Stay safe

Here are our safety guidelines we advise whilst using this site. If a member you contact is being very cautious, please respect that and give them the time and reassurance they need. Please remember yourself to be cautious and safety conscious when contacting a member. Be sure to use the sites email system to guarentee anonymity until you're ready to disclose more personal information.

Runningtogether.co.uk safety tips…

• If you feel uncomfortable about a member, stop contacting them. If you feel someone is abusing the service, contact us.
• Always use your common sense and be responsible for yourself.
• Trust your instincts – they're normally right.
• Always use the sites emailing service until you are completely satisfied you are comfortable with who you are talking too.

Unfortunately you have to be very careful when meeting people no matter what you are doing. Thousands of people everyday meet each other safely but we plead you to be extra cautious. If you find someone to run with meet with them first in a before you arrange a time to have your first run. Follow these simple steps for a safer experience… 

• Meet in a public place that you know well.
• Never arrange to be picked up, make your own way to the meeting.
• Never allow the other person to make arrangements for your travel.
• Always have a friend or family member to call on if you need help. Let them know where you are going and what time you'll be expected back. Call them to let them know things are ok. Leave details of the person you are going to meet.
• Consider going with a friend or to somewhere friends may be.
• Remember, when you meet someone for the first time they are still a stranger.
• Don't accept a lift home if you feel uncomfortable about it.
• Always have an emergency plan for the unexpected so you can get away quickly, and have someone close by you can call on. Take a mobile phone with you – and make sure it is fully charged, working and has enough credit to make calls.
• It can take time to get to know someone properly. A genuine person won't mind if you want to take your time in arranging your first run.
• Impostors and liars can be found anywhere, especially in “everyday” places such as pubs and nightclubs. The internet is no different, however they can be more easily spotted online and runningtogether.co.uk will always remove anyone from the site who is less than genuine.
• Make sure you speak to the person first on the phone first. If at that point you have any doubts about them stop all contact instantly.
• Always use your common sense, keep in control of the situation. Don't do something you wouldn't normally do.

Finally...

Trust your instincts – they are often right. If you feel uncomfortable about someone make your excuses and leave, don't feel you have to be nice to them. Just inform them that you don't wish to proceed with running with them and leave it at that. Your safety and satisfaction of using our site is very important to us.

Matthew Howell
www.runningtogether.co.uk