Privacy Notice

Helplines Partnership (HLP) is committed to protecting your personal information and being transparent about what we do with it. HLP will only collect, process and store information it has openly collected from you or with your consent in accordance with data protection laws (DPL). We would be delighted to receive feedback from site visitors and hear from others wishing to link with our site.

How we use your personal data

We process personal information to enable us to provide a service for the benefit of the national public as specified in our constitution:

to administer membership records;
to fundraise and promote the interests of the charity;
maintain our own accounts and records
research purposes
to campaign and raise awareness

How the law protects you

Data Protection Laws say that we are allowed to use personal information only if we have a proper reason to do so.

Categories of personal data

The types of data we process may include:

personal details
family details
lifestyle and social circumstances
membership details
goods and services
financial details
education and employment details
visual images and audio

We also process sensitive classes of information that may include:

physical or mental health details
racial or ethnic origin
religious or other beliefs of a similar nature
offences and alleged offences
criminal proceedings, outcomes and sentences
trade union membership

Who we process data about

We process data about the following:

members
staff, volunteers
people working or volunteering in the helpline sector
supporters
enquirers
advisers
complainants
representatives of other organisations
individuals recorded with audio visual equipment

Data transfers out of the European Economic Area (EEA)

It may sometimes be necessary to transfer personal information overseas and to countries outside the EEA. Contracts will be in place to make sure the recipient protects the data to the same standard as the EEA.

How long we keep your personal information

HLP will keep some forms of information for longer than others. Data will not be kept indefinitely unless there are specific requirements and will not be kept longer than is necessary. More information is available from the Compliance Officer on request.

How to get a copy of your personal information

Data subject's rights:

Any person about whom we hold data has the right to make a subject access request. They are entitled to be told whether we are processing their personal data; why it is being processed; and to whom it may be disclosed. In addition, they are entitled to receive a copy of all the personal data that we are processing.
All subject access requests will be dealt with by the Compliance Officer and any requests received will be passed to them immediately. If the initial request is not in writing, the person will be immediately asked to put the request in writing, or the request will be forwarded directly to the Compliance Officer who will do so. However, the fact that a request is not made in writing will never be used as a means of delaying the response. We are obliged to fully respond to any subject access request within 30 days which can be extended for a further two months.
DPL allow organisations to potentially charge a reasonable fee for subject access requests.
Under certain circumstances HLP may be exempt from disclosing certain information.

How to withdraw your consent

You can withdraw consent at any time however we may not be able to provide certain products and services to you. Please contact us if you wish to do so – see Queries and Concerns.

Where we collect personal data from

We only collect data that you give to us or that is publicly available. We obtain data when you:

apply for our products and services
talk to us on the phone or email us
use our website
attend an event, give us feedback or take part in research
make a payment
apply for a job

Who we share your personal data with

For statutory or contractual reasons, we may need to share your data with:

other HLP members
your organisation
other HLP employees
providers of goods and services
educator and examining bodies
financial organisations
healthcare, social and welfare organisations
survey and research organisations
police forces

Opt-In

If you would like to receive our mailings we ask you to ‘opt in’ via the website or when you contact us by email or phone. You can ask us to stop sending you mailings by contacting us directly or by selecting the “unsubscribe” button in our communications.

Email

If you send information to HLP via email, please be aware that we cannot guarantee its security during transit.

Telephone

If you contact HLP by telephone we will store your information for the purposes agreed with you and record this on our database.

Forms

Forms on this website may ask for personal information, such as your name, email address, organisation, job role and contact telephone number. This information is necessary and used only for contacting you as part of the purpose of those forms.

IP Address

We will have access to your IP address if you choose to set up log in details on our website or download publications.

Storing your information

Information is held on password protected management information systems and is stored in line with HLP’s agreed retention periods and according to Data Protection Law.

Lawful Basis

HLP processes data under the following lawful basis as set out in Article 6 of the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR).
Our lawful basis for processing personal data is legitimate interest.

Legitimate interests: the processing is necessary for HLP’s legitimate interests or the legitimate interests of a third party unless there is a good reason to protect the individual’s personal data which overrides those legitimate interests.

Disclaimer

HLP endeavours to ensure the content of this website is accurate and up to date but does not accept any liability for error or omission.
HLP is not a medical organisation and does not produce evidence-based health or social care information or advice.
HLP is not a regulator for the help sector.
HLP does not accept liability for any inconvenience, loss or damage arising from the use or inability to use any of the information on this website.
HLP takes no responsibility for the content of external websites and any such links should not be taken as an endorsement of any kind.
HLP branding cannot be taken from our site and used or reproduced without authorisation from the CEO.
Should you wish to use content and/or (any part of) HLP materials on our site they should be attributed to HLP and copyright assumed and acknowledged.

Queries and Concerns

If you have any questions about this Privacy Notice, would like a copy of our Data Protection Policy or are unhappy with how we have used your personal information then please contact us at:

C/o Azets

Compliance Officer
Helplines Partnership
Westpoint
Lynch Wood
Peterborough PE2 6FZ

Email: info@helplines.org
You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office. Find out on their website how to report a concern.