PRIVACY POLICY & LEGAL NOTICE

The Data Protection Act (DPA), Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR) and The General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) which is EU wide and far more extensive, seek to protect and enhance the rights of data subjects. These rights cover the safeguarding of personal data, protection against the unlawful processing of personal data and the unrestricted movement of personal data within the EU. It should be noted that GDPR does not apply to information already in the public domain such as Companies House data.

This privacy policy sets out how MRKH Connect uses and protects any information that you may give MRKH Connect when you use our website.

MRKH Connect is committed to ensuring that your privacy is protected. Should we ask you to provide certain information by which you can be identified when using our website you can be assured that it will only be used in accordance with this privacy statement.

LEGAL BASIS FOR PROCESSING ANY PERSONAL DATA

To meet MRKH Connect’s obligations to support service users and provide you with the services, products or information you have requested, for administration purposes and to further our charitable aims, including for fundraising activities. Your consent to these services is the legal basis for processing.

We will not pass your details to other organisations without your prior consent, unless required to do so by law. For example, we reserve the right to provide your personal details to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) for Gift Aid purposes if appropriate.

LEGITIMATE INTERESTS

We have a number of lawful reasons that mean we can use (or process) your personal information. One lawful reason is something called ‘legitimate interests’. Broadly speaking Legitimate Interests means we can process your personal information if:

  • We have a genuine and legitimate reason.

and

  • We are not harming any of your rights and interests.

HOW DO WE COLLECT INFORMATION?

We collect your personal information in a number of ways:

  • When you provide it to us directly.
  • When you provide permission to other organisations to share it with us (including Facebook or Twitter).
  • When we collect it as you use our website or apps.
  • When you have given it to a third party and you have provided permission to pass your information on to us.

When providing permission for third party organisations to share your data you should check their Privacy Policies carefully to understand fully how they will process your data.

WHAT WE COLLECT

We may collect the following information:

  • Name, title and age
  • Contact information including email address
  • Demographic information such as city, country
  • Your journey stage, preferences and interests
  • Other information relevant to events, news and surveys
  • Video, audio or other media submitted to the site for public sharing

WHAT WE DO WITH INFORMATION GATHERED

We require this information to understand your needs and provide you with a better service and we may use the information to improve our content and services, send emails with news, events and other information which, we think you may find interesting, using the email address which you have provided.

From time to time, we may also use your information to contact you for information and research purposes. We may contact you by email, phone, fax or mail. We may use the information to customise the website according to your interests.  You can unsubscribe at any time

You may choose to restrict the collection or use of your personal information in the following ways:

  • whenever you are asked to fill in a form on the website ensure you read the form in its entirety and are confident of what you are consenting to e.g. volunteering opportunities, notification of events, digital magazine, newsletter etc.

We will not sell, distribute or lease your personal information to third parties

CONSENT

Through agreeing to this privacy notice you are consenting to MRKH Connect processing your personal data for the purposes outlined. You can withdraw consent at any time by emailing info@mrkhconnect.org

RETENTION POLICY

MRKH Connect will process personal data during the duration of any service user engagement or for the period of one month. If consent is given to retain information to receive further notifications e.g. events, updates, newsletters, volunteering. MRKH Connect will process personal data until consent is withdrawn and will continue to store only the personal data needed.

DATA STORAGE

All the personal data we process is processed by our staff in the UK however for the purposes of IT hosting and maintenance your information may be situated outside of the European Economic Area (EEA). This will be done in accordance with guidance issued by the Information Commissioner’s Office.

