Privacy Policy

 Borthwickwater Landscape Conservation Group (BLCG)

Effective Date: 1st November 2024.

At BLCG we are committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and protect your personal information when you interact with us, whether through our website, social media platforms, or in-person activities. As a not-for-profit organisation focused on landscape protection, we understand the importance of your privacy and are dedicated to ensuring that your data is handled responsibly and transparently in accordance with UK data protection laws, including the Data Protection Act 2018 and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

We may collect the following types of personal information:

• Personal Identification Information: Name, email address, postal address, telephone number.
• Donation and Payment Information: Payment details such as credit card numbers (when processed by trusted third parties), donation amounts, and payment history.
• Event Participation: Information related to your involvement in events, campaigns, or other activities we organise.
• Website Interaction: IP address, browser type, usage data, and cookies when you interact with our website.
• Volunteer Information: Name, contact details, and relevant information required to volunteer with us.

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

• To Process Donations: We use your personal and payment information to process your donations and issue receipts.
• To Keep You Informed: We may use your contact information to send you newsletters, event invitations, updates on our projects, and other information about our work.
• To Organise Events: We use your contact details to manage your participation in events, campaigns, and volunteering opportunities.
• To Improve Our Services: We analyse how our website is used and gather feedback to improve our services and communications.
• Legal and Regulatory Compliance: We may use your data to comply with legal obligations, such as financial reporting or responding to legal requests.

We process your personal information based on the following legal grounds:

• Consent: When you provide us with your data, such as subscribing to our newsletter or making a donation, you consent to its use as outlined in this Privacy Policy.
• Contractual Necessity: If you engage with us in any capacity (e.g., as a volunteer or donor), we may need to process your data to fulfil our contractual obligations to you.
• Legitimate Interests: We may process your data based on our legitimate interests, such as keeping you informed about our charitable work and initiatives.
• Compliance with Legal Obligations: We may process your data to comply with laws, regulations, or other legal requirements.

We will not sell, rent, or trade your personal information. We may share your data with trusted third parties in the following situations:

• Service Providers: We may share your information with third-party service providers who help us process donations, manage events, or maintain our website. These third parties are contractually obliged to protect your data and only use it for the specified purposes.
• Legal Obligations: We may disclose your information to authorities if required by law or to protect our rights.
• Business Transfers: In the event that our organisation is sold, merged, or otherwise transferred, your data may be transferred as part of the transaction.

We will retain your personal data only for as long as is necessary to fulfil the purposes for which it was collected, or as required by law. For example, we may retain donation records for accounting purposes for a period of time required by tax regulations.

Under the GDPR, you have the following rights regarding your personal data:

• Right to Access: You can request a copy of the personal information we hold about you.
• Right to Rectification: You can ask us to correct any inaccuracies in your personal information.
• Right to Erasure: You can request that we delete your personal data, subject to certain exceptions.
• Right to Restriction of Processing: You can ask us to limit how we process your data in certain circumstances.
• Right to Data Portability: You can request a copy of your data in a structured, commonly used, and machine-readable format.
• Right to Object: You can object to the processing of your personal data for certain purposes, such as direct marketing.

If you wish to exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the details provided below.

We take reasonable steps to protect the personal information we collect from unauthorised access, use, or disclosure. This includes using secure technologies for our website and payment processing. However, please note that no method of electronic transmission or storage is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee the absolute security of your data.

Our website may use cookies and other tracking technologies to enhance your experience. Cookies are small data files stored on your device that help us understand how you use our site, such as remembering your preferences. You can control the use of cookies through your browser settings.

Our website may contain links to third-party websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of those sites. We encourage you to read the privacy policies of any third-party websites you visit.

As a UK-based organisation, we primarily store and process data within the UK and European Economic Area (EEA). However, in certain cases, we may transfer your data outside of the UK or EEA. When this happens, we ensure that appropriate safeguards are in place to protect your data, in accordance with data protection laws.

If you have any questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or how we handle your personal information, please contact us:

Borthwickwater Landscape Conservation Group
Woodburn Lodge, Hawick, TD9 7PJ
info@blcg.org

Alternatively, you can contact the UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) for further information or to lodge a complaint:
Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO)
Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF
Tel: 0303 123 1113
Website: www.ico.org.uk

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Any changes will be posted on this page, and where appropriate, we will notify you directly. Please check this page regularly for updates.

This Privacy Policy outlines our commitment to protecting your privacy and ensuring transparency in how we handle your personal data. Thank you for supporting BLCG and our mission to protect the landscapes we cherish.