Introduction
This Privacy Policy explains how Action on Disability (AoD) collects, uses and stores your personal information. It also describes your rights regarding your personal information and how you can control how we contact you.
AoD takes your privacy very seriously. We are committed to protecting your personal information, being transparent about how we use it, and complying with all relevant data protection laws, including:
- UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR)
- European Union General Data Protection Regulation (EU GDPR)
- Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA 2018)
- Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR) 2003
We will only use your personal information in ways that are fair, lawful, and transparent.
Our Data Protection Principles
- We collect and use your personal information only for the purposes for which it was obtained.
- We retain your personal information only as long as necessary.
- We ensure that your personal information is only accessed by individuals who need it to perform their roles.
- We will only share your personal information where we have your consent, where it is required by law, or where permitted by data protection legislation.
- We aim to keep your information accurate and up to date.
- We safeguard your information from unauthorised access, accidental loss, or destruction.
- You have rights regarding your personal data, which we support and uphold.
What Is personal information?
Personal information is any information that can identify a living individual, either directly or indirectly.
We collect personal information in several ways:
- Directly – When you provide information to us directly, For example, when you join as a member, volunteer, request a service or make a donation.
- Indirectly – When we receive your information through third parties (e.g. fundraising platforms, referral agencies). We will inform you about the use of your data as soon as possible, typically within one month.
- Through our website or social media – We may collect information based on your interaction with our website or our social media platforms. Please review your privacy settings on these platforms.
- Publicly available sources – We may gather information about individuals from publicly available sources (e.g., media articles, LinkedIn, Companies House) for fundraising and relationship-building purposes. We will always inform individuals if we retain this information.
Profiling and automated decision-making
We may use personal information to build a profile of your interests and preferences to better tailor communications. You have the right to object to this kind of profiling.
We do not use automated decision-making that significantly affects individuals without human involvement. If we introduce automated decision-making, we will inform you.
How we use your personal information
We use your information to:
- Provide you with services
- Administer memberships and donations
- Communicate updates, fundraising appeals and marketing (only if consented)
- Understand and improve our services
- Meet our legal and regulatory obligations
We always ensure there is a lawful basis for processing your personal information.
Who we share your personal information with
We do not sell, rent, or trade your information to any third parties.
We may share your information with trusted service providers who deliver services on our behalf, such as mailing companies or IT providers. These providers are contractually obligated to protect your data and only use it for the specified purposes.
If personal information is transferred outside the UK or EEA, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place (such as Standard Contractual Clauses or adequacy decisions) to protect your data.
We may also disclose personal information if required by law.
How we protect your information
We use a variety of technical and organisational measures to protect your personal information from unauthorised access, misuse, or disclosure. These include secure servers, encryption, access controls, and regular staff training on data protection best practices.
How long we keep your information
We only retain your personal information for as long as necessary for the purpose for which it was collected, including to comply with legal, accounting, or reporting requirements.
Typical retention periods include:
- Membership records: Up to 7 years after membership ends
- Volunteer records: Up to 6 years after volunteering ends
- Donor records: Up to 7 years after last donation
We will provide specific retention details where appropriate.
Your Rights
You have the right to:
- Be informed about how we use your data
- Access your personal data (Data Subject Access Request)
- Correct inaccurate or incomplete data
- Request the deletion of your data (‘right to be forgotten’)
- Object to processing for marketing or other purposes
- Request the restriction of processing
- Request the transfer of your data (data portability)
- Object to automated decision-making and profiling
- Withdraw your consent at any time (where we rely on consent)
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the details below.
How to control communications from us
You can opt out of communications at any time by:
- Clicking “Unsubscribe” in any marketing email
- Emailing us at: info@actionondisability.org.uk
- Writing to us at: Action on Disability, AoD Centre for Independent Living, Mo Mowlam House, Clem Attlee Court, London SW6 7BF
If you are unhappy
If you are unhappy with how we process your personal information, please contact us first. You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) via www.ico.org.uk.
Changes to this policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we do, we will update the “Last Updated” date and notify you of significant changes.
Cookie Policy
Our website uses cookies to enhance your experience, including:
- Essential cookies: Needed for site functionality
- Performance cookies: Help us improve our website (e.g. Google Analytics)
- Targeting cookies: Deliver relevant ads or communications
You have the right to choose which cookies you accept when visiting our site. You can manage your cookie preferences through our Cookie Consent Banner or by adjusting your browser settings.