Terms and Conditions

1. About Us

Chrysalis Commons Earth (“Chrysalis”, “we”, “us”, “our”) is a multi-stakeholder cooperative registered with the Financial Conduct Authority, company number 15266733. Our registered address is Nortonbury House, 37 High Street, Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire GL20 5BB.

We operate a community gift economy and local complementary currency platform, currently piloting in Tewkesbury and expanding to further locations across the United Kingdom. The platform is available at www.chrysaliscommons.earth.

Where Chrysalis operates in a local area through an authorised local representative, that representative acts on behalf of Chrysalis Commons Earth as the cooperative. All legal agreements, obligations, and liabilities remain with Chrysalis Commons Earth as the registered entity. Local representatives are not independent legal parties to any agreement made through this platform.

2. Definitions

In these Terms and Conditions, the following terms have the meanings set out below:

• “Platform” means the Chrysalis Commons Earth website, members’ area, and all associated features available at www.chrysaliscommons.earth.
• “Member” means any individual who has registered an account on the Platform.
• “Business Member” means any independent local business that has been accepted onto the Platform in accordance with our Business Membership Criteria.
• “Project” means any community organisation, initiative, or cause listed in the Chrysalis Project Directory.
• “Gift Economy” means the section of the Platform through which Members may offer and receive items, skills, or time freely between themselves, with no direct payment passing between Members in respect of those exchanges.
• “DSSE” means the Do Something for Someone Else feature, through which Members may offer or request neighbourly assistance.
• “Chrysalis Coin” means the community voucher issued by Chrysalis Commons Earth with a face value of £10, redeemable at participating Business Members in accordance with the Chrysalis Coin Terms and Conditions.
• “Inside the Chrysalis” means the verified network of independent local businesses participating in the Platform, identified by the Inside the Chrysalis mark and listed in the Inside the Chrysalis business directory at www.chrysaliscommons.earth.
• “Content” means any text, images, descriptions, listings, or other material submitted to the Platform by a Member, Business Member, or Project.

3. The Chrysalis Platform — What We Are and Are Not

Chrysalis Commons Earth operates as a community platform and facilitator. This distinction is fundamental to these Terms and defines the nature of our legal relationship with all users.

4. Eligibility and Registration

To register as a full Member of the Platform you must be aged 18 or over and resident in the United Kingdom. This age restriction reflects current UK regulatory requirements, including the Age Appropriate Design Code and UK GDPR, which impose significant obligations on platforms that process personal data of under-18s. A self-declaration tick box is not sufficient verification of age or parental consent under current law.

Chrysalis Commons Earth genuinely welcomes the participation of younger people in building local community economies. We intend to develop a junior membership tier, properly designed in compliance with the Children’s Code and with genuine age verification, as the platform matures. We want Chrysalis to be a platform that parents are happy for their children to spend time on — and we are committed to building it that way when we can do so properly.

By registering you confirm that you are aged 18 or over, that the information you provide is accurate and complete, and you agree to keep it up to date.

You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account login details. You must not share your account with any other person. You are responsible for all activity that takes place under your account.

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate any account that we reasonably believe is being used in breach of these Terms, is providing false information, or is causing harm to other Members or to the Platform community.

5. The Gift Economy

By participating in the Gift Economy, you acknowledge and agree that:

