Group Composition PolicyDraft v1.0 — pending solicitor review (EA2010 + platform liability)

1. What composition categories are

When a group joins Mens Network, one of the things they tell us is who they currently include. We call this their composition category.

It's a simple, honest self-description. Nothing more. It helps you — someone looking for a group — get a realistic sense of who you'll find when you walk through the door. And it helps groups describe themselves accurately without having to write a lengthy explanation.

Composition categories are not grades. There is no correct category to be. They exist because different people are looking for different things, and the best way we can help is to give groups the language to describe themselves honestly, and give you the information to decide for yourself.

2. The four categories

Men Only
Currently consists of men seeking male-focused community.

This is a group whose membership is made up of men. The group exists to create a specifically male space. What counts as "men" and who is welcome is determined by the group itself — see the note on membership criteria below.

Men & Women
Currently includes both men and women as members.

This is a mixed-gender group. Men are welcome and may be the primary audience, but women are also part of the membership.

LGBTQ+ Centred
Specifically focuses on LGBTQ+ men's experiences and community.

The group's purpose and culture is built around LGBTQ+ men's lives. This does not mean non-LGBTQ+ men are excluded — many of these groups are warm to anyone who wants to be there. It means that LGBTQ+ experience is at the heart of what the group is about.

Fully Inclusive
Welcomes all gender identities and expressions.

This group makes an explicit commitment to welcoming people of all genders. Mens Network is the context; inclusion across gender identity is the principle.

3. Honest self-identification

Groups choose the category that accurately describes them today — not the category they hope to be one day, and not the category that sounds best.

We ask this because a category that doesn't match reality doesn't serve anyone. It wastes your time. It can lead to awkward or unwelcoming situations. And it doesn't help groups grow in the right direction.

We don't rank these categories from better to worse. A Men Only group and a Fully Inclusive group are both valid. They serve different needs. The platform's job is to help you find the right fit — not to tell groups how they should be.

4. What composition categories do not mean

They are not an endorsement or a criticism. Listing a group as Men Only is not a statement that Men Only is the right kind of group to be. Listing a group as Fully Inclusive is not a suggestion that other groups are falling short. These are descriptions, not judgements.

They do not reflect the platform's preferences. Mens Network does not have a preferred category. We list all four because all four exist, and because the men who use this platform have genuinely different needs.

Men Only does not mean the group is fixed forever. Groups evolve. A group that lists as Men Only today may broaden over time. The category reflects where they are now.

LGBTQ+ Centred does not mean other men aren't welcome. It means that LGBTQ+ experience is the founding purpose of the group. Many of these spaces are open and welcoming to any man who wants to be part of that community. Contact the group if you're unsure — they will tell you.

5. A note on Men Only groups and membership criteria

Men Only groups set their own membership criteria. This means each group makes its own determination about who counts as a man for the purposes of joining.

We note this explicitly because it matters. Some Men Only groups have an open, expansive understanding of who they welcome. Others may not. We don't make that decision for them, and we don't pretend their category tells you more than it does.

If you want to know a group's specific approach before attending, the best thing to do is contact them directly. Most groups will be happy to talk.

6. Our role as a directory

Mens Network lists groups. We don't run them, and we don't govern what happens inside them. The composition category you see on a group's listing is the group's own description of itself — not a promise we're making to you about what you'll find.

Each group is responsible for its own membership practices and the way it conducts itself. If you have a concern about how a group treats its members, we'd encourage you to raise it with the group directly in the first instance.

What we are responsible for is accurate representation on the platform. If a group's self-description doesn't match reality, we want to know.

7. Updating a composition category

Groups can update their composition category at any time through their group dashboard. If your group has changed — you've opened up, shifted focus, or want to describe yourselves differently — update the category to reflect that. Keeping it current helps people find you.

8. Reporting a mismatch

If you've attended a group and believe their composition category doesn't accurately describe them — for example, a group listed as Fully Inclusive that you experienced as unwelcoming — you can report it using the flag on the group's listing page.

We review reports and follow up with groups. Our aim is accurate representation, not punishment. In most cases, a conversation is enough to get things right.