Retreat Terms & Conditions

General Terms

  1. These terms & conditions form the basis of the contract between DHJ Trading LTD [Vanlife Startup School is a trading name of DHJ Trading LTD] and the client upon booking and can only be changed by DHJ Trading LTD in writing.
  2. ​For all retreats all clients must be 18 years of age.
  3. ​Children can only be brought with written permission of Retreat Staff. Parents choosing to bring children under the age of 18 are responsible for their safety and conduct. In the event of a child behaving in a way that is not acceptable to the Vanlife Startup School staff, the parent may be asked to leave the premises with the child. Fees paid for a retreat will not be refundable in this event.
  4. ​Retreat Staff will try to obtain consent to use photographs of clients obtained during a Retreat, but upon booking the client gives presumed consent for such photos to be used for marketing unless explicitly stated verbally to a member of staff or in writing prior to the Retreat.  
  5. No dogs or pets are permitted without written agreement from Retreat Staff.

Booking Terms

  1. The Vanlife Startup School Retreat is offered by DHJ Trading Limited. The terms Vanlife Startup School, Retreat and Staff are identical to DHJ Trading LTD.
  2. The client accepts DHJ Trading LTD terms and conditions outlined here in full and enters a contract when they submit or complete a booking form AND pay either a deposit or full balance.  The monies must have cleared in the DHJ Trading LTD bank account and we must acknowledge receipt of booking and funds. We reserve all rights, even after booking, to cancel a booking – in which case we will return all monies back to the client. The legal jurisdiction of this contract will be in Scotland only.
  3. Retreat places (and the contract agreed) are not transferable to any other person unless agreed in writing by DHJ Trading LTD. 
  4. Clients must have a good standard of general fitness (as stated on the Retreat info page) and must disclose all medical history on the medical history form requested at the time of booking. DHJ Trading LTD will not be held liable for any health-related issues (during or after a Retreat) which occur as a result of medical history not declared on the medical history form.
  5. Any client who arrives late or does not attend a Retreat after booking is not entitled to a refund.
  6. Payment terms are as follows:
    • If we cancel a retreat for any reason (except in very rare exceptional weather circumstances deemed unsafe by us, or pandemic), we will refund you 100% of your Retreat fee or offer you a voucher to the same value as the booking.  
    • If you cancel 4 – 8 weeks before the retreat start date, we will retain 50% of your retreat fee.  If you cancel 4 weeks or less before the Retreat start date, we will retain 100% of your retreat fee.  We may be able to transfer you onto another retreat date, but this must be agreed in writing by DHJ Trading LTD and this is not always possible.  This cancellation policy is in place due to upfront costs and organisation which take place in advance of a retreat.
    • All retreat fee refunds, for whatever reason (excluding if WE cancel a Retreat), are subject to a 3% transaction fee to cover online payment costs to our provider plus a £15 administration fee. All returns paid in £ sterling at the current exchange rate.       
  7. Retreat fees may be subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances.  In this case we will inform you as far ahead as possible and give you the option to change or cancel the booking.  
  8. Every effort will be made to run retreats in accordance with the retreat description page on this website.  There may be circumstances, out with our control, which mean that for some reason we must modify the retreat content, change the venue or postpone a retreat. In this case DHJ Trading LTD cannot be held liable.  

