Ethics Policy
Last updated: 14th April 2026
1. Purpose
This Ethics Policy sets out the ethical foundations of The House of Motive (THOM).
It defines what the community stands for and provides a principled framework for judgement and decision-making, particularly in situations where written rules alone are insufficient.
It serves as a shared reference point for members, leaders, and organisers in how we conduct ourselves, treat one another, and uphold the standards of the House.
2. Our Ethos
THOM is a private community for men who want more from life than simply not drinking.
When alcohol is removed, questions of identity, direction, and connection often follow. THOM exists for men who are ready to meet that moment with responsibility and intent.
This is a space for forward momentum. Members commit to personal growth - physically, mentally, and professionally - alongside others who share that commitment.
3. Our Core Values
THOM is intentionally designed for a specific kind of man:
Accountability
Members of THOM are accountable for their actions, choices, and words. Accountability means owning outcomes and accepting the impact of one’s behaviour on others and on the community.
Responsibility
Members are expected to do the work. Responsibility within THOM means showing up consistently, engaging fully, and taking self-directed action towards meaningful goals.
Clarity
While the destination may evolve, the direction is clear. As a community, we have stepped away from alcohol and are committed to forward momentum, high personal standards, and daily choices that reflect who we are becoming.
Connection
THOM is built around genuine, real-world connection. Members invest in meaningful relationships grounded in shared standards, mutual respect, and active participation.
Challenge
Challenge is central to growth within THOM. Members are expected to be open to experiences that stretch them beyond their comfort zone, while respecting personal dignity and boundaries.
Contribution
THOM attracts men who are building - businesses, ideas, projects, or new directions. Members elevate their network by sharing insight, support, and opportunity, contributing to the progress of others as well as their own.
4. Inclusion, Difference, and Respect
THOM welcomes men from different walks of life, backgrounds, beliefs, cultures, religions, and identities. We are proud of this.
While members are not expected to share the same worldview, belief system, or life experience, they are expected to share respect for one another and a commitment to the values and standards of the House.
Difference of background or belief is welcomed; behaviour that undermines trust, safety, or the shared standards of the House is not. This includes conduct that is hostile, dismissive, discriminatory, intimidating, or persistently disruptive to the cohesion of the community.
5. A Non-Political Space
THOM is not a political community. Its purpose is to support personal growth, connection, challenge, and forward momentum - not political debate, advocacy, or campaigning.
Members are entitled to hold and express their own political views in their personal lives. However, THOM spaces and activities are not to be used for promoting, arguing, organising, or campaigning for political positions.
Occasional reference to current events or personal beliefs may arise naturally in conversation. The distinction is intent and emphasis: THOM is not a platform for political persuasion, ideological debate, or mobilisation.
This boundary exists to protect cohesion, mutual respect, and focus within a diverse community. It applies to all THOM-related spaces and activities, including online sessions, group communications, and in-person events.
6. Alcohol-Free Foundation
THOM is built on the shared commitment to alcohol-free living.
This is not a moral position or a judgement of others; it is a practical and cultural foundation of the House.
All THOM spaces, events, and experiences are alcohol-free. Members are expected to respect and uphold this standard.
This shared foundation supports safety, clarity, and a level playing field for connection and challenge.
THOM is therefore intended for men who have stepped away from alcohol and are ready to move forward. Those who are still drinking, actively negotiating their relationship with alcohol, or seeking to be fixed may find that this community is not the right fit at this stage.
7. Power, Leadership, and Influence
Leadership within THOM exists to protect the conditions inside the House, not to direct the lives of its members.
Leaders within THOM are also proud members of the community. Those who organise, lead, and represent THOM are expected to exercise influence with respect, care, and integrity.
Those in leadership or organising roles recognise that visibility and influence create an imbalance of power and carry additional responsibility. These positions are exercised in service of the House, not for personal authority.
8. Boundaries of Care and Responsibility
THOM is a community grounded in its shared commitment to alcohol-free living. It is not a therapeutic, clinical, or crisis-support environment.
The House does not provide counselling, treatment, or professional intervention. Members are not responsible for fixing or rescuing one another, and leaders and organisers are not substitutes for external professional support.
Care within THOM is expressed through presence, honesty, challenge, and respect - not through dependency or emotional management.
Members are expected to self-regulate their participation and seek appropriate support outside THOM where needed.
9. Confidentiality, Trust, and Discretion
Trust is essential to THOM. Members are expected to treat personal stories, conversations, and shared experiences with discretion and care.
Information shared within THOM is treated as confidential and is not to be shared externally without explicit consent, except where safety, legal, or ethical considerations require otherwise, or where disclosure is necessary to protect individuals or the community.
Confidentiality also applies within the House. Personal experiences shared in smaller groups or individual conversations are not to be repeated more widely without the clear consent of the person involved. Context matters, and members are expected to exercise judgement and restraint when referencing another person’s story or circumstances.
Confidentiality is handled seriously and responsibly. Where it has been breached, THOM will take appropriate action to protect trust and the integrity of the community.
10. Ethical Judgement and Grey Areas
Not every situation within THOM can be resolved through written rules alone. This policy exists to guide judgement where context, complexity, or competing considerations require careful evaluation.
In such situations, decisions are made with reference to the values and ethos of the House, with the aim of protecting the integrity of the community and the dignity of those involved.
Leaders and organisers may consider questions such as:
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Is this aligned with the values and standards of THOM?
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Does it strengthen or undermine trust?
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Does it support responsibility and forward momentum?
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Would this decision remain fair and defensible if applied consistently in similar circumstances?
Ethical judgement within THOM is principles-led rather than procedural. Similar situations will be treated similarly, while recognising that context may require thoughtful distinction.
Where difficult decisions are necessary, they are approached with proportion, transparency, and care, always in the service of the long-term health of the House.
Members are encouraged to apply the same lens in their own conduct, recognising that culture is shaped through everyday choices as much as formal decisions.
11. Relationship to Other Policies
This Ethics Policy sets out the principles and intent that underpin THOM. It should be read alongside related documents, including the Terms and Conditions and Code of Conduct, which define specific behavioural expectations, membership obligations, and the contractual framework governing participation in THOM.
The Code of Conduct sets out clear standards of behaviour. This Ethics Policy provides the principles that inform how those standards are interpreted, applied, and enforced.
Where judgement is required, or where written rules leave room for interpretation, the principles in this document will guide decision-making.
Together, these policies form a coherent framework designed to protect the integrity, safety, and long-term health of the House.
Closing Statement
