Privacy Policy

Updated: 25/3/2024

The Breastfeeding Companion (TBC) promotes the physical and mental health of mothers through the provision of education in the techniques of breastfeeding. an essential aspect of maternal and infant health. TBC operates as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) under charity number 1195472.

Our commitment to safeguarding your personal data and maintaining transparency in its usage applies to all interactions with TBC, whether you are seeking employment, volunteering, advocating for our cause, making a donation, utilising our services, seeking information, or simply wanting to learn more about our mission.

We adhere to strict guidelines outlined in data protection legislation, including the European Union General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA), and the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulation (2003). We handle your information responsibly and only utilise it for purposes you would reasonably expect.

This Privacy Notice, in conjunction with our website terms and conditions and cookies policy, outlines how we collect, utilise, and safeguard your personal data.

Contact Us:

If you have any inquiries regarding this policy, please feel free to contact us at info@thebreastfeedingcompanion.com.

Data Collection:

TBC collects the following types of data:

Directly provided information:

      • Personal identification details (e.g., Name, email address, phone number)
      • Images uploaded to our website by users
      • Donation support for our charity
      • Fundraising activities conducted on our behalf
      • Event registrations
      • Enquiries submitted to us
      • Feedback provided to us
      • Complaints filed with us
      • Volunteer applications
      • Comments or reviews made by users

Indirectly provided information:

      • Information obtained through interactions on social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or LinkedIn, subject to users’ privacy settings and platform policies.
      • Data collected during website visits, including pages visited and navigation patterns, facilitated through cookies. Refer to our cookies policy for more details.
      • Information gathered during interactions via phone, mail, in-person meetings, or online channels. This may include personal details such as name, address, email, IP address, user agent string, phone number, date of birth, workplace details, educational background, career information, reasons for interest in TBC, and any other personal data voluntarily provided by users.

We acknowledge the sensitivity of certain personal information, referred to as ‘special category’ data, encompassing details revealing racial or ethnic origin, religious or philosophical beliefs, political opinions, trade union membership, genetic or biometric data, health-related information, or details concerning a person’s sex life or sexual orientation. We only collect such information when necessary, accompanied by clear notices explaining the purpose and necessity of its collection.

How and Why We Use Your Information:

The Breastfeeding Companion (TBC) utilises your personal information for various purposes, as outlined below:

  • Email updates are sent based on the information you provide.
  • Communication regarding fundraising or exclusive updates is sent only upon explicit consent from you.
  • You can opt-out of such communications by contacting info@thebreastfeedingcompanion.com.
  • Information provided on paper registration forms, such as events) is securely transferred into electronic format, with paper forms then securely destroyed.
  • Personal information may be used to address queries or requests received from you.
  • Data may be utilised to assess and enhance the delivery of our services both presently and in the future.
  • Your information is necessary for processing payments, donations, and ensuring compliance with the World Health Organization Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes.
  • We may analyse your personal information to enhance website accessibility and facilitate faster development and improvement.
  • Personal information may be used for complaint resolution, recording preferences regarding marketing communications, volunteer record-keeping, and other essential administrative purposes.
  • Participation in surveys or market research initiatives is voluntary and helps us refine our website, fundraising efforts, services, and strategic development.
  • When legally obligated, personal information may be processed to fulfil regulatory requirements.
  • Your personal information may be used for profiling to better tailor communications and prevent irrelevant or inappropriate outreach.
  • TBC does not share your data outside the organisation or with third parties for their own purposes.
  • Your consent is required before adding you to our mailing list.
  • Third-party suppliers may be engaged under our instruction to assist in delivering our services or fundraising efforts.
  • Legal disclosure may be made when required by law.

Your privacy and trust are paramount to us, and we handle your information with utmost care and respect. Should you have any inquiries or concerns, please reach out to us at the contact details provided in this Privacy Notice.

Record Retention:

At TBC, we adhere to responsible record retention practices to ensure the security and confidentiality of your personal information. Our procedures are as follows:

  • Mailing List Maintenance:
    • Your contact details will remain on our mailing list until you choose to unsubscribe.
  • Data Security Measures:
    • Upon receiving your information, we implement appropriate procedures and security features to prevent unauthorised access.
    • Paper copies of information no longer required are carefully disposed of.
  • Website User Information:
    • Users who register on our website have their personal information stored in their user profile.
    • All users have the ability to view, edit, or delete their personal information (except for username changes).
    • Website administrators also have access to and can modify this information.

Security Measures:

To maintain a high level of security, we undertake the following measures:

  • Limiting access to information on a need-to-know basis, adhering to this Privacy Policy.
  • Regular reviews of access to information to ensure access is restricted to authorised TBC volunteers.
  • Utilising secure payment processing through Stripe for online transactions, in compliance with industry standards.
  • Implementing password protection for confidential information and ensuring computer passwords remain private.
  • Logging out after completing tasks to prevent unauthorised access.
  • Using memory sticks and external hard drives with care.

Data Security:

While we take utmost care to secure your information, please note:

  • Sending information over public networks or using public computers carries inherent risks.
  • We cannot guarantee 100% security of data (including personal information) transmitted over public networks.

Data Retention Period:

  • Financial transaction records are retained for as long as required by law for tax and accounting purposes, which may be up to six years after a particular transaction.
  • Requests to cease marketing communications result in details being stored in a suppression file to honour your preferences.
  • Other personal information is retained no longer than necessary for the purposes for which it was collected, in accordance with guidance from the Information Commissioner’s Office.

 

Third-Party Software Tools:

We utilise third-party services that collect technical information from your device, including standard internet log data such as Internet Protocol (IP) address, browser type and version, and page interaction details.

  • MailChimp: We use MailChimp to deliver our newsletter. Refer to MailChimp’s privacy policy for more information.
  • LearnDash and WooCommerce: These platforms are used on our websites. Refer to the privacy policies of LearnDash and WooCommerce for further information.
  • Privacy Policies of Other Websites:
    • Links on our website may direct you to external sites. Our privacy policy applies only to our website. If you visit another website, please review their privacy policy.
  • Embedded Content:
    • Content on our site may contain embedded content (e.g., videos, images, articles) from other websites. Interaction with embedded content is subject to the privacy policies of those external sites.
  • Vimeo:
    • For embedded Vimeo content, please refer to Vimeo’s privacy policy.

Your Rights to Personal Information:

Under data protection legislation, you have certain rights regarding your personal information:

  • Access and Correction:
    • You can request access to and correction of personal information held by TBC.
  • Erasure, Restriction, and Objection:
    • You have the right to request erasure, restriction, or objection to the processing of your personal information, except where legal or security obligations require its retention.

To exercise these rights or withdraw consent from our mailing list, please contact us at info@thebreastfeedingcompanion.com. Provide relevant information regarding your contact with us to facilitate the process.

To unsubscribe from our mailing list, you can complete the Unsubscribe-from-mailing-list form or email info@thebreastfeedingcompanion.com with the subject line “Unsubscribe” and include your name and email address.

Making a Complaint or Raising Concerns:

For further information, questions, formal complaints, or privacy concerns, please contact us at info@thebreastfeedingcompanion.com. We are committed to addressing your inquiries and ensuring compliance with data protection regulations.