1. All gifts, offers, and exchanges within the Gift Economy are voluntary and freely given between Members. No direct payment passes between Members in respect of Gift Economy transactions. Where Chrysalis Commons Earth charges an administration fee in connection with platform transactions processed through Stripe, that fee is payable to Chrysalis Commons Earth as the platform operator and does not form part of the gift exchange between Members. The administration fee, where applicable, is set out in the Platform fee schedule at www.chrysaliscommons.earth.
2. Chrysalis Commons Earth is not a party to any gift, offer, or exchange and accepts no liability whatsoever for any loss, damage, injury, or disappointment arising from participation in the Gift Economy.
3. You are solely responsible for assessing the suitability, safety, and condition of any item you offer or receive. We make no representations as to the condition, safety, or fitness for purpose of any item listed on the Platform. You must not list any item that does not comply with applicable UK safety legislation, including but not limited to upholstered furniture which does not meet the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire Safety) Regulations 1988, or electrical items that have not been tested and verified as safe. By listing an item you confirm that it complies with all applicable safety requirements. Chrysalis Commons Earth reserves the right to remove any listing it reasonably believes may present a safety risk.
4. You are solely responsible for assessing the suitability and competence of any Member offering a skill or service through the Gift Economy. We do not carry out Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks — criminal record checks — on any Member and we do not require Members to hold professional qualifications, insurance, or any other credential unless they choose to disclose these voluntarily.
5. Any dispute arising from a Gift Economy transaction is a private matter between the parties involved. Chrysalis Commons Earth will not mediate, arbitrate, or accept liability in respect of any such dispute.
6. You must not use the Gift Economy to offer or request anything that is illegal, harmful, offensive, or inconsistent with the values of the Chrysalis community as set out in our Community Standards.

6. Do Something for Someone Else (DSSE)

By using the DSSE feature, you acknowledge and agree that:

1. DSSE interactions are informal neighbourly arrangements between private individuals. They do not constitute employment, a service contract, or any regulated activity.
2. Chrysalis Commons Earth does not require, and cannot require, DSSE participants to hold public liability insurance, professional qualifications, DBS clearance, or any other credential. You are entirely responsible for satisfying yourself as to the suitability of any person before allowing them into your home or property, or before undertaking any task on their behalf.
3. If you are offering assistance involving children, vulnerable adults, or entry to someone’s home, you are strongly encouraged to use your own judgment and, where appropriate, to make your own independent enquiries. Chrysalis Commons Earth provides no verification of any Member’s identity, background, or suitability for any task.
4. Chrysalis Commons Earth accepts no liability for any loss, damage, injury, or harm of any kind arising from any DSSE interaction, whether or not it was arranged through the Platform.
5. By using DSSE, both the person offering and the person receiving assistance voluntarily accept the risks inherent in informal community arrangements of this kind.

7. Business Members and Inside the Chrysalis

Business Members are independently owned local businesses that have been accepted onto the Platform following assessment against our published Business Membership Criteria. Inside the Chrysalis is a verified network and quality mark — inclusion signifies that a business has met our criteria for independent ownership, local profit circulation, and ethical trading. It is not an endorsement of any specific product, service, or business practice.

By transacting with a Business Member, you acknowledge that:

1. Your transaction is directly with the Business Member. Chrysalis Commons Earth is not a party to that transaction and accepts no liability in respect of it.
2. Your statutory consumer rights are enforceable against the Business Member, not against Chrysalis Commons Earth.
3. Chrysalis Commons Earth does not guarantee that any Business Member will remain in the Inside the Chrysalis network at any future point. We reserve the right to remove a Business Member from the network at any time.

The community contribution made by Business Members on qualifying transactions is calculated in accordance with the Chrysalis Contribution Schedule, which is agreed with each Business Member at the point of onboarding and forms part of their Business Membership Agreement. The Contribution Schedule sets out the applicable contribution rate and threshold for that business’s trading type — recognising that the appropriate contribution structure for a high street retailer or service business differs from that of a tradesperson or supplier of higher value goods and services. In all cases, the contribution is split equally between the community wage fund and the project chosen by the Member at the point of transaction. Chrysalis Commons Earth reserves the right to introduce new contribution tiers for different business categories, in consultation with affected Business Members, with 30 days’ written notice of any change.

8. Community Projects

Projects listed in the Chrysalis Project Directory are community organisations and initiatives that have registered to receive Chrysalis Coin donations generated through Platform activity. Listing in the directory does not constitute endorsement by Chrysalis Commons Earth of any Project’s activities, governance, or values.

Chrysalis Coin donations are distributed monthly to recipient Projects in the form of Chrysalis Coin vouchers. Projects may use Chrysalis Coin by:

• Spending it directly with participating Business Members.
• Selling it at face value to supporters for sterling, which those supporters then spend with participating Business Members. The sterling received by the Project is unrestricted and may be used for any lawful purpose consistent with the Project’s objectives.