Retreat Conduct

  1. Clients must receive a safety brief and sign the nominal roll to say they understand the risks and mitigation measures in place and will conform to Retreat Conduct instructions.
  2. Illegal drugs are NOT permitted.
  3. Responsible consumption of alcohol is permitted during and after dinner for adults at the discretion of Retreat Staff. No alcohol will be supplied by Retreat Staff. DHJ Trading LTD are not responsible for any loss, damage, injury or medical issue that arises if a client has consumed alcohol. Clients must adhere to limitations in the safety risk assessment and take additional care if alcohol is consumed to protect themselves from injury. Clients deemed by Retreat staff to be affected by alcohol may be excluded from activities where they may pose a risk to themselves or others. Anyone who’s conduct is deemed by Retreat staff to be unsafe or offensive to others will be asked to return to their camping accommodation and will be asked to leave the retreat once they are safe to do so.
  4. After dark, clients must stick to ‘GREEN’ areas on the map in the safety brief. Anyone going outside of ‘GREEN’ areas must be accompanied by another adult.
  5. ​A kit list is provided and it’s the clients responsibility to ensure they are adequately dressed/prepared for the retreat.  
  6. ​Clients must hand any equipment issued by Retreat Staff back in the same condition it was issued in.  Clients are liable for any losses or damage to issued equipment.  
  7. Clients must adhere to all instructions given by Retreat Staff.  DHJ Trading LTD will not be held liable for injury/losses incurred as a result of ignoring instructions/unsafe behaviour.  
  8. All clients have the right to enjoy the Retreat and not be disrupted by the behaviour of other Retreat members.  Retreat Staff reserve the right to remove any client (at the client’s cost) from a Retreat for any behaviour which obstructs the enjoyment or safety of others; for example abusive behaviours, intoxication, disregard of safety instructions, disregard of the environment.  Such clients will not be given a refund.
  9. ​Smoking is permitted only in dedicated smoking areas.

Liability and Risk

  1. Safety is paramount to the activates we conduct. Through risk assessment, experience, planning and safety procedures we aim to minimise risk to clients, no outdoor activity is without risks or hazards.  Clients must acknowledge that there are inherent risks associated with attending a retreat and by booking a retreat accepts these risks.  DHJ Trading LTD cannot be held liable for risks out with their control, eg. adverse weather and windblown trees, inadequate clothing or equipment supplied by client, illegal activities by other clients or members of the public or mistakes, mishaps or accidents resulting from the normal activities of the retreat.  
  2. If any client chooses to partake in activities including wild swimming and walking they are deemed to understand and accept as a condition of their booking the following statement, adapted from the Outdoor Swimming Society (OSS) swim responsibly statement:
    • “While we are always keen to share our passion for outdoor swimming, all swimmers must be solely responsible for making their own assessment as to the risks involved in any particular swim.
    • Swimming outdoors heightens the risk of serious injury or harm. The risks of outdoor swimming include (but are not limited to) hypothermia, drowning, sickness from polluted water, injury from wildlife, other swimmers or debris in the water. The ‘safety’ of locations varies with the weather, the abilities and knowledge of the swimmer and over time rainfall can dramatically change the safety profile of a swim spot. If you are in any doubt about the safety of a swim or your ability to complete it, you should not take part.”
  3. DHJ Trading LTD must be shown to be negligent for any liability to be acknowledged.
  4. ​​DHJ Trading LTD is not liable for any damage or loss to any client’s personal possessions, clothing or equipment while on a retreat.  
  5. ​DHJ Trading LTD is not liable for any health issues that arise from clients consuming catered food if the client has not disclosed food intolerances at the time of booking.  

Insurance & Complaints

  1. DHJ Trading LTD has adequate public liability and first aid provision insurance.  All clients are advised in the Retreat info pages, to have their own personal insurance to cover accidents, theft and damages. 
  2. Any complaints must be made in the first instance to the Retreat Staff on the Retreat followed up, if necessary, in writing no later than 28 days after the Retreat completion.  If no complaint is made during the retreat, no corrective action can be taken and this is deemed unreasonable.  

Privacy Policy

  1. We collect personal information at the time of booking for all clients.  We also collect personal medical history information which is relevant to keep you safe while on our retreats. We are required to keep this information for 6 years comply with UK tax law – after which time it will be destroyed.  We will never share any of this data with a third party – the only people that will see it are staff of DHJ Trading LTD.
  2. ​If you opt in to join our mailing list, we will not share any of your details with third parties and you have the option to opt out at any time. 

Keep up to date with the latest updates, news and features from Compare the Campervan by signing up to our newsletter.

Sign up now