Terms & Conditions

CITIES FORUM Mentoring Platform for Urban Planners

1. Scope of the Agreement

This Agreement applies as between you (the User) and CITIES FORUM Ltd, the owner and operator of the digital mentoring platform for urban planners (the Platform). By accessing or using the Platform, you agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions.

Clauses 1, 2, 4-11 and 15-25 apply to all Users. Clauses 3 and 12-14 apply specifically to the purchase and provision of paid mentoring, coaching, and consulting services.

If you do not agree to these Terms and Conditions, you must discontinue use of the Platform immediately.

CITIES FORUM acts as the operator, organizer, and facilitator of the Platform, providing the structure and means required for mentoring services to take place, as further detailed in Section 5 (Role of CITIES FORUM and Allocation of Responsibilities).

No part of the Platform constitutes a legally binding offer. Any request for services submitted by you constitutes an offer, which is deemed accepted only upon written confirmation from CITIES FORUM Ltd.

2. Definitions and Interpretation

For the purposes of this Agreement:

  • Account: The personal profile created by a User, including credentials, profile data, session credits, and payment information.
  • Content: All materials available on the Platform, including text, video, audio, images, interviews, clips, transcriptions, software, databases, and documentation.
  • Mentor: A professional approved by CITIES FORUM Ltd to provide mentoring, coaching, or consulting sessions through the Platform.
  • Mentee: A User who accesses mentoring, coaching, or consulting services through the Platform.
  • Services: Digital mentoring sessions, coaching, consulting, matchmaking, audiovisual content, learning modules, and related services offered via the Platform.
  • Session: A time-bound mentoring, coaching, or consulting interaction between a Mentor and a Mentee, typically delivered online.
  • Payment Information: All data required to process payments for Services.
  • Platform: The mentoring and matchmaking digital environment operated by CITIES FORUM Ltd, including all subdomains and associated tools.
  • We / Us / Our: CITIES FORUM Ltd, Company Registration Number 11736593, United Kingdom and CITIES FORUM S.L.U the Spanish branch, with VAT: ES73800625.

3. Eligibility and Age Restrictions

The Platform is intended for professional use. Users must be at least 18 years old. By creating an Account, you confirm that you meet this requirement.

4. Business and Professional Use

These Terms apply to individual professionals and to Users acting in a business or institutional capacity.

Nothing in these Terms shall be construed as creating an employment relationship, partnership, agency, or joint venture between CITIES FORUM Ltd and any User. The professional services delivered through the Platform are governed by the allocation of responsibilities set out in Section 5.

5. Role of CITIES FORUM and Allocation of Responsibilities

5.1 Role of CITIES FORUM as Platform Operator and Program Facilitator

CITIES FORUM Ltd acts as the operator, organizer, and facilitator of the digital mentoring platform for urban planners. In this capacity, CITIES FORUM provides and manages the technological, organizational, and operational framework required to enable mentoring, coaching, and consulting sessions between Mentors and Mentees.

This includes, without limitation:

  • Designing and operating the digital platform and its functionalities.
  • Curating, onboarding, and managing Mentor profiles.
  • Providing matchmaking tools and session request mechanisms.
  • Managing session booking, confirmation, recording, and access.
  • Processing payments from Mentees and payments to Mentors.
  • Defining platform rules, professional standards, and codes of conduct.
  • Monitoring platform activity and intervening in cases of misuse, disputes, or quality concerns.
  • Providing user support and administrative coordination.

CITIES FORUM actively works to ensure that the mentoring process is structured, accessible, professional, and aligned with the objectives of the program.

5.2 Nature of the Mentoring, Coaching, and Consulting Services

All mentoring, coaching, and consulting sessions are delivered directly by Mentors, who act as independent professionals.

CITIES FORUM does not itself provide mentoring, coaching, or consulting advice, nor does it participate in the substance of any session. The content of each session reflects the Mentor's personal professional experience and judgment.

Mentors are solely responsible for the content and quality of the advice they provide and for acting in accordance with applicable professional and legal standards.

Mentees acknowledge that mentoring sessions constitute professional guidance conversations and do not replace legal, financial, or employment advice.

5.3 No Guarantee of Results or Outcomes

CITIES FORUM makes no representations or guarantees regarding career advancement, employment outcomes, business success, or professional results arising from use of the Platform or participation in mentoring sessions.

All decisions taken by Mentees following a session are made at their own discretion and responsibility.

5.4 Shared Responsibility Model

  • CITIES FORUM is responsible for providing the platform, structure, coordination, and operational means required for mentoring sessions to take place.
  • Mentors are responsible for the professional content of the sessions they deliver.
  • Mentees are responsible for how they interpret, apply, or act upon any guidance received.

Nothing in these Terms creates an employment relationship, partnership, agency, or joint venture between CITIES FORUM and any User.

5.5 Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, CITIES FORUM shall not be liable for losses or damages arising from the content of mentoring sessions or decisions made by Users following such sessions.

CITIES FORUM's liability, where legally established, is limited to issues directly attributable to platform malfunction or payment processing errors.

5.6 Duty of Care and Quality Oversight

CITIES FORUM reserves the right to investigate complaints, suspend or remove Users, and take corrective measures to protect the integrity of the Platform. Such actions do not constitute acceptance of liability for session content.

5.7 User Acknowledgement

By using the Platform, Users acknowledge and accept the allocation of roles and responsibilities set out in this Section 5.

6. Third-Party Content

Certain Content may belong to Mentors or third parties. Intellectual property rights for such materials remain with their respective owners. Any reuse requires their explicit consent.

7. Fair Use

Limited use of Content is permitted solely for personal, non-commercial learning purposes, in accordance with applicable copyright exceptions.

8. External Links

The Platform may contain links to third-party websites. CITIES FORUM Ltd is not responsible for their content, availability, or practices.

9. Platform Communications and Conduct

Users agree to:

  • Communicate respectfully and professionally.
  • Refrain from abusive, discriminatory, unlawful, or misleading behavior.
  • Avoid solicitation, spam, or misuse of messaging tools.

CITIES FORUM Ltd reserves the right to monitor communications and to suspend or terminate Accounts in case of misconduct.

10. Accounts and User Responsibilities

Users are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of their login credentials. Any activity conducted through an Account is deemed authorized by the Account holder.

Users must ensure that all information provided is accurate and kept up to date.

11. Suspension and Termination

CITIES FORUM Ltd may suspend or terminate Accounts at its discretion, particularly in cases of breach of these Terms, misuse of the Platform, or unethical conduct.

Termination does not entitle the User to a refund for unused Services unless explicitly stated otherwise.

12. Services and Availability

Services are provided subject to Mentor availability. CITIES FORUM Ltd does not guarantee the availability of any specific Mentor or Session time.

Descriptions of Services are indicative and may evolve over time.

13. Booking, Sessions, and Payments

  • Sessions are booked through the Platform using session credits or direct payment.
  • A Session is confirmed only once accepted by the Mentor and paid for by the User.
  • Session credits are non-transferable and subject to the rules of the purchased plan.
  • Missed Sessions without prior cancellation may be considered consumed.

14. Cancellation and Refund Policy

Users based in the European Union benefit from a 14-day cooling-off period, unless the Service has already been fully or partially performed with the User's explicit consent.

Once a Session has been completed or started, it is non-refundable.

Reservation payments and seat-holding fees are non-refundable.

15. Privacy and Data Protection

Use of the Platform is governed by our Privacy Policy. Personal data is processed in accordance with applicable data protection legislation, including GDPR.

16. Use of Personal Data

Personal data is used exclusively to:

  • Deliver Services.
  • Manage Accounts and Sessions.
  • Process payments.
  • Communicate relevant program updates.

17. Disclaimers

Mentoring, coaching, and consulting services provided through the Platform do not constitute legal, financial, medical, or employment advice.

CITIES FORUM does not guarantee any specific outcomes or results from use of the Platform or participation in mentoring sessions.

Users acknowledge that all advice is provided by Mentors independently and that CITIES FORUM's role is limited to facilitation and coordination as set out in Section 5.

18. Platform Availability

The Platform is provided on an "as is" and "as available" basis. Temporary outages may occur. No refunds are provided for service interruptions.

19. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law, CITIES FORUM Ltd shall not be liable for indirect, consequential, or economic losses arising from use of the Platform or Services.

20. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is deemed invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force.

21. No Waiver

Failure to enforce any right shall not constitute a waiver of that right.

22. Governing Law and Jurisdiction

These Terms are governed by the laws of England and Wales. The courts of England and Wales shall have exclusive jurisdiction.

23. Contact

For any questions regarding these Terms, please contact: mentoring@citiesforum.org