YOU ARE SO WELCOME

ALL THE BITS AND BOBS

• Our commitment
• Charities we support
• Gift membership
• Further reading
• Terms and conditions

THE TCCS COMMITMENT to DIVERSITY and INCLUSION

The TCCS community is full of extraordinary Copybeasts. From aspiring newbie copywriters, to hardworking ‘going good’ writers, and thriving successful copywriting business owners.

The knowledge that comes from such a diverse group of humans makes the membership stronger.
The camaraderie oozes out at every level.
This is why the group has a positive reputation and an exceptional level of respect among the Copybeasts.

To keep this going, we ask you to do your best to follow these guiding principles in all our places:

• Chatting on the Facebook group and other social media
• Participating in our online training and other online spaces
• Collaborating at face to face events, like CopyCon and catch-ups

1. Be kind

• Be polite and friendly in every form of communication.
• Be mindful of tone of voice. (It’s so easy to misunderstand online chat).
• Use GIFs, emojis or bitmoji to help your tone be understood. (If appropriate).
• Consider video chat if social cues have gone astray.

2. Be inclusive

• Diversity is about mindset and appreciating differences – be supportive to other people’s beliefs and experiences.
• Explain any slang, in-house jokes or idioms that might not translate across cultures.
• Avoid jargon, acronyms and non-inclusive language.

3. Be respectful

• All individual contributions are valued. As well as asking for feedback, it’s also useful to give feedback.
• If a post or comment doesn’t relate to you, appeal to you or interest you, handle it with respect or choose to scroll on.
• Thank others for their advice and tips, even if you don’t necessarily agree with them.

4. Be generous

• We create spaces where people feel comfortable to learn from each other’s experiences and perspectives.
• Offer to help if you see someone struggling. Pay it forward or suggest someone else who could assist.
• Imposter Syndrome happens to us all. Encourage others if you see them struggling.

5. Be open to belonging

• Support each other to participate so they feel like they belong. This helps everyone to be more engaged and motivated.
• You feel a stronger sense of belonging when you participate. Feeling you don’t belong can be tough so start small by connecting with one or two others.
• When you feel trusted and respected, you’re more likely to speak freely and voice your opinions

6. Be comfortable with being uncomfortable

• It’s impossible to know everything about everything. Be open to hearing new opinions and thoughts even when it differs to your own.
• Diversity can sometimes mean difficult topics are raised or discussed. Accept it may make you uncomfortable initially but could lead to new knowledge and ideas.
• Remember you can choose whether you take part in a post-discussion or scroll on if it’s a topic you’re not comfortable with.

7. Be action orientated

• Take responsibility for yourself.
• Don’t message any individual without checking with them first that it’s OK to do so
• If you see something that isn’t aligned with this commitment, check in with the person that may be impacted.
• None of us are perfect. At one time or another, you may slip up and that’s OK. Owning your mistakes and finding a way forward is what counts.
• If you’re approached by another member of the group as having made them feel unwelcome, listen with an open mind and avoid being defensive. Apologise and move on*.

*(Repeated incidents will be addressed separately by the Head Copybeast Wrangler – Kate Toon)

8. Be celebratory

• TCCS training and masterclasses, podcasts, resources and live events (e.g. CopyCon) will have a balanced representation of speakers to present different views and experiences. This can lead to more creative and inclusive solutions.
• The group will celebrate achievements that positively impact on the lives of Copybeasts.
• The group will continue to inspire all members to try new things in their copywriting business, speak openly, and be bold.

9. No bullying or hate speech

• Every member has the right to feel safe from being bullied and harassed. This includes unwanted and unwelcome words, actions, gestures, or behaviours that make someone feel uncomfortable.
• This includes but is not limited to:
• Racism or racial/ethnic slurs
• Sexist or misogynist comments
• Homophobic or transphobic comments or slurs
• Negative comments about people with disabilities
• Negative comments or discrimination based on age or family role
• Discriminatory comments against members of religious groups
• Deliberate mis-gendering.

10. No exclusivity

• Be mindful of the language you use. Strive to use inclusive language at all times.
• Always remember you were a newbie once. All questions are good questions. Allow people to freely say, “I don’t know”, “I don’t understand” or “Why?”.
• We don’t all do things the same or write about the same topics or in the style, and that’s OK.

CHARITIES

At The Clever Copywriting School we aim to increase our impact by donating a percentage of our profits to support the following charities

THE TCCS GIFT MEMBERSHIP

I love to support new copywriters entering the copywriting world.

I particularly want to make sure The Clever Copywriting Community is welcoming to people who may face barriers, disadvantage or discrimination.

As a small business owner, I see diversity as a strength. It’s about appreciating differences. I want to redress the balance and take action for the benefit of all members.

To do this, I give away one FREE annual TCCS membership each year to someone from a minority group.

What is the Gift Membership?

The Clever Copywriting School is a place where all copybeasts come together to help each other be more successful copywriters (whatever that looks like for them).

The membership gives you access to:

• Private Facebook group full of friendly copywriters with helpful tips and ideas
• Training and masterclasses
• Group membership
• Job Board
• Free templates
• Discounted templates

How to apply

Are you from a minority community that experiences discrimination or disadvantage?

Would you benefit from a TCCS membership to kick-start your copywriting journey?

To have a chance at being selected:

• Write 100 words or create a 1-minute video covering:
• How being a TCCS member will help you and your copywriting goals.
• What difference this will make to others around you (e.g. your family and/or your community).
• Submit your entry below
• We will select the chosen human and announce it on socials
• We email you to welcome you aboard the good ship TCCS.

Remember:

• Submitting your words or video means you agree to our Terms
• Psst: Yes, you have a chance. Give it a go.

RESOURCES AND FURTHER READING

You may find these writing resources useful for your copywriting projects. 

GENERAL

• Writing about race, ethnicity, social class and disability
• Human Rights resources
• Diversity Council Australia

FIRST NATIONS PEOPLES

• Language and Terminology Guide
• Appropriate words & terminology for Aboriginal topics
• Protocols for producing Indigenous Australian writing
• How to write about Aboriginal culture
• Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies
• Common Ground

RACE

• What is Inclusive Language – Part 1 and Part 2
• Writing About Race and Ethnicity
• Black History Month | UK
• Tolerance | Teaching Resources
• Vocabulary and concepts
• Mental Health Issues Facing the Black Community | USA

GENDER

• The language of gender
• Avoiding sexist language
• Avoid sexist language in article writing

LGBTIQ

• LGBTIQ Inclusive Language Guide
• LGBT+ writing glossary
• Websites that pay writers for LGBTQ content
• Stonewall UK resources

DISABILITY

• A guide to language about disability
• Inclusive language
• Guidelines for writing about people with disabilities

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Here are the Terms for our Gift Membership

Eligibility

1. Applicants must identify as someone who is from a minority group experiencing discrimination or disadvantage. This includes anyone from the following groups: different races, ancestry and religions, different educational backgrounds, disabilities and abilities, different sexual orientations and gender identities or, different ages.
2. Current or previous TCCS members are not eligible to apply.

Selection Criteria

3. The membership will be gifted based on the applicant submitting 100 words or 1 minute video addressing:

• How being a TCCS member will help you and your copywriting goals.
• What difference this will make to others around you (e.g. your family and/or your community).

1. 4. The decision on who is gifted the TCCS membership is made by Kate Toon and is subjective and final.
   5. No purchase is necessary.
   6. The membership is valued at $590+GST. It is non-transferrable.