to the list and booked into LARC diary if people are crashing, indicating who is “sponsoring” them and opening/closing the building for them
  • The phone number of the person arranging access must be given

SPACES IN LARC

Whatever space you use for whatever purpose, DO NOT LEAVE FOOD OUT EVER. IT
ATTRACTS RATS. Users could fall ill. LARC could get shut down. No fruit, no half-eaten
sandwiches or takeaways, no half-drunk hot drinks/beers/etc., no crisps, no popcorn.

MAIN HALL

  • Feel free to rearrange the furniture as you see fit but please leave the space in a decent shape once your event/meeting is finished
  • If people want to use the projector they must book the library as well as the main hall
  • Users booking the main hall should expect some disturbance from people wanting to use the kitchen
  • If you require complete privacy then make a sign for the door and specify this when you make your booking

OFFICE

  • The office is not 100% private, people might need to interrupt your meeting to look at the diary or get keys to other spaces, please bear this in mind when booking the space
  • There is a computer with internet access and a printer which you can use if you need to but please make a donation
  • If you’re using the office and the ‘phone rings ANSWER IT, either deal with it, or make a note of what the person needs, and email the list with the message There is a list of questions to ask callers on the front of the diary

KITCHEN

  • Everyone must clear their food away or take it with them (good intentions are nice but it becomes a problem). The fridges need to be regularly checked and unfit food disposed of properly
  • Don’t leave food out uncovered
  • Clean up your dishes
  • Take out your rubbish (see rubbish section below)

TOILETS

  • Clean them – it doesn’t matter who made the mess
  • Cleaning products are in the toilet or in kitchen under sink
  • Petty cash is available to pay people back for cleaning products purchased

LIBRARY

  • The library should remain locked when not in use
  • Opening hours vary
  • If people want to use the projector they must book the library as well as the main hall
  • After using the projector, books, leads, or any other equipment in the library, it all needs putting away neatly

BASEMENT

  • When not in use the basement should be kept locked
  • When booking the basement, it must be noted in the diary
  • Things can only be stored in the basement with consensus of the LARC user groups

GENERAL PROCESS

KEYS

  • Keys for LARC are granted upon request to groups that regularly use the building after they have attended 3 consecutive meetings
  • Keys are only given to groups/individuals who accept this user group agreement
  • Smaller groups will be issued with 1 set of keys, larger/very regular groups can be given 2 sets, additional sets may be available if needed
  • The first set of keys and any additional sets must be paid for in advance

UNACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOUR / EXCLUSION POLICY

  • This must be a space that doesn’t facilitate people feeling uncomfortable
  • The content of this user group agreement sets down what is expected of LARC users, behaviour that goes against these expectations can result in sanction.
  • People should be informed why their behaviour is unacceptable and given the opportunity to change
  • If anybody’s behaviour is proving to be inappropriate and there is a feeling that they should no longer be welcomed in the building as a whole then their exclusion should be raised at the next user-group meeting
  • No one should be allowed in the building if their purpose is to beg or bully people, especially into giving them money, LARC users are encouraged to notify other users of people doing this on a regular basis

SECURITY

  • Keep shutter down and locked when space is not in use
  • Don’t leave the front door open when it is unattended – even for a few seconds. Make sure it is properly shut
  • If you’re the last person leaving the building make sure nobody else is here (check all spaces!!!) and then you must FULLY lock up (including shutter)
  • Make sure all windows are closed, especially office skylights and basement stairs
  • Make sure the door to the roof garden has been locked shut with the gate pulled across
  • Turn off all lights and taps
  • Fundraising events need a LARC key-holder to provide access and make sure the building gets closed properly

COMMUNICATION

  • All new user groups need to have at least one person on the email list
  • The email list is not a decision-making forum, it should be used for notifications only
  • All email list subscribers are reminded to be respectful, concise and considered in making appropriate communications to this list
  • Responsibility for the larc@riseup.net address is to be rotated on a regular basis
  • On entering the building please pick up any post and leave it in the designated space (this may change, it will be pointed out to people when they start using the building).
  • If not addressed to a specific user group then please open it and try to deal with it or email the LARC email list.

RUBBISH:

  • If you see the rubbish bins are full please deal with them.
  • TOWER HAMLETS WILL NOT PICK UP OUR RUBBISH OR RECYCLING.
  • As of 2019, our waste collector is Biffa Waste Management Limited.
  • Landfill and recycling waste is now collected separately.
  • Collection details are up on the wall in the kitchen, make sure waste is separated and bagged up accordingly.
  • Recycling and rats: please wash stuff out before putting it in the recycling bag, or it will get raided by rodents.
  • Rubbish and rats: we now have a rat-proof metal bin. When you throw something out always remember to replace the lid or they’ll get in anyway.
  • Don’t put out bags any earlier than the evening before the appropriate collection day – we could get fined by Tower Hamlets. Full bags must be tied up and kept in the building until then.
  • If a bag is not quite full, but it’s the night before the relevant collection, best put it out by the bins on the corner.
  • When replacing the bag in the rubbish bin, make sure it’s the right bag! And if a full bag needs to be left in the building overnight, store it underneath the kitchen counter, where it will be visible but not a trip hazard.

SMOKING:

  • We have a general no smoking policy – during meetings and events people should go upstairs if not being used or to the roof garden
  • Try not to use the pavement outside as a smoking area, it disturbs our neighbours

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