YOUR RIGHTS AS A DATA SUBJECT

At any point whilst MRKH Connect is in possession of or processing your personal data, all data subjects, have the following rights:

  • Right of access – you have the right to request a copy of the information that we hold about you.
  • Right of rectification – you have a right to correct data that we hold about you that is inaccurate or incomplete.
  • Right to be forgotten – in certain circumstances you can ask for the data we hold about you to be erased from our records.
  • Right to restriction of processing – where certain conditions apply to have a right to restrict the processing.
  • Right of portability – you have the right to have the data we hold about you transferred to another organisation.
  • Right to object – you have the right to object to certain types of processing such as direct marketing.
  • Right to object to automated processing, including profiling – you also have the right to be subject to the legal effects of automated processing or profiling.

In the event that MRKH Connect refuses your request under rights of access, we will provide you with a reason as to why, which you have the right to legally challenge.

HOW WE USE COOKIES

A cookie is a small file which asks permission to be placed on your computers hard drive. Once you agree, the file is added, and the cookie helps analyse web traffic or lets you know when you visit a particular site. Cookies allow web applications to respond to you as an individual. The web application can tailor its operations to your needs, likes and dislikes by gathering and remembering information about your preferences. We use traffic log cookies to identify which pages are being used. This helps us analyse data about web page traffic and improve our website in order to tailor it appropriately. We only use this information for statistical analysis purposes and then the data is removed from the system.

Overall, cookies help us provide you with a better website, by enabling us to monitor which pages you find useful and which you do not. A cookie in no way gives us access to your computer or any information about you, other than the data you choose to share with us. You can choose to accept or decline cookies. Most web browsers automatically accept cookies, but you can usually modify your browser setting to decline cookies if you prefer. This may prevent you from taking full advantage of the website.

For the Chrome web browser, please visit this page from Google: https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/32050

For the Internet Explorer web browser, please visit this page from Microsoft: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/278835

For the Firefox web browser, please visit this page from Mozilla: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/delete-cookies-remove-info-websites-stored

LINKS TO OTHER WEBSITES 

MRKH Connect cannot be held responsible for information on third part websites and a user should exercise caution and look at the privacy statement applicable to the website in question.

COMPLAINTS

All complaints are taken seriously.  The Trustees aim to learn from them.

If anyone is dissatisfied with, or concerned about, any aspect of the structure, operation or activities of the charity, they can make a complaint by contacting the charity’s Chairman.  This is best done by completing the contact form on the MRKH Connect website.  Complaints will be passed directly to the Director, or if the complaint is about the conduct of the Director, to another Trustee, for investigation.

Full details of the issues, and any evidence, should be included when making a complaint

A complaint will be acknowledged within 7 days.  It will be fully investigated, and a response normally given within a further 14 days.  If an investigation is complex and more time is required, a complainant will be advised of likely time-scales.  If a complainant is not satisfied with the charity’s response, they can complain to the Fund Raising Regulator – details at https://www.fundraisingregulator.org.uk/more-from-us/resources/complaints-process – and/or they can raise their concerns with the Charity Commission – details at https://forms.charitycommission.gov.uk/Raising-Concerns/

MRKH Connect Code of Conduct

There are options available throughout the site that give you the chance to edit, protect and maintain your privacy. It is our aim to keep this site as safe as possible, and strict, regular checks are done to prevent misuse and violation of this code of conduct. However, if you do not feel comfortable giving out any private details, please use the options available to make it anonymous, which still allows you the opportunity to connect and share with others. There is no obligation to share private details unless you wish to.

To get the best out of this site, and to find people in similar areas, of similar age, or at the same stage of journey, we have made it as secure as possible for you to put your details on the site. The more details you are able to share the more relevant your search will be.

When using this site and connecting with others, we ask that you respect their privacy and do not pass out details to anyone else on their behalf without their permission. The site is set up to connect women all over the world, the secure area is private and many are not public with MRKH which must be respected.  Everyone has the chance to disclose the information they want to about their condition if and when they choose to do so.

There are many ways to interact and chat on the site which is  secure, convenient and protected. However, if you feel more comfortable swapping personal contact details, then feel free to do so!

If you any questions, or any concerns, please feel free to email us at: info@mrkhconnect.org