Blackrod Now Privacy Policy

Blackrod Now is a volunteer-led community communications project. We share information about local events, activities, organisations, services and matters of interest to the Blackrod community.

Blackrod Now is responsible for the personal information collected through its website and communications.

For privacy enquiries, contact:

Email: data@communityalliances.co.uk

Website: blackrodnow.co.uk

We may collect:

• names and contact details submitted through our contact form;
• email addresses provided for newsletter subscriptions;
• names, contact details and organisation details supplied with event or community-information submissions;
• correspondence sent to Blackrod Now;
• information about website use collected through cookies and website analytics; and
• technical information needed to keep the website secure and operational.

Please do not send unnecessary sensitive or confidential personal information.

We use personal information to:

• respond to enquiries;
• review and publish event or community information;
• contact organisations or individuals about their submissions;
• send newsletters to people who have subscribed;
• operate, secure and improve the website;
• correct inaccurate information;
• manage complaints or concerns; and
• comply with any legal obligations.

We do not sell personal information.

We rely on:

• consent for newsletter subscriptions and optional analytics cookies;
• legitimate interests when responding to enquiries, managing submissions and operating a useful community-information service; and
• legal obligation where information must be used or retained to comply with the law.

Newsletter consent may be withdrawn at any time by using the unsubscribe link or contacting Blackrod Now.

Information submitted specifically for publication may appear on the Blackrod Now website, social-media pages, newsletters or other community communications.

People submitting information must ensure that:

• they are authorised to provide it;
• it is accurate;
• they have permission to provide any personal contact details, photographs or other material; and
• the information is suitable for public publication.

Where possible, organisations should provide an organisational email address rather than a volunteer’s private contact details.

Personal information is only accessible to authorised Blackrod Now volunteers who need it to carry out their role.

We may also use trusted service providers for:

• website hosting;
• email and newsletter delivery;
• online forms;
• website analytics; and
• technical support.

These providers may only use information as necessary to provide their services.

We may disclose information where required by law or where reasonably necessary to report a serious safety, safeguarding or security concern.

We keep personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary.

Normally:

• contact enquiries are deleted within 12 months after they have been resolved;
• event-submission records are deleted within 12 months after the event has taken place;
• newsletter details are retained until the person unsubscribes; and
• website analytics information is retained only for the limited period configured within the analytics service.

Information may be retained for longer where necessary to deal with a complaint, safeguarding matter, legal requirement or ongoing dispute.

The website may use essential cookies needed for security and basic website functions.

Optional analytics cookies may be used to understand how visitors use the website. These cookies will only be activated where the visitor has consented through the website’s cookie settings.

Visitors may reject optional cookies and change their preferences.

Blackrod Now does not intentionally collect unnecessary personal information directly from children.

People submitting information about children’s events or activities must not provide private contact details or photographs without appropriate permission.

The organisation responsible for an activity remains responsible for its own safeguarding and consent arrangements.

Blackrod Now takes reasonable steps to protect personal information, including:

• limiting access to authorised volunteers;
• using secure passwords;
• keeping website systems updated;
• using reputable service providers; and
• avoiding the collection of unnecessary information.

No online system can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

Depending on the circumstances, individuals may have the right to:

• request a copy of their personal information;
• ask for inaccurate information to be corrected;
• request deletion of their information;
• object to or restrict how their information is used;
• withdraw consent; and
• complain about how their information has been handled.

Requests should be sent to the contact email shown above.

Please contact Blackrod Now first if you have a concern about how your information has been used.

You may also complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office, the UK regulator responsible for data protection.

We may update this policy when the Blackrod Now service or its use of personal information changes.

The latest version will be published on the Blackrod Now website.