Have you got some questions about Geek.Zone? Here are some of the ones we get asked most regularly.
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Contents
About Geek.Zone
Where is Geek.Zone?
Geek.Zone has Districts in Coventry, Chelmsford and London in England, as well as a Discord server for all our online events. Everyone is welcome, without borders.
Who is Geek.Zone?
Geek.Zone is the zone for geeks! We help awesome, geeky people find other awesome, geeky people. We are building a community of like-minded nerds and together we learn, play games, watch anime, build code and more. There is always something happening so get involved!
When was Geek.Zone founded?
Geek.Zone was founded by James Geddes in November 2013.
How do I join Geek.Zone?
Follow the instructions at Geek.Zone/Join
Who is Geek.Zone for?
Geek.Zone is here to build a community of geeks. That means all geeks, regardless of if you’re a mega fan, or just getting started. You are always welcome with us.
How do I attend online Geek.Zone events?
All our online events are held via our Discord. We find the desktop version works better than the mobile or web version. You can find different events in the Discord channels
How can I attend Geek.Zone in person events?
Geek.Zone events are all on our Meetup account – you can RSVP to events, see who else is going, and contact the host to get more information. Some events have an additional charge for attendance, but this will always be visible in the description on the Meetup event.
I follow Geek.Zone on [name of social media site], does that mean I am a member?
No – thanks for the follow though!
Geek.Zone membership costs £1 per year and is available at Geek.Zone/Join.
Money is tight for me, is there another way I can join Geek.Zone other than paying money?
In extenuating circumstances, the Trustees will absolutely accept the membership fee in other forms, such as volunteering. Please contact [email protected] to discuss this.
If you can afford to support your Geek.Zone, please do so generously. This allows us to continue to support those who cannot.
What do I get with my membership?
An amazing geeky community! All the member benefits are explained at Geek.Zone/Join.
Is Geek.Zone incorporated?
Geek.Zone is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation.
Why is Geek.Zone a charity?
The Geek.Zone community decided that charity status would be the best route for us because this would allow us to reach more awesome geeks! We are a community of geeks, so we want to connect all of the geeks, nerds and everyone in between. Charity status also ensures that our priority is, and always will be, our community, not profit.
Our underlying charitable object is the promotion of lifelong mental wellbeing, as having a great community around you is one of the key factors in a healthy, happy life. This does not mean that Geek.Zone is just for people with disabilities or mental health difficulties – we are here for every geek. After all, almost everyone will experience mental health problems at some stage in their life, so let’s help each other together. We were founded to bring the geek communities together and that is what we continue to do.
Why does Geek.Zone not advertise its charity status more?
While it is clearly great that we hold such recognition, charity status is not a “raison d’etre”, it is a legal structure. Our primary priority is our community, so everything else is there to support this community. We don’t hide the fact that we are charity, we just want the first message new people see to be that “Geek.Zone is a great community”.
Is Geek.Zone a business?
Yes and no. A charity is legally a type of corporation, so in that sense Geek.Zone is technically a business. Unlike a typical business, however, we do not have shareholders and our sole priority is our community; people not profit.
How do I join the Geek.Zone discord server?
Follow the invite button at Geek.Zone/Discord. We find the desktop version works better than the mobile or web version.
What tech stack does Geek.Zone use?
Geek.Zone/Web is being built using the following tools.
- Backend
- Python using the Django framework
- PostgreSQL
- Front end
- Tailwind CSS framework
- Infrastructure
- AWS
- Azure
- Kubernetes
- Terraform
- CI/CD
- GitHub
- CircleCI
- GitHub Actions
…and, of course, coffee. Lots of coffee.
Volunteering
How do I volunteer?
You can contact us on [email protected] for more information or to let us know that you’d like to volunteer. You can get more information here
What do I do if I need help?
If you are struggling with your role as a volunteer, you can reach out to any trustee either on [email protected] or speak to us in person if you can. We will support you as best as we can.
What do I do if I can no longer fulfil my tasks?
We fully understand, life happens and that’s ok! All we ask is that if you are not going to be able to do something, please just let us know so we can try to find cover for events, or reassign any tasks you’ve taken on.
What level of English proficiency do I need?
Geek.Zone is open to everyone and has no specific language requirements. Most of our members speak English, so being able to do that too is helpful.
If, like many, you are interested in volunteering with Geek.Zone to develop your experience so that you can get a job, most British employers require at least B1 English proficiency.
You must prove you can read, write, speak and understand English to at least level B1 on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) scale.
GOV.UK, Skilled Worker visa: Knowledge of English
Most jobs are more reliant on your interpersonal and communication skills than some might think, so by targeting the C1 or C2 level, you could really improve your chances of getting the job you are looking for. EFSet provides a free language skill assessment and certificate, which can be displayed on your LinkedIn.
We will help you as much as we can too! We have several members who learned English as a second language and who would be happy to give you some pointers.
Do I need to already be proficient in the area I wish to volunteer in?
No! While some knowledge is clearly advantageous, we will help you learn more about the field by giving you real-world requirements that will be used in a real-world organisation. We will also teach you wherever possible. In the case of volunteering as an event host, you usually host for activities you’re passionate or experienced in (this is not mandatory)
Do I need to be a Geek.Zone member to be a volunteer?
Yes, though Geek.Zone membership costs just £1each year. That’s available at Geek.Zone/Join.
The Dev team will gladly accept forked PRs from non-members, however members get direct commit access.
Do I need to be in a particular location?
No! While we do have many in-person events that you will enjoy if you are near one of our Districts, most of our voluntary tasks can be done entirely remotely. Your team will ensure that you have access to the tools to allow you to track all the resources you need.
Can I claim expenses?
Geek.Zone will pay for certain reasonable expenses, though we prefer to pay directly than make you spend time out of pocket. Please speak to a Trustee to discuss before the expenses are incurred.
Will Geek.Zone provide a professional reference?
Yes, our Chairperson will gladly provide you with a reference or recommendation that reflects your dedication to the project. If you are one of our volunteers please email [email protected] requesting this and we will contact you.
Something else
If we have missed your question, please email [email protected] and we will include it posthaste!