Terms

Westcountry School of Myth – Terms & Conditions 2024

You should read these terms and conditions carefully before booking. By completing a booking with us you will have entered into a binding contract on the basis of these terms and conditions. If you have any questions about them please do not hesitate to contact us.

Courses

1. Definitions

“School of Myth” or “school” means “Westcountry School of Myth; “The client” means the person or persons named on the booking/registration form. “Course” means one of the School of Myth’s residential or non residential courses. “Registration form” means one of the School of Myth’s registration forms.

2. Agreement arises upon the fulfilment of the following:

a) Receipt by School of Myth of a completed registration form, accompanied by a payment of full fees or a deposit, and an email notification of the above.
b) Clearance of the payment or deposit into the designated bank account.
c) Acceptance by School of Myth via an email confirmation.
d) The School of Myth reserves the right, in its absolute discretion and without the need to give reasons, to refuse to accept a booking. In such circumstances no agreement arises and the school will return any payment accompanying the booking.
e) The agreement is between the school and the client and is the sole agreement between those parties. No variation of these terms and conditions shall be applicable unless agreed in writing by the school before the relevant course.
f) The person completing the booking shall be deemed to be agreeing to these terms.
g) The agreement is governed by English law.

3. Payment

If a deposit is paid, the balance of the fees must be paid in full by the stipulated date, usually 10 weeks prior the start of the course, unless otherwise agreed in writing by the school. If the balance is not paid in time, the school reserves the right to treat the agreement as cancelled by the client pursuant to clause 5, below.

Bookings made within 4 weeks of the course start date must be accompanied by payment in full unless otherwise agreed.

4. Fees

Whilst every effort is made to limit the fees to those given in the booking form, the school reserves the right to alter the fees should its costs in hosting a course increase for reasons beyond its reasonable control.
a) In the event that a fee is altered the client will be notified as soon as reasonably possible and the balance of the altered price will be payable on the same terms as the original fee.
b) In the event of the fee being increased by 15% or more the client may opt to cancel the booking and will be then entitled to a refund of all monies then paid.

5. Cancellation by client

If the booking is cancelled by the client (for any reason) the following cancellation charge will arise:
a) Cancellation more than 10 weeks before the course starts, the deposit is forfeited.
b) Cancellation between 10 weeks and 4 weeks before the course, the deposit is forfeited. If the place can be filled by another person, the remainder of the fee will be refunded assuming it has been paid.
c) Cancellation 4 weeks or less before the course, 100% of the fee is payable.
d) In the event of an early departure or drop out from any course once it has started, no refund of monies paid will be given.
The client acknowledges that it is reasonable for such penalties to arise given the need for the school to make preparations for a course substantially in advance of the date of the course.

6. Cancellation/alteration of a course by School of Myth

In the unlikely event that a course is cancelled before it starts, the client will be
offered the option of the return of monies paid, or the opportunity to participate in a comparable course on another date.
If the school, in its absolute discretion and without need to give reasons, determines that a critical number will not be present at a course, it reserves the right to cancel a course. In these circumstances the client will be offered the option of the return of monies paid or the opportunity to participate in a comparable course on another date.
The client acknowledges that there may be circumstances in which the school may be forced to alter or cancel a course. In return for the school’s undertaking to give the maximum amount of notice that circumstances allow, the client accepts that the school is not liable for any losses arising as a result of cancellation or alteration.

7. Transfers

Transfers may be permissible from one event to another with more than 4 weeks notice from the course start date. This is offered on a discretionary basis by the school and is subject to a £50 admin fee per booking.

8. Participation/conduct

The client acknowledges that during a School course or wilderness rites of passage, he/she is required to submit to the reasonable instructions and leadership of Dr Martin Shaw and/or the School’s faculty or rites of passage guides.
The client acknowledges that persons attending a course are entitled to expect a high standard of conduct and regard for personal well being on the part of all clients. For this reason the client accepts that the School may, in its absolute discretion and without the need to give reasons, arrange for him/her to be removed from a course, if necessary against his/her will. Circumstances in which this might occur include (without limitation) disorderly or abusive conduct; intoxication; inadequacy of clothing or equipment; failure to follow preparation instructions that, in the opinion of Dr Martin Shaw and/or faculty/or rites of passage guides, presents a risk to safety. In such circumstances the client will not be entitled to a refund of monies and the School of Myth will not be liable for any losses so resulting. The client will on demand reimburse the School its reasonable costs of effecting his/her removal.

9. Photography

Photographs are occasionally taken during our courses, and may be used for marketing and publicity purposes. These may include some photographs of participants. We assume Participants give permission for this unless notified to us in writing beforehand.

10. Liability

The Wolf Milk wilderness vigil courses take place in the open countryside and are by its very nature not absolutely free from hazard. The other courses also include outdoor time which cannot be guaranteed free from hazard. The School makes every effort to minimise risk to clients and instructs clients in the safe negotiation of such risks as may remain. Consequently, the client acknowledges that there are circumstances in which an accident could befall a client without the School being at fault and accepts that he/she is taking part in a course at his/her own risk.

11. Insurance

The client is strongly advised to take out personal insurance of the type available to holiday makers, to cover the risks ordinarily covered by such policies, including personal injury, loss of belongings and money and cancellation.

12. Complaints

In the unlikely event that a client has cause for complaint about a course, the complaint should be made to a representative of the school during the course in order that corrective action can, if necessary, be taken. The client acknowledges that is unreasonable to take no action during a course but to complain later.

However should a problem not be resolved, complaint should be made in writing within 28 days of the relevant course. To the extent permitted in law, the school will not be liable in respect of claims first intimated later than 28 days from the close of the relevant course.