Mentorship Programme Terms and Conditions

COMPREHENSIVE TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR MENTORSHIP PROGRAMME PARTICIPATION

Change Notice (12 October 2026): We have added taking time off (Section 4.4), reasonable accommodations (Section 4.5), how to disagree with a decision (Section 6.6), and how invoices are sent and paid (Section 10.3). Your dedicated channel now has a stated purpose (Section 3.1), your project repository now lives in the nhcarrigan GitHub organisation (Section 3.2), and your roadmap defines what graduation means for you (Section 6.5).

Change Notice (9 October 2026): The Mentorship Programme is now a paid, monthly service. We have updated enrolment, fees, cancellation, academic integrity, and the structure of the Programme (Sections 1.5, 1.6, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, and 12), and added your statutory rights (Sections 6.4 and 9.3).

1. INTRODUCTION AND SCOPE

1.1. Policy Overview

This Mentorship Programme Terms and Conditions (“Terms” or “Agreement”) establishes the terms, conditions, and procedures governing participation in the mentorship programme (“Programme”) provided by SpellWare (“we,” “us,” “our,” or “the Company”). This Agreement operates within our comprehensive legal and policy framework, incorporating our Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, Community Code of Conduct, and all applicable legal protections by reference.

1.2. Mission and Purpose

We are dedicated to lowering barriers of entry into technology and helping underprivileged and under-represented individuals reach their professional goals. The Programme is designed to provide structured mentorship, educational support, and career development opportunities to participants (“Mentees”) who enrol in the Programme.

1.3. Legal Framework Integration

IMPORTANT: Comprehensive warranty disclaimers, liability limitations, and all related legal protections are set forth in our Limitation of Liability and Indemnification Policy, which is incorporated herein by reference and governs all matters related to Programme participation. The Programme is provided “as is” without warranties of any kind.

1.4. Scope of Application

This Agreement applies to: (a) All Mentees enrolled in the Programme; (b) All Programme services, benefits, and resources provided to Mentees; (c) All interactions between Mentees and Programme staff, mentors, and resources; (d) All Programme-related activities, projects, and collaborations.

1.5. Paid Service and Service Agreement

Paid Service: (a) The Programme is a paid service. Each Mentee enters into a written service agreement with us (the “Service Agreement”); (b) These Terms form part of the Service Agreement. If there is a conflict between them, the Service Agreement prevails; (c) The monthly fee is agreed with each Mentee individually, based on their needs, and is stated in the quote and the Service Agreement. Fees are not published in these Terms.

1.6. Existing Mentees

Mentees Enrolled Before the Programme Became Paid: Mentees who enrolled in the Programme on or before 9 October 2026 (“Existing Mentees”) are covered by this section. (a) Existing Mentees do not owe any fee for the Programme. The provisions of these Terms about quotes, invoices, payment, suspension for non-payment, and removal for non-payment do not apply to them; (b) Existing Mentees receive the same benefits as other Mentees, including an individual roadmap and a dedicated channel; (c) Existing Mentees must complete the daily check-ins described in Section 3.5, and are bound by the rest of these Terms, including Section 4; (d) If an Existing Mentee chooses to book a synchronous session, it is billed as a standard meeting, as described in Section 3.5.

2. ENROLMENT AND PARTICIPATION

2.1. Enrolment Requirements

Enrolment Process: (a) To apply, submit a work request for the Programme through our commission request form; (b) We evaluate each request. We may accept or decline any request at our sole discretion, subject to Programme capacity and resource availability, and we are not obligated to provide reasons; (c) If we accept your request, we will send you a quote and the Service Agreement; (d) The Service Agreement states your start date (the “Start Date”), which is always the first day of a month; (e) We generate your first invoice immediately after the Service Agreement is executed by both parties. It covers your first month of service and must be paid before your Start Date; (f) We onboard you on the first Monday of the month in which your Start Date falls; (g) If the first invoice is not paid before your Start Date, the Service Agreement is void and we will not provide the Programme; (h) Access to Programme channels is provided at onboarding, and requires you to join our Discord community; (i) We reserve the right to remove access for violations of community standards or Programme terms, and we are not obligated to provide reasons for access removal beyond those required by law.

