Update README.md

README.md

@@ -22,6 +22,15 @@ The repo for backend v3.x is archived and read-only
 If you have any questions, please feel free to contact any member of the development team,
 or the SciCat team at ESS.
 
+## Contributing
+If you're planning to contribute to this project by adding new functionality, we encourage you to discuss it first in the Discussions tab. This helps ensure that your proposed changes align with the project's goals and prevents duplicate efforts. Here's how you can initiate a discussion:
+
+1. Go to the [Discussions tab](https://github.com/SciCatProject/scicat-backend-next/discussions).
+2. Start a new discussion thread outlining your proposed changes.
+3. Wait for feedback and consensus before proceeding with creating a pull request.
+
+Thank you for your interest in contributing to our project!
+
 ## Get started
 
 1. `git clone https://github.com/SciCatProject/scicat-backend-next.git`