Policies

   

Template notice. These policies are a starting structure, not legal advice. Because you serve minors and process payments, have a lawyer review and adapt them before publishing.

   

Privacy policy

   

Last updated 13 September 2026.

   

What we collect

   

When you contact us or enroll, we collect your name, email address, phone number where you provide one, the program you're interested in, and any information you choose to include in a message. For students under 18 we also collect a guardian's name and email.

   

We collect session recordings for private lessons, which we retain for 12 months and share with the student's guardian on request.

   

Children under 13

   

Consistent with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act, we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 without verifiable guardian consent. Where a form indicates a student is under 13, we hold only the guardian's contact details until that guardian confirms consent by email. A guardian may review, correct, or delete their child's information at any time by writing to privacy@speechsurge.org.

   

How we use it

   

To reply to you, deliver programs you've enrolled in, process payments, and meet safeguarding obligations. We do not sell personal information, and we do not share it with advertisers.

   

Who we share it with

   

Payment processing runs through Stripe, scheduling through our booking provider, and email through our newsletter provider. Each receives only what it needs. Where a student is referred by a partner organisation, we share attendance and progress information with that organisation.

   

Your rights

   

You may request a copy of your data, ask us to correct it, or ask us to delete it. Write to privacy@speechsurge.org and we'll respond within 30 days. Deleting data may end your enrollment where we can no longer deliver the program.

   

Retention

   

Enquiry data is held for 24 months. Enrollment records are held for seven years to meet nonprofit reporting requirements. Session recordings are deleted after 12 months.

   

Terms of service

   

Enrollment

   

Enrollment is confirmed when payment is received or a scholarship is approved. Students under 18 require guardian consent. We may decline or end an enrollment where conduct puts other students or staff at risk.

   

What we promise

   

We promise coaching delivered by vetted instructors according to the schedule you book. We do not promise competitive results, placements, or admissions outcomes, and we ask you to be sceptical of any organisation that does.

   

Conduct

   

Debate involves disagreement. It does not involve harassment, slurs, or personal attacks. We remove students and volunteers who cross that line, without refund where the breach is serious.

   

Liability

   

Our liability is limited to the fees you have paid us. Nothing here limits liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, or for anything else that cannot be limited by law.

   

Refund and cancellation policy

                                                       

Refund terms by cancellation timing

When you cancel	Private lesson	Cohort or event
More than 24 hours before	Full refund or reschedule	Full refund
Within 24 hours	50% refund	Full refund up to 7 days before
After it starts	No refund	Pro-rata for cohorts, none for events

   

If we cancel a session or event for any reason, you receive a full refund or a reschedule, whichever you prefer. Illness and family emergencies are handled case by case and we lean toward the student — just tell us.

   

Scholarship places carry no charge and no cancellation penalty. Tell us if you can't continue so we can offer the place to someone else.

   

Photo and video release

   

We sometimes photograph or record tournaments and sessions for teaching and promotional use. We do not publish any image, recording, or name of a student under 18 without a signed release from their guardian.

   

What a release covers

   

Use on our website, social media accounts, printed material, and grant reporting. It does not permit sale to third parties or use in paid advertising without separate consent.

   

Withdrawing consent

   

Any student or guardian may withdraw consent at any time by writing to privacy@speechsurge.org, with no reason required. We remove the material from our own channels within seven days. Material already printed or distributed to third parties may not be fully recoverable, and we'll tell you honestly where that's the case.

   

Opting out at events

   

Students who prefer not to be photographed receive a coloured lanyard at check-in. Our photographers are briefed to exclude them, and no one is asked to explain the choice.

   

Accessibility statement

   

We aim to meet WCAG 2.1 Level AA across this site. All videos ship with closed captions and a transcript. If you hit a barrier here or at an event, write to hello@speechsurge.org and we'll fix it and tell you when it's done.