2.2. Agreement Acceptance

By executing the Service Agreement and enrolling in the Programme, Mentees acknowledge and agree that they have: (a) Read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms; (b) Reviewed and agree to comply with our Community Code of Conduct and all applicable policies; (c) Acknowledged all disclaimers, limitations, and legal protections incorporated by reference.

3. PROGRAMME SERVICES AND BENEFITS

3.1. Dedicated Discord Channels

Channel Access: (a) Each Mentee receives a private, dedicated Discord channel shared with our administrators, used for daily check-ins and for reaching us; (b) We provide a shared channel in the SpellWare Discord for all Mentees, for peer support, questions, and community engagement; (c) All participants must adhere to our Community Code of Conduct and Programme-specific guidelines; (d) We reserve the right to restrict or revoke channel access for violations of community standards or Programme terms; (e) We respond to messages in your dedicated channel as soon as we reasonably can. Response times vary based on availability; (f) Your dedicated channel is for supporting you through your mentorship. It is not for personal advice or guidance, unless that relates to your job search or career work, and it is not a place to seek priority attention on matters unrelated to the Programme.

3.2. Project Development

Project Access and Support: (a) Where your roadmap includes a project, we will set up a repository for it in the nhcarrigan GitHub organisation; (b) We will invite you to the repository on GitHub, and you must accept the invitation within the first week of your service; (c) You use that repository to build your project, following the steps in your roadmap; (d) Guidance on your project is provided through your dedicated channel and check-ins; (e) We do not guarantee specific project outcomes, completion, or success.

3.3. Career Preparation and Resume Building

Career Development Resources: (a) Where your roadmap includes career preparation, you will have access to resources such as resume templates, LinkedIn guides, application examples, and interview preparation materials; (b) Feedback on career preparation is provided through your dedicated channel and check-ins; (c) Career preparation resources are provided for educational and development purposes; (d) We do not guarantee employment, job placement, or specific career outcomes.

3.4. Individual Roadmap

Roadmap: (a) We prepare a roadmap for each Mentee based on their current proficiency and their end goals; (b) The roadmap sets out a clear pathway towards graduation; (c) Mentees work through their roadmap at their own pace; (d) We may update your roadmap as your progress and goals change; (e) Your roadmap is personal to you and confidential. Mentees do not have access to other Mentees’ roadmaps, and must not share their own (see Section 7.2).

3.5. Self-Paced Structure and Daily Check-Ins

Programme Structure: (a) The Programme is self-paced within your roadmap; (b) Mentees must post an asynchronous check-in in their dedicated channel every day from Monday to Friday, with a short update on their progress and any questions. Mentees do not need to post on weekends; (c) We respond to check-ins asynchronously, and we are not monitoring every action or step of your progress; (d) Daily check-ins are a participation standard under Section 4.2. Failure to keep up check-ins may be treated as a failure to meet participation standards under Section 6.2; (e) You are not required to post check-ins while your service is suspended under Section 10.2; (f) Synchronous sessions are not included in the monthly fee. If you need one, it is booked and billed as a standard meeting under our Professional Services and Commission Policy, with no discount for Mentees.

3.6. Service Limitations and Disclaimers

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: (a) Mentees are responsible for their own learning and progress; (b) We do not guarantee specific learning outcomes, skill development, or career advancement; (c) Programme benefits and support may vary based on mentor availability and Programme capacity; (d) We reserve the right to modify Programme features, benefits, and services with reasonable notice, as described in Section 5; (e) These disclaimers apply to the maximum extent permitted by law, and do not affect your statutory rights (see Section 9.3).

4. CODE OF CONDUCT AND PARTICIPATION STANDARDS

4.1. Community Standards Compliance

Code of Conduct Requirements: (a) All Mentees must comply with our Community Code of Conduct and all applicable community policies; (b) Violations of community standards may result in Programme suspension or termination; (c) We reserve the right to take disciplinary action for conduct that violates community standards or Programme terms; (d) Programme participation does not exempt Mentees from community standards or disciplinary procedures.

