Stepping Stones Privacy Policy 

Introduction

This Privacy Policy outlines Stepping Stones Social Club  ("we", "our" or "the Club") practices with respect to information collected from users who access our website at www.steppingstonesmk.org.uk   ("Site"), or otherwise share personal information with us (collectively: "Users"). 

Grounds for data collection

We at Stepping Stones are very aware of the need for privacy. As a Not-for-Profit organisation that only request limited personal data (email, telephone numbers, address etc) for use only to circulate the Club's activities to members and other interested people, we do not need to register with the Information Commissioners Office, but we will comply with the General Data Privacy Regulations (GDPR).

This site does not collect any personal information, except where provided by visitor’s enquiries. In this case the information is used only for the purpose of the enquiry. If requested we will use the email address to send appropriate Newsletters and club updates. This data is not stored on any publicly accessible system. You may request to be removed from any club notifications, either by using the Unsubscribe link in our communications, or at any time by contacting the the club at steppingstonemk@gmail.com.

Membership applications request limited personal information, and will only be used to send appropriate Newsletters and club updates, as described above.

We do not provide any personal information to any third party (except where required to do so by law or in connection with any legal proceedings or prospective legal proceedings)

The website contains links to other external websites. We are not responsible for the content, privacy policies or practices of third party websites. No personal information is provided when linking to another website.

We do not partner with or have special relationships with any banner or pop-up advertising server companies. Visitors who receive pop-up or other intrusive advertising materials whilst visiting this site are advised to check their computer for advertising software and spyware using a commercial or freeware tool. Please advise the site’s WebMaster should this occur.

We encourage our Users to carefully read the Privacy Policy and use it to make informed decisions. 

What information we collect?

We collect two types of data and information from Users. 

The first type of information is un-identified and non-identifiable information pertaining to a User(s), which may be made available or gathered via your use of the Site (“Non-personal Information”). We are not aware of the identity of a User from which the Non-personal Information was collected. Non-personal Information which is being collected may include your aggregated usage information and technical information transmitted by your device, including certain software and hardware information (e.g. the type of browser and operating system your device uses, language preference, access time, etc.) in order to enhance the functionality of our Site. We may also collect information on your activity on the Site (e.g. pages viewed, online browsing, clicks, actions, etc.).

The second type of information Personal Information which is individually identifiable information, namely information that identifies an individual or may with reasonable effort identify an individual. Such information includes:

• Device Information: We collect Personal Information from your device. Such information includes geolocation data, IP address, unique identifiers (e.g. MAC address and UUID) and other information which relates to your activity through the Site.

How do we receive information about you?

We receive your Personal Information from various sources:

