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+# Contributing Guide
+
+## Issues & Pull Requests
+
+### Creating an Issue
+
+Before **creating** an Issue for `features`/`bugs`/`improvements` please follow these steps:
+
+1. search existing Issues before creating a new issue (has someone raised this already)
+1. if it doesn't exist create a new issue giving as much context as possible (please select the correct Issue type, for example `bug` or `feature`)
+
+### Working on an Issue (get it assigned to you)
+
+Before working on an existing Issue please follow these steps:
+
+1. only ask to be assigned 1 issue at a time
+1. comment asking for the issue to be assigned to you (do not tag maintainers on GitHub or Discord as all maintainers receive your comment notifications)
+1. after the Issue is assigned to you, you can start working on it
+1. **only** start working on this Issue (and open a Pull Request) when it has been assigned to you - this will prevent confusion, multiple people working on the same issue and work not being used
+1. do **not** enable GitHub Actions on your fork
+1. reference the Issue in your Pull Request (for example `closes #123`)
+
+> Notes:
+> - check the `Assignees` box at the top of the page to see if the issue has been assigned to someone else before requesting this be assigned to you
+> - if an Issue is unclear, ask questions to get more clarity before asking to have the Issue assigned to you
+> - only request to be assigned an Issue if you know how to work on it
+> - an Issue can be assigned to multiple people, if you all agree to collaborate on the issue (the Pull Request can contain commits from different collaborators)
+> - any Issues that have no activity after 2 weeks will be unassigned and re-assigned to someone else
+
+## Reviewing Pull Requests
+
+We welcome everyone to review Pull Requests, it is a great way to learn, network and support each other.
+
+### DOs
+
+- be kind and respectful, we use inclusive, gender neutral language (for example `they/them` instead of `guy/man`)
+- use inline comments to explain your suggestions
+- use inline suggestions to propose changes
+
+### DON'Ts
+
+- do not be rude, disrespectful or aggressive
+- do not repeat feedback, this creates more noise than value (check the existing conversation), use GitHub reactions if you agree/disagree with a comment
+- do not blindly approve pull requests to improve your GitHub contributors graph