Terms of Service
Last updated: 26 August 2026.
These Terms of Service explain the basis on which you may use the Community Strength Network (“CSN”, “we”, “us” or “our”) website and participate in or engage with our Gym Buddy initiative.
Community Strength Network is currently developing Gym Buddy as a UK pilot. The service may therefore change as we learn from participants, volunteers, gyms and community partners.
By using our website or expressing an interest in Gym Buddy, you agree to these terms where they are relevant to you.
information.
About Gym Buddy
Gym Buddy is a community initiative intended to help people who may find starting or attending a gym difficult by connecting them with a volunteer who can provide friendly, practical peer support.
A Gym Buddy might, for example, meet someone at their gym, help them become familiar with the environment and exercise alongside them while they build confidence and their own routine.
Gym Buddy is intended to complement, rather than replace, the services provided by gyms and qualified professionals.
Gym Buddy volunteers
Gym Buddies are expected to act respectfully, responsibly and within the boundaries of the volunteer role.
They should not present themselves as qualified fitness or healthcare professionals unless they genuinely hold the relevant qualifications and are separately acting in that capacity.
Gym Buddies should not pressure participants to undertake exercises or activities with which they are uncomfortable.
CSN may introduce further volunteer guidance, checks, training or safeguarding requirements as the pilot develops.
Participants
We ask participants to treat Gym Buddies, gym staff and other members respectfully and to follow the rules and safety requirements of the gym they attend.
Participants should exercise within their own abilities and make their own decisions about what activities they undertake.
If circumstances arise that make a Gym Buddy arrangement unsuitable or unsafe, either the participant, the volunteer or CSN may bring the arrangement to an end.
Participating gyms and organisations
Gyms and community organisations can help support Gym Buddy, but involvement with CSN does not automatically make them responsible for recruiting, selecting or supervising Gym Buddy volunteers.
Unless expressly agreed otherwise, Gym Buddies remain volunteers participating in the CSN initiative rather than employees or representatives of a participating gym.
Participants and Gym Buddies must still comply with the membership conditions, rules and safety procedures of the gym they use.
Introductions and personal information
CSN will not automatically provide your personal contact details to another participant, Gym Buddy, gym or organisation simply because you have submitted an expression of interest.
Where sharing information becomes necessary to arrange support, we will explain this as part of the process and handle personal information in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
Safety and appropriate behaviour
Everyone involved in Gym Buddy should behave in a way that supports a safe, respectful and inclusive environment.
Harassment, discrimination, threatening behaviour, inappropriate contact or deliberate disregard for another person’s safety will not be accepted.
Concerns about conduct or safety should be reported to CSN. We may suspend or end someone’s involvement in Gym Buddy where we reasonably consider this necessary to protect participants, volunteers or the initiative.
Where there is an immediate risk of harm or an emergency, appropriate emergency services should be contacted rather than relying on CSN
Exercise and risk
Physical exercise involves some inherent risk of injury.
CSN will take reasonable steps appropriate to its role in operating the Gym Buddy initiative, but we cannot eliminate all of the risks associated with exercise, gym environments or interactions between individuals.
Nothing in these terms excludes or limits liability where doing so would be unlawful, including liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence
Our website
Information on the CSN website is provided primarily to explain Community Strength Network and the Gym Buddy initiative.
We aim to keep information accurate and useful, but the pilot is evolving and information may occasionally change.
You may use the website for lawful purposes and must not deliberately interfere with its operation, misuse its forms or attempt to access systems or information without authorisation.
Ending involvement
Participation in Gym Buddy is voluntary.
Participants and Gym Buddies may choose to stop taking part. CSN may also decline, suspend or end an arrangement where we reasonably believe it is inappropriate, unworkable or presents safeguarding, safety or conduct concerns.
Changes to these terms
As Community Strength Network and the Gym Buddy pilot develop, we may update these Terms of Service.
The latest version will be published on this website with an updated “last updated” date.
Contact us
If you have questions about these terms or about Community Strength Network, please contact:
Community Strength Network
Email: hello@communitystrengthnetwork.org
United Kingdom