How to use the community
1. Do I need to register to use the community?
You’re welcome to browse the community without registering, but if you’d like to post or reply you’ll need to create an account. It’s quick and easy to do.
For your privacy, please don’t use your full name as your username. Once you’ve registered, you’ll receive a confirmation email.
Tip: If you ever wish to change your username, please email us at forum@theros.org.uk.
2. How do I find conversations that might interest me?
When you arrive in the community, you can browse different categories to find conversations that match your interests — you may need to scroll down to see them all, especially on mobile. You can read existing conversations at your own pace, return to the home page to explore other topics, and join in whenever you feel ready.
3. How do I start a conversation or reply to someone?
Starting a conversation is easy. Go to the category that best fits what you want to talk about and click Write Post.
If you’re not completely sure which category to choose, that’s absolutely fine — just go with what feels closest. Our moderators may move your post to a different category if needed, to help it reach the right people and spark helpful conversations.
Replying is just as simple. Scroll to the bottom of a post and click Reply to join the discussion.
4. How do I find previous conversations I’ve taken part in?
To view conversations you’ve previously taken part in, select “My posts” from the menu in the top-right corner of the screen (the three lines). This will show a list of your past activity, and you can click on any item to return to that conversation.
5. Can I edit my post if I make a mistake?
Yes, don’t worry – we’ve all pressed “Send” too soon! You can edit your post after publishing by clicking the pencil icon.
Other members will only see your updated version.
6. What happens after I post?
Your message will appear on the community, and others may soon respond with kind words, encouragement, or practical advice. Many people find comfort in recognising familiar usernames and building supportive friendships over time.
7. How do I get back to the community homepage?
To return to the community homepage at any time, click the ROS logo in the top left-hand corner. This will take you back to the homepage, where you can browse the different community categories.
8. What does the Like button mean?
Sometimes words aren’t needed. The Like button is a gentle way of saying:
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“I hear you”
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“You’re not alone”
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“That resonates with me”
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“Sending you good wishes”
You’ll get a notification whenever someone reacts to your post – and it can be such a lovely boost.
9. Can I send a private message?
Yes – you can send a private message to another forum member if you’d like to chat one-to-one. Only you and the recipient can see these.
To do this, click on the member’s name and choose Message. You can also message the community moderator this way.
(For safety reasons, moderators may access private messages if needed, but this is rare.)
10. What should I do if I see something that breaks the community guidelines?
If you come across a post or conversation that you feel goes against the community guidelines, please report it to the moderator by using the ‘flag’ option. This alerts the moderation team so they can review the content and take any appropriate action.
11. How do I change my password?
You can update your password anytime in your account settings. Find your account settings by clicking on the menu in the top-right hand corner (three lines), and pressing ‘my profile’.
12. How do I change the frequency of emails I receive?
Click on the menu in the top right-hand corner (three lines), and press ‘my profile’. Once in your profile settings, click Emails. You can decide how often you’d like updates.
If you’d like to make sure you don’t miss replies or mentions, select Always under “Email me when I am quoted, replied to, my @username is mentioned, or when there is new activity in my watched categories, tags or topics”
13. Can I bookmark posts to find them easily later?
Yes – click the ribbon icon under any post to save it.
You’ll find all your bookmarks in your profile under the ribbon tab.
14. How do I watch a topic or category?
If you’d like to be notified whenever there’s a new post in a topic or category, click the bell icon and choose your preference.
What if I have more questions?
We’re always here to support you. If you’re unsure about anything, please email us at forum@theros.org.uk and we’ll be happy to help. You can also message the ROSModerator. For more information about getting in touch, see our Contact Us page.