Open Mining Collective

The Open Mining Collective (OMC) is a pan-galactic union of mining groups. Players are free to participate in mining activities protected by NPCs. Mining activities may include players, a number of NPC mining ships, and NPC defense ships, primarily to defend against pirates.
Players of any faction are permitted to participate in the OMC, so long as they do not have a negative standing with the organization. Whilst some OMC operations will take place in high security systems and regions of space, many are focused on lower security areas where pirates are a common problem. Despite typically being protected by NPC escort vessels, players should be aware that pirate raids in certain areas may pose a significant threat.
Attacking a ship in the OMC (player or NPC) in a high-sec system may cause the region's governing faction to become hostile towards the attacker. Repeated attacks may lead to overall security standing dropping with Nova, causing Nova to jump in and protect OMC ships within high-sec if you attack.
The Open Mining Collective will be an excellent way for new players to venture to less safe areas of space, with protection. However, player ran mining factions will be able to offer far more security. Additionally, the OMC only operates within certain relatively safe areas of space, and does not mine rare or exotic ores.