Between Us

I understand that taking part is entirely voluntary.

I understand that I may submit my story without providing my name or contact details.

I understand that, if I submit anonymously, Andrea McLean and her team may be unable to identify, verify, contact me about, withdraw or remove my particular submission later.

My submission is based on my own genuine personal experience.

To the best of my knowledge and belief, the information I have provided is truthful and accurate.

If I have used spelling, grammar or writing tools, the experience and substance of the story remain my own.

I have not knowingly submitted a fictional, fabricated or AI-generated account as though it were my genuine personal experience.

I confirm that my submission is my own original writing and does not infringe the rights, privacy or confidentiality of any other person.

Wherever possible, I have avoided including real names, addresses, workplaces, schools, social-media handles or other details that could identify another person.

I have avoided unnecessarily identifying children or vulnerable people.

I understand that removing a person’s name may not be enough to prevent them being identified from the surrounding circumstances.

I have not knowingly included another person’s private correspondence, diary entries, photographs, recordings, medical records, private messages, court documents or other material that I do not have the right to submit.

I have not knowingly included information that I am prohibited from disclosing because of a court order, reporting restriction, confidentiality obligation, non-disclosure agreement or other legal duty.

I understand that submitting an allegation about another person does not mean that allegation will be published.

I understand that Andrea McLean, her publisher and editorial team may ask for clarification or supporting information, alter or remove identifying details, omit allegations, or decline to use all or part of my submission.

I understand that my submission may be edited, shortened, rearranged, corrected, summarised, anonymised or adapted for clarity, readability, length, legal reasons, editorial reasons or to protect privacy.

I understand that names, locations, occupations, dates, relationships and other details may be changed or removed.

I understand that my full submission may be used and/or reproduced verbatim or with edits.

I understand that only part of my submission may be used.

I understand that quotations or extracts may be used without the whole story being reproduced.

I understand that general themes arising from my submission may be discussed alongside themes arising from other submissions.

I understand that my submission may inform Andrea McLean’s original commentary, analysis or writing without being reproduced word for word.

I understand that Andrea McLean and any publisher appointed by her will have editorial discretion over whether, how, where and when my submission is used.

I understand that my submission may be declined for editorial, factual, legal, safeguarding, privacy or ethical reasons.

I consent to my submission being edited for any reason, including but not limited to clarity, length, tone or anonymity, including the removal or alteration of names, locations and identifying details.

I grant Andrea McLean a perpetual, worldwide, non-exclusive and royalty-free licence to reproduce, quote, edit, adapt, summarise, translate, publish, distribute, communicate and promote my submission in connection with the Project.

I understand that this licence includes the right to use all or part of my submission in print books, ebooks, audiobooks, extracts, websites, podcasts, radio, television programmes, documentaries, films, streaming and on-demand programmes, online video and other audiovisual productions, interviews, publicity, social media, marketing materials, translations, revised editions and adaptations directly connected with the Project.

I understand that Andrea McLean may sublicense these rights to publishers, editors, producers, production companies, broadcasters, streaming services, distributors, platforms and others directly involved in developing, producing, publishing, broadcasting, exhibiting, distributing, adapting or promoting the Project.

I understand that I retain copyright in my original submission while granting the licence described above.

I understand that the Project may be published under a title other than Between Us.

I understand that this licence applies to the Project and works directly arising from or promoting it, but does not give permission for my submission to be used in an unrelated future project.

I waive my moral rights to be identified as the author of the submission and to object to any editing, adaptation or use of the submission as described above.

I understand that I will not receive payment, royalties or compensation for submitting my story or for its use in the Project.

I release Andrea McLean, her publishers, editors, distributors and partners from any claims, complaints or demands arising from the use of my submission as described above, including editing, anonymising, adapting, publishing or promoting it.

I understand that submitting my story does not guarantee publication.

I understand that Andrea McLean and her publishers are under no obligation to use or publish my submission.

I understand that I will not receive payment, royalties, fees or any other financial compensation if my submission is used.

I understand that I may not be informed if my submission influences a theme, passage or editorial decision without being directly quoted or published as a recognisable individual story.

I consent to the inclusion and use of any personal or sensitive information contained in my submission, provided it is anonymised as described above.

I understand that reasonable editorial and legal steps will be taken to reduce the risk that I or another person can be identified.

I understand that complete anonymity cannot be guaranteed where the circumstances described are distinctive, publicly known or unusually specific.

I understand that my submission is not absolutely confidential and may need to be shared with people directly involved in reviewing, editing, legally checking, safeguarding, producing or publishing the Project.

I understand that, where appropriate, my contact details may be stored separately from the text of my submission.

I understand that providing my name and email address is optional.

If I choose to provide contact details, I understand that they may be used to contact me about my submission, request clarification, discuss possible publication, respond to a withdrawal or data request, or otherwise administer the Project.

I understand that choosing not to provide contact details will not automatically prevent my story from being considered.

I understand that agreeing to receive marketing or project updates is separate from agreeing to submit my story.

I confirm that I have read Andrea McLean’s Privacy Policy as outlined at betweenusproject.info/privacypolicy

I understand that my submission may contain personal information and sensitive information, including information about health, mental health, sexual life, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religion, abuse, criminal allegations or other deeply personal matters.

I explicitly consent to Andrea McLean and those working on her behalf processing the personal and sensitive information contained in my submission for the purposes of reviewing, organising, legally checking, safeguarding, developing, producing, publishing and promoting the Project, as explained in the Privacy Policy.

I understand that my submission and personal information may be securely shared with Andrea McLean, her publisher, editors, researchers, legal advisers, safeguarding advisers, technology providers and others directly involved in administering or producing the Project.

I understand that my personal information will not be sold.

I understand that my personal information will not be used for unrelated marketing unless I separately choose to receive updates.

I understand that information about how long submissions are retained, where data is stored, who may receive it, any international transfers, my data-protection rights and how to complain is set out in the Privacy Policy.

I understand that I may contact [insert contact email address] to ask a question about my submission, exercise my data-protection rights or request that my submission is withdrawn.

I understand that, where reasonably possible and legally required, requests will be considered in accordance with applicable data-protection law and the Privacy Policy.

I understand that, if I submitted anonymously or without sufficient identifying information, it may not be possible to locate or verify my submission.

I understand that it may no longer be possible to withdraw or remove material once it has been anonymised so that it cannot reasonably be linked to me, incorporated into editorial work, combined with other material, licensed to a third party, or included in a work that has entered production or publication.

I understand that a request concerning my personal data does not necessarily revoke the publishing licence in relation to material that has already been lawfully anonymised, used, incorporated or published, unless the law requires otherwise.

I understand that should my submission be provided and subsequently published in a resulting work, I cannot withdraw it or restrict its use.

I understand that sharing a personal experience can be emotionally difficult.

I understand that this form is not monitored continuously.

I understand that this form is not a counselling, therapy, medical, safeguarding or emergency service.

I understand that I may not receive a personal response.

If I believe that I or someone else is in immediate danger, I understand that I should contact the emergency services or an appropriate support organisation rather than rely on this form.

I understand the safeguarding and confidentiality limitations described above.

I confirm that I am aged 18 or over, that I have read and understood these terms and Andrea McLean’s Privacy Policy, that I agree to the processing of my information described above, and that by submitting my story I grant Andrea McLean the publishing licence set out in these terms.