Chrysalis Commons Earth is not responsible for and makes no representations about the use of funds by any Project, or the ongoing operation, governance, or continued existence of any Project.

9. Chrysalis Coin Vouchers

Chrysalis Coin is a community voucher scheme administered by Chrysalis Commons Earth. Chrysalis Coin vouchers are subject to separate Chrysalis Coin Terms and Conditions, which are incorporated into these Platform Terms by reference and are available at www.chrysaliscommons.earth.

In summary:

• Each Chrysalis Coin voucher has a face value of £10 and is valid for a single use only.
• Chrysalis Coin is not cash, is not electronic money, and has no cash redemption value except through the Project resale mechanism described in Section 8.
• Chrysalis Coin is accepted only at Business Members currently listed in the Inside the Chrysalis network.
• Chrysalis Coin vouchers expire 12 months from the date of issue.
• Lost or stolen Chrysalis Coin vouchers will not be replaced.

10. Content and Community Standards

11. Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law:

1. Chrysalis Commons Earth is a community platform and facilitator. We are not liable for any act, omission, conduct, or content of any Member, Business Member, or Project, whether or not facilitated through the Platform.
2. We are not liable for any loss or damage arising from your use of or inability to use the Platform, including but not limited to loss of data, loss of income, or consequential loss of any kind.
3. We are not liable for any transaction between a Member and a Business Member, or between Members through the Gift Economy or DSSE features.
4. Our total aggregate liability to you in connection with these Terms and your use of the Platform shall not exceed [£TBC], except where such liability cannot be limited by law.
5. Nothing in these Terms limits or excludes our liability for death or personal injury caused by our negligence, fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation, or any other liability that cannot lawfully be excluded or limited.

12. Intellectual Property

The Chrysalis Commons Earth name, logo, Chrysalis Coin design, Inside the Chrysalis mark, and all Platform content created by us are the intellectual property of Chrysalis Commons Earth. You may not reproduce, distribute, or use them without our prior written consent.

You retain ownership of Content you submit to the Platform. By submitting Content you confirm you have the right to grant the licence described in Section 10.1.

13. Privacy and Data Protection

We take your privacy seriously. Our Privacy Policy, which is incorporated into these Terms by reference, explains what personal data we collect, how we use it, how long we retain it, and your rights under UK GDPR. The Privacy Policy is available at www.chrysaliscommons.earth.

By registering on the Platform, you acknowledge that we will process your personal data in accordance with our Privacy Policy. You have the right to access, correct, or request deletion of your personal data at any time by contacting us at the address below.

14. Third Party Services

The Platform uses Stripe to process payments where applicable. Stripe’s own terms and conditions and privacy policy apply to payment processing. Chrysalis Commons Earth is not responsible for the availability, security, or conduct of Stripe or any other third party service provider.

Where we add further third party services to the Platform in future, we will update these Terms and our Privacy Policy accordingly. We will notify Members of material changes.

15. Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time to reflect changes in the law, the Platform, or our operations. We will notify Members of material changes by email and by notice on the Platform. Your continued use of the Platform after such notice constitutes your acceptance of the updated Terms.

The current version of these Terms, with its effective date, is always available at www.chrysaliscommons.earth.

16. Governing Law and Disputes

These Terms are governed by the law of England and Wales. Any dispute arising from these Terms or your use of the Platform will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales, except that consumers in Scotland and Northern Ireland retain the benefit of any mandatory protections under the law of their jurisdiction.

We are committed to resolving disputes fairly and promptly. If you have a complaint or concern, please contact us in the first instance at the address below and we will endeavour to resolve it within 14 days.

17. Contact Us

Chrysalis Commons Earth

Correspondence address: 10 Odessa Park, Gloucester Road, Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire GL20 7DA

Registered address: Nortonbury House, 37 High Street, Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire GL20 5BB

Website: www.chrysaliscommons.earth

For general enquiries, membership matters, or to raise a concern, please use the Contact Us form on the Platform or write to us at our correspondence address above.