FAQ
Common questions
Quick answers for new members. Geek Bank is about good company, geek culture, and feeling welcome.
What is Meetup.com?
Meetup.com is a free online platform that helps people discover, join, and organize local community groups based on shared interests. Whether you are into board games, tabletop RPGs, coding, or casual social nights, Meetup makes it easy to find like-minded people in your area.
Why create a website and Meetup.com account?
A supporter membership on this website unlocks Member-only perks with our Spaces. It also gives you quick access to see all of the Meetup events across the communities as Geek Bank grows beyond just Derby.
How do I join and attend Geek Bank events?
All our events, RSVPs, and discussions are hosted on our official Meetup.com Group. Simply head over to Meetup, join the group, and RSVP to any upcoming event that interests you!
While you can browse our upcoming event listings right here on our website, we strongly recommend creating a free Meetup account. Signing up allows you to RSVP to events, receive notifications about upcoming sessions or time changes, and chat with fellow members in the comments!
What are the guidelines for attending an event?
We want everyone to have a safe and fun time! All attendees participate at their own risk and are responsible for their own safety and personal belongings. We also ask everyone to follow the specific health and safety rules of whichever venue we are visiting, as well as our community Code of Conduct.
What if an event is full?
You will join the waitlist. When a spot opens up, the next person moves up automatically.
What are communities?
Communities are made by the people inside them.
Geek Bank currently has two communities.
Geek Bank Derby, which focuses on sharing our Meetup events in and around Derby (although we've been known to venture further) Geek Bank Online, which focuses on out Meetup.com Online events where a person's location is less important.
As we grow, we intend to add more Communities for new locations. If there is a location that interests you, you can share this interest on the Communities Page.
Do I have to pay to be a member?
No, membership is completely free on Meetup.com. Keeping Geek Bank accessible to everyone has always been essential to us, and most of our events cost nothing to attend. However, to access the discounts offered by our partner spaces on this website is only for those who support the running costs of the Meetup group.
If you enjoy being part of the community, please consider becoming a supporter and helping towards the annual Meetup.com group fees.
Why do you want a real name and photo?
Having a clear profile picture and real name helps members recognise one another easily at meetups and builds a genuine, friendly atmosphere. It also allows our organisers to keep the community safe and welcoming for everyone. A clear, recent photo of yourself is ideal!
How are you spreading the word about Geek Bank?
Outside of Meetup.com we rely on a mixture of digital reach and grassroots local outreach:
Social Media & Word of Mouth: Sharing updates, event highlights, and community news across free social channels like Instagram.
Local Outreach: Partnering with local businesses, cafes, and venues to distribute our cards, flyers, and stickers.
Member Advocacy: Our best growth comes from our members! We encourage everyone in the group to invite friends, colleagues, and fellow local geeks to join.
How secure is the website and member data?
Website Hosting: All web hosting and platform infrastructure are managed securely using Vercel.
Database Storage: Member data is securely stored in a serverless PostgreSQL database hosted on Neon. Neon's platform terms, conditions, and security controls (including industry-standard encryption at rest and in transit) apply to how data is handled.
Access Control: As administrators, our team only manages member accounts and site content. We have no direct access to the underlying database infrastructure, relying instead on Vercel and Neon's robust security models to keep our technology safe and compliant.
How is data protection and privacy managed?
We take data protection very seriously and operate in compliance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.
For full details on what data we store, how it is used, and your legal rights (such as account deletion or requesting a copy of your data), please read our full Privacy Notice.