TERMS AND CONDITIONS

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This information is important and the terms and conditions set out below are deemed to form part of the booking process and then of your contract with the Festival of Listening ("The Festival" and "we").  

Definitions and scope of who we are

"We" (and the "Festival") mean 218 Strand Limited - the limited liability trading company that stands behind the Society of Mediators charity.  The Festival of Listening is a trading name of 218 Strand Limited and your contract is with 218 Strand Limited of Fourth Floor, 218 Strand, London WC2R 1AT United Kingdom, a not-for-profit company registered in England and Wales at Companies House under # 06785241  - and whose director is Jonathan Dingle.  email jonathan.dingle@218strand.com - any PayPal payments will be directed to the director's PayPal account for processing.  Call +44 207 353 3936 for assistance.  218 Strand Limited is registered for VAT and carries public liability insurance. 

*The Society of Mediators" is an UK registered charity and it is a recognised and accredited body with the UK Civil Mediation Council, the Bar Council, the Association of Arbitrators of Southern Africa NPC and many other bodies - the Society accredits training and education.  The Society has accredited the Festival with 20 hours of CPD for mediators and lawyers in the United Kingdom based on attending the sessions marked in the Day by Day section of the website.

"You" means the person booking a place at the Festival.

"Buddha Hall" means Corfu Buddha Hall which is our venue for the week and it is responsible for all aspects of the venue and the catering including health and safety, food, drink, and the swimming pool.  You will be given a notice about this on arrival at Buddha Hall for the first time - please read carefully and acknowledge receipt.  By booking a place at the Festival you agree and accept that Buddha Hall is responsible for these aspects of the Festival and that we, the Festival, do not have any liability for any loss, damage, injury, or other trauma or woe occurring as a result of the acts or omissions or negligence of Buddha Hall, its caterers, staff or suppliers.  

"Your travel and accommodation" means what ever means of travelling and where ever you choose to stay during the Festival.  You are responsible for these and we do  not have any liability for any loss, damage, injury, delay, or cancellation that arises in any way from the travel or accommodation you choose and select.  We strongly advise you to take out travel insurance and by booking you warrant that you have adequate cover. 

The Festival content and liability 

We will use our best endeavours to deliver the Festival to the highest standard as we would wish in accordance with the Outline set out on this website.  We have agreed with all of the facilitators and presenters their attendance but by booking you accept and agree that life happens and things change.  No guarantees are given save that we shall provide, unless an Act if God intervenes, access to 20 hours of CPD during the week.  

Please note that some sessions will contain adult and sometimes explicit themes - from murder and crime, gender based violence and trauma, sex and intimacy, to some things that may trigger responses in your own mind and psychology.  Please check in with yourself that you are comfortable with these things and if in doubt ask the speaker or the Festival organisers.  If you attend any session you warrant to the Festival that there is no reason to suspect that you will have any significant mental health or other reaction to the content and it is a condition precedent of the booking process that you agree that we, the Festival, or its presenters, cannot be liable to you for any loss, damage, injury, or trauma howsoever experienced by your voluntary participation in the Festival and any session you choose to attend. 

Booking cancellation / refunds 

This is a not-for-profit event where we intend that any surplus will be shared amongst the facilitators to cover their time and costs, and we also intend to make a charitable donation to the projects founded in Alexandra by Mandla Mnisi and Africa Monyai (see Friday) including Khulisa Social Solutions.  It follows that we have no margins for cancellation and in the interests of transparency can say that about half of the booking fee goes to pay for the venue, Buddha Hall, and your two meals a day plus cleaning, staff cover, the pool, etc.  We do not get refunds from Buddha Hall.

It follows that at the point of booking you are deemed to accept and agree to these terms and conditions - 

* Cancellation by the Festival - a full refund will apply in these circumstances unless there is an Act of God against which you should insure in your travel insurance.

*  Cancellation by you - because we incur commitments these rules apply:

(1) Before 31st January 2025 - Refund less 10% administrative charges

(2) Before 31st March 2025 - Refund less 25% administrative and incurred costs charges

(3)  Before 14th April 2025 - Refund less 50% administrative and incurred costs charges

(4)  On or after 14th April 2025 - No refund will be given.  Please insure your risks. 

Dispute Resolution 

Please note that this contract and the Festival booking is subject to the law of England & Wales.  You agree by booking to attempt to resolve any dispute by mediation in the first instance should the process of discussion with the Festival organisers not assist you. 

Thank you - we look forward to seeing you.   If you have any doubts please email info@festivaloflistening.org

----------------------- The Festival of Listening 2025 ---------------------------