Introduction
This privacy policy explains how the Bedfordshire Mental Health Alliance utilises the personal information we gather when you get in contact via phone, email, letter, attend any of our events, or use our website: www.bedsmentalhealth.org.uk.
We are committed to safeguarding your personal information and strive to be transparent with you about our data and security practices.
Where we request identifiable information from you it will only be used in accordance with this privacy policy and in line with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) 2018.
Collecting Personal Information
When you contact us (via email or our sign up/contact form) we may collect, store and use the following kinds of personal information:
- name
- organisation
- phone number
- email address
- home address
We also collect information on your website usage through cookies, if your browser accepts them. When you contact us by email, letter or phone, we may also record this information on our customer relationship management system to help us process your request efficiently.
We want to ensure that personal information we hold is up to date and correct. Please let us know if your information needs to be corrected or updated.
Using Personal Information
The information we gather from your website visits is used to personalise your future visits and enhance the experience of our online users.
Additionally, we use your information to aid in the development of products and services that you need. With your consent and when legally permissible, we may also use this data to send you relevant information regarding the assistance and support we provide.
Storing Personal Information
Our website is hosted in the UK, and any data processing is subject to the General Data Protection Regulation 2018. Any personal data that you submit will be stored temporarily on the backend of the website. This data will be automatically removed once transferred to our membership database.
Our website operates at the highest security levels and all personal information is encrypted in transmission. However, no internet-based data transmission can ever be guaranteed to be 100% secure. Therefore, any data transmission is done so at your own risk.
Our email newsletter is built using a platform hosted in the US, so the contact information you provide to us is stored there. This provider ensures their practices comply with the General Data Protection Regulation 2018.
Accessing Personal Information
You have the right to request a copy of the information that we hold about you. You can do this by emailing info@bedsmentalhealth.org.uk.
Retaining Personal Information
When we gather or process your personal data, we’ll only retain it for the length of time necessary for the purpose of its collection. At the end of this period, your data will be deleted completely or anonymised, for example combining it other data so that it can be used anonymously for statistical analysis.
Cookies
About cookies
Cookies are small text files that are placed on your device (computer, tablet, or mobile device) when you visit a website. They are widely used to make websites work more efficiently, as well as to provide information to website owners. When you visit our website, we allow a number of third parties including Google and Facebook to set cookies on your device to help us better understand who our users are and how they use our websites.
We use essential cookies which are necessary for the proper functioning of our website. They enable you to navigate our site and use its features. Without these cookies, certain services or functionalities may be unavailable.
Analytical and performance cookies help us analyze how visitors use our website and understand its performance. They collect information such as the pages visited, the time spent on each page, and any error messages encountered. This data helps us improve our website's functionality and overall user experience.
Functionality cookies allow our website to remember choices you make (such as your preferred language or region) and provide enhanced features. They may also be used to provide you with customized content based on your preferences.
Our website may include social media features or plugins that allow you to share content or interact with social media platforms. These features may involve the use of cookies from those social media platforms. We have no control over the cookies used by these platforms and recommend reviewing their respective privacy policies.
Email Cookies
We use cookies in our emails and on our website to track email opens and verify link clicks within them. This data helps us assess the performance of our email campaigns, identify the types of emails and content that resonate with our users, and understand the actions taken by our users. By gaining these insights, we aim to enhance our future email campaigns and provide you with more relevant content.
Your Cookie Choices
You can control and manage cookies preferences through your web browser settings. Most browsers allow you to block or delete cookies. However, please note that blocking or deleting cookies may affect your ability to access certain features of our website.
For more information on managing cookies, visit www.allaboutcookies.org.
Email Marketing
If you have chosen to receive updates on the activities and services of the Bedfordshire Mental Health Alliance we will send you relevant information. If you don't want to hear from us, every marketing email we send includes an unsubscribe link or you can contact us at any time to modify your marketing preferences.
Your Rights
Data protection regulations give you clear rights over how your data is used by us. You can find out more detail about your rights by visiting the Information Commissioner’s Office website’s section on individual rights. You also have the right to report concerns or complain about our handling of your data to the Information Commissioner’s Office. Details of how to do this can be found on its website.
Third Party Websites
Our website includes hyperlinks and details of third party websites. We are not in control of and are not responsible for the privacy policies and practices of third parties.
Partner Organisations
The Bedfordshire Mental Health Alliance is a partnership between three charity organisations:
Amendments
We regularly review this policy and will update it when needed. You should check this page occasionally to ensure you are happy with any changes made.
This privacy policy was last updated June 2023.
Our Details
If you would like to get in touch or have any questions about our privacy policy, please contact us through our contact form or email us on info@bedsmentalhealth.org.uk.