Privacy Policy
We are committed to protecting your privacy and handling your personal information with care.
We use your data responsibly and respectfully
This policy explains what information we collect, why we collect it, how we keep it safe, and your rights.
It applies whether you are:
- a supporter or donor
- a fisherman or family member we support
- a volunteer or member of staff
If you have any questions at any point, you can contact us.
Why we collect personal information
UK data protection law (the UK GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018) requires organisations to be clear and transparent about how personal data is used.
In simple terms, this means you have the right to understand:
- what information we hold about you
- why we need it
- how long we keep it
- who we share it with (if anyone).
If you support us or make a donation
What information we collect
We collect information you choose to give us, such as:
- your name
- postal address (if provided)
- email address or phone number (if provided)
- donation history.
We do not buy or sell your personal data.
How we use your information
We use your information to:
- process donations
- claim Gift Aid (if you have agreed to this)
- respond to enquiries
- keep accurate financial records
- keep in touch with you about how your donation is helping us.
Gift Aid
If you complete a Gift Aid declaration, your name and address are shared with HMRC as part of our Gift Aid claim. Gift Aid records are kept securely and only for as long as required by law.
Payments
- we do not store full credit or debit card details.
- regular donations by Direct Debit are handled securely through Enthuse.
- payment processing is carried out by trusted, data-protection-compliant providers.
How long we keep this information
Financial records, including donations, must be kept for six years to meet legal requirements. After this time, information is securely archived or destroyed.
If we have supported you or your family
Why we hold your information
If you are a fisherman (active or retired) or a dependant of a fisherman, we hold information you provided so we can offer practical, emotional, or financial support.
Some of this information may be sensitive. We treat it with the highest level of care and confidentiality.
How your information is stored
- digital records are stored securely using Salesforce, with secure logins
- paper records are kept securely and only when necessary.
Sharing information
We will only share your information with other organisations if:
- you have given clear consent, or
- it is legally required.
We will always explain this to you at the time.
How long we keep this information
- financial support records are kept for six years
- non-financial support records are usually kept for up to two years after our last contact, in case you need further help.
After this, records are securely deleted.
If you are a volunteer or member of staff
We collect personal information to meet legal and contractual responsibilities, such as payroll, safeguarding, and training:
- staff records are kept securely and access is limited
- volunteer records are destroyed once no longer needed
- pension information is handled by authorised pension providers.
Staff records are normally kept for at least six years after employment ends.
Keeping your information safe
Protecting your data is extremely important to us.
We:
- train all staff in data protection and cyber security
- use secure systems and passwords
- hold a Cyber Essentials certification.
Your rights
You have the right to:
- ask what personal information we hold about you
- ask for incorrect information to be corrected
- ask for your information to be deleted (where legally possible)
- object to how your information is used
- withdraw consent at any time
- make a complaint.
If you are unhappy with how we handle your data, you also have the right to contact the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), the UK’s data protection regulator.
Cookies
What are cookies?
Cookies are small text files stored on your device when you visit a website. They help the site work properly and help us understand how people use our website.
Cookies do not give us access to your device or personal files.
How we use cookies
We use cookies to:
- make sure our website works as expected
- remember your preferences (such as accessibility settings)
- understand how people use our website so we can improve it.
We do not use cookies to identify you personally.
Types of cookies we use
Essential cookies
These are needed for the website to work properly. Without them, some parts of the site will not function.
You cannot turn these off.
Analytics cookies (Google Analytics and Microsoft Clarity)
We use Google Analytics and Microsoft Clarity to understand how people use our website. This helps us see:
- which pages are most visited and which sections of those pages are most read
- how long visitors spend on the site
- how people arrive at our website
- issues people have when navigating our website.
The information collected is anonymised and used only to improve our website.
Analytics cookies are only used if you give your consent.
Functional cookies
These remember choices you make, such as language or accessibility preferences, to improve your experience.
Third-party cookies
Some pages may include content from trusted third parties (such as video players or embedded maps). These services may set their own cookies.
We recommend checking the privacy and cookie policies of these providers for more information.
Third-party cookies
We use CookiesYes to manage cookie consent. You can access it from the little circle in the bottom left corner of your screen.
When you visit our website, you can choose which cookies you are happy to allow. You can:
- change or withdraw your consent at any time using the cookie settings link on our website
- block or delete cookies using your browser settings.
Guides for managing cookies can be found in your browser’s help section.
Third-party cookies
Some cookies last only for the duration of your visit. Others remain on your device for a set period or until you delete them.
Details of individual cookies and their duration are available through CookiesYes.
How to contact us
We have supported fishermen and their families for more than 140 years. Trust matters to us, and we take our responsibility to protect your personal information seriously.
If anything in this policy is unclear, please get in touch: we are always happy to help.