4.2. Programme Participation Standards

Participation Requirements: (a) Mentees are expected to actively engage with their roadmap and work through it at their own pace; (b) Mentees must post a daily check-in as described in Section 3.5; (c) Mentees must maintain respectful and professional conduct in all Programme interactions; (d) Mentees are responsible for their own learning and development progress; (e) We reserve the right to terminate Programme participation for failure to meet participation standards or violations of community standards.

4.3. Academic Integrity

Honesty About Your Work: (a) Plagiarism means copying someone else’s work and presenting it as your own without clearly attributing the original author. It is an act of intellectual dishonesty, and we treat it as one; (b) You may use open source libraries and short snippets of code that are clearly attributed to their original author. Beyond that, the work you present as your own must be your own, or produced together with another person with whom you were pair programming in real time; (c) Misrepresenting your progress, abilities, or work in a check-in or a submission is a violation of academic integrity; (d) We may review the work you submit to confirm that it is your own, and you agree to help us do so.

Use of AI Tools: (a) Each individual roadmap includes a point at which agentic workflows are introduced, so that you can learn to use them effectively; (b) At no point, before or after that point, may you present work as your own if AI has been used, in part or in whole, to produce it, unless you disclose that use honestly at the time you submit the work; (c) A disclosure should say that AI was used and, in broad terms, how it was used; (d) Using AI with an honest disclosure is not a violation of academic integrity. Presenting AI-assisted work as your own without one is; (e) Before the point in your roadmap where agentic workflows are introduced, we strongly discourage using AI to produce your work, because our aim is to help you become a stronger engineer; (f) We will never penalise you for being honest about your use of AI. At most, we will coach you on why it may be a poor choice, or on how you used it in a way that worked against your learning.

Consequences: (a) Dishonesty about your work, such as presenting work as your own without the disclosure described above, may result in removal from the Programme under Section 6.2. Honest disclosure is never grounds for removal.

4.4. Taking Time Off

Time Off: (a) You may take time off from the Programme, provided you tell us in your dedicated channel; (b) Time off on its own does not pause your monthly payments; (c) If you will be away for more than one (1) month, you may ask us to temporarily archive your Programme items, including your dedicated channel and your project repository, and we will restore them when you return; (d) While your items are archived, your access to your dedicated channel and your project repository is suspended; (e) We do not invoice the months in which your items are archived, and those months do not count as missed payments under Section 10.2; (f) Time away under paragraph (c) can last up to three (3) months.

4.5. Reasonable Accommodations

Accommodations: (a) As the Programme is educational, we will make reasonable accommodations on request; (b) Requests should be submitted in writing to [email protected].

5. PROGRAMME MODIFICATIONS AND CHANGES

5.1. Right to Modify Programme

Modification Authority: (a) We reserve the right to modify Programme features, benefits, terms, and services at any time; (b) Significant modifications will be communicated to enrolled Mentees with as much advance notice as possible; (c) Modifications may include changes to Programme structure, benefits, or participation requirements. Your fee changes only as set out in your Service Agreement; (d) If a modification materially reduces what you receive, you may withdraw under Section 6.1.

5.2. Programme Discontinuation

Discontinuation Rights: (a) We reserve the right to discontinue the Programme at any time with reasonable notice to enrolled Mentees; (b) If we discontinue the Programme, we will refund any fee you have paid for a period after the date of discontinuation; (c) Subject to your statutory rights, we are not liable for any other consequences arising from Programme discontinuation; (d) Programme discontinuation does not affect accrued obligations or rights established prior to discontinuation.

6. TERMINATION AND CANCELLATION

6.1. Withdrawal by Mentees

Withdrawal Process: (a) Mentees may withdraw from the Programme at any time by giving written notice to [email protected]; (b) Withdrawal notices should indicate the Mentee’s desire to withdraw. Giving a reason is optional; (c) Withdrawal takes effect at the end of the monthly period you have already paid for. You keep your access until then, we will not invoice any later period, and we will cancel any invoice already issued for a period after your withdrawal takes effect; (d) Fees already paid for the current period are not refunded on withdrawal, except as set out in Sections 5.2 and 6.4 or where the law requires.

6.2. Company Termination Rights

Termination Authority: (a) We reserve the right to terminate Programme participation for violations of these Terms, Community Code of Conduct, or applicable policies; (b) We may terminate Programme participation for failure to meet participation standards or violations of community standards; (c) Termination may be immediate for serious violations or with notice for other circumstances; (d) We are not obligated to provide continued access following termination; (e) If we remove you from the Programme for a violation of our Code of Conduct or of academic integrity, we do not refund any fee you have paid, except where the law requires otherwise.

6.3. Effect of Termination

Post-Termination: (a) Upon termination, Mentees lose access to Programme benefits, channels, and resources, except for the read-only access to their dedicated channel described in paragraph (e); (b) Mentees retain ownership of work products created during Programme participation; (c) Confidentiality and intellectual property obligations survive termination; (d) We are not obligated to provide ongoing support or resources following termination; (e) Your dedicated channel becomes read-only for seven (7) days when your withdrawal takes effect, when we terminate your participation, or when you graduate, so that you can retrieve any information from it. It is deleted at the end of those seven (7) days.

6.4. Cancellation and Refund of the First Month

Our Refund Policy: (a) You may cancel the Programme at any time from the day you sign the Service Agreement until the end of the fourteenth (14th) day of your service, counting your Start Date as day one; (b) If you do, we refund your first monthly payment in full, and you do not pay for any service provided before you cancelled; (c) Apart from the first monthly payment, we refund only a payment you have made for a month that has not yet begun. We do not refund payments for months that have begun; (d) After the end of the fourteenth (14th) day of your service, you may still withdraw under Section 6.1.

Your Statutory Right to Cancel (Consumers): (a) The Service Agreement is made at a distance, online. If you are an individual acting wholly or mainly outside your trade, business, craft, or profession (a “Consumer”), you also have the right to cancel it within fourteen (14) days after the day it is made, without giving a reason; (b) If you cancel under this right, we refund all payments you have made for the Programme; (c) This right does not apply if you are enrolling for business purposes. Our refund policy above still applies to you; (d) Where you live in another country, similar rights may apply under local law. Nothing in these Terms limits them.

How to Cancel: (a) Tell us clearly in writing, for example by email to [email protected]. You do not need to use a particular form; (b) Your notice is in time if you send it before the relevant period ends.

Refunds: (a) We refund within fourteen (14) days of the day we receive your notice, to the payment method you used and without charging you for the refund; (b) We do not begin your service within the fourteen (14) days after you sign the Service Agreement unless you expressly ask us to in the Service Agreement.

6.5. Graduation

Completion of the Programme: (a) The Programme ends when you graduate, as defined in your roadmap; (b) Monthly fees stop after your final month; (c) Graduation does not affect rights and obligations accrued before it, including Sections 7 and 8; (d) Your dedicated channel is handled as described in Section 6.3(e).

6.6. Disagreeing with a Decision

Appeals: (a) If you disagree with a decision about your participation, such as being removed from the Programme, you may appeal under our Community Disciplinary Appeals Policy.

7. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND WORK PRODUCT

7.1. Mentee Work Product Ownership

Ownership Rights: (a) Mentees retain ownership of work products, projects, and contributions created during Programme participation; (b) Work products created in Programme repositories are subject to repository licensing terms; (c) We may request permission to showcase Mentee work for Programme promotion and portfolio purposes; (d) Mentees grant us a non-exclusive license to use anonymised work products for Programme improvement and promotion.

7.2. Programme Materials and Resources

Company Intellectual Property: (a) All Programme materials, resources, and content remain our intellectual property; (b) Mentees may use Programme materials for personal learning and development purposes; (c) Programme materials may not be redistributed, sold, or used for commercial purposes without permission; (d) Your roadmap and our internal curriculum documents are proprietary and confidential. You must not share them with anyone else; (e) Unauthorised use of Programme materials may constitute intellectual property infringement.

8. PRIVACY AND DATA PROTECTION

8.1. Information Collection and Use

Data Handling: (a) Mentee information is collected and processed in accordance with our Privacy Policy; (b) We collect information necessary for Programme administration, support, and improvement; (c) Mentee information is not shared with third parties except as necessary for Programme provision or as required by law; (d) Mentees may request access to or deletion of their personal information in accordance with our Privacy Policy; (e) Payments are handled by third-party payment processors, as described in our Data Subprocessors disclosure.

8.2. Programme Communications

Communication Practices: (a) Programme communications may include email, Discord messages, and other digital channels; (b) Mentees consent to receive Programme-related communications; (c) Communications are subject to our Privacy Policy and data protection practices; (d) Mentees may opt out of non-essential communications while remaining enrolled in the Programme.

9. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY AND DISCLAIMERS

9.1. Reference to Comprehensive Liability Framework

IMPORTANT: Comprehensive liability limitations, damage exclusions, maximum liability caps, and all related legal protections are set forth in our Limitation of Liability and Indemnification Policy, which is incorporated herein by reference and governs all matters related to Programme participation.

9.2. Programme-Specific Disclaimers

Additional Limitations: (a) We are not liable for Mentee learning outcomes, career advancement, or professional success; (b) We do not guarantee job placement, employment opportunities, or specific career outcomes; (c) We are not responsible for Mentee decisions made based on Programme guidance or resources; (d) Our liability is limited to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law.

9.3. Your Statutory Rights

Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits any right you have as a consumer that cannot be excluded or limited by law, including the right to have services performed with reasonable care and skill.

10. PROGRAMME FEES

10.1. Paid Programme

Fees: (a) The Mentorship Programme is a paid service, charged monthly; (b) The monthly fee is agreed with each Mentee individually, based on their needs, and is stated in the quote and the Service Agreement; (c) You pay each month until you graduate, withdraw, or are removed from the Programme; (d) We generate your first invoice immediately after the Service Agreement is executed. It covers your first month of service and must be paid before your Start Date. If it is not paid before then, the Service Agreement is void; (e) We issue each later invoice on the first day of the month before the month it covers. You must pay it before the first day of the month it covers; (f) Synchronous sessions are not included in the monthly fee, and are billed separately as described in Section 3.5; (g) Participants may incur costs for third-party services such as hosting for application deployment. These are paid directly to the service providers, and we do not collect or receive them.

10.2. Missed Payments

Suspension and Removal: (a) If an invoice is not paid before the start of the month it covers, your service is suspended until your next payment is made; (b) While your service is suspended, all of your access to the Programme is paused and your Programme channels are archived; (c) You do not owe the fee for a month in which your service was suspended; (d) If you miss three payments in a row, which is three months of non-payment, we terminate your Service Agreement. Your Programme channels become read-only for seven (7) days so that you can retrieve any information from them, and are then deleted; (e) This section does not apply to Existing Mentees (see Section 1.6).

10.3. Payment Processing

Payments: (a) Payments are processed through secure third-party payment processors; (b) Payment processing is subject to the terms of those processors; (c) Payment information is handled in accordance with our Privacy Policy; (d) We send invoices by email. You pay by card through Stripe, which processes the payment and adds any VAT that applies.

11. CONTACT INFORMATION AND SUPPORT

11.1. Programme Inquiries

For questions about the Programme:

Email: [email protected]

To give a withdrawal or cancellation notice:

Email: [email protected]

Response Time: Within 7-10 business days for Programme-related inquiries

11.2. General Contact

For general inquiries about our organisation or services:

Email: [email protected]

Discord Community: https://chat.spellware.dev

Support Channels: As specified in our Contact Policy

12. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND AGREEMENT

12.1. Terms Acceptance

By enrolling in the Programme, Mentees acknowledge that they have: (a) Read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms; (b) Reviewed and agree to comply with all applicable policies and community standards; (c) Understood that the Programme is a paid, monthly service with a self-paced structure and mandatory daily check-ins; (d) Acknowledged all disclaimers, limitations, and legal protections incorporated by reference.

12.2. Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with the Service Agreement and all incorporated policies and agreements, constitute the entire agreement between Mentees and the Company regarding Programme participation and supersede all prior agreements and understandings.

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This Mentorship Programme Terms and Conditions establishes the terms governing participation in our mentorship programme. By enrolling in the Programme, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms. For questions about the Programme, please contact us at [email protected].