No, it is not. These are just other forms of commerce at the end of the day. We don't deny that alternative currencies might be useful - and in some ways preferable to state-issued or 'fiat' currencies - but they are not the point of this site.

Because people might be sharing personal information on this site - such as certain details of their living circumstances - when asking for help or advice. And it would be irresponsible to grant everyone access to this information straight away before knowing who they are. It's partly out of respect for the privacy of the already-existing members.

Advertisements for accommodation will be monitored - and advertisements of places to stay with the primary aim of gaining financially will probably be removed.

The reason people are allowed to invite financial contributions for accommodation - as a type of or in lieu of 'rent' - is that they may have invested significant amounts of money or other resources in acquiring it (e.g., by taking out a mortgage). We don't think it's unreasonable - at least in some cases - that they invite people to help them to recover some of the costs when sharing with them.

Another instance where financial contributions might be invited are in the provision of certain services. E.g., if an electrician needs to buy fixings to perform a job for someone, it is perfectly reasonable that he (or she) ask the beneficiary to help cover at least some (if not all) of the costs.

This is one of the few parts of the site where commercial transactions are facilitated (and even then it's not encouraged). In general, the entire point of this site is to enable people to help each other without dealing in commercial transactions.

The site includes a directory of goods, services, and 'spaces' (e.g. for shelter or accommodation) which can be browsed and added to by members - and which are to be offered in a 'non-commercial' spirit.

The directory is only visible to logged-in members. (It is not shown to the public out of respect for members' privacy.)

Note (before anyone gets their hopes up): As of October 2024 the directory is essentially empty. We have no members yet!

The founder of this project wants nothing to do with the Government machinery. It would be two-faced - and potentially farcical - to criticise the state so openly on the one hand, while cosying up to them for ‘special treatment’ (i.e. tax exemptions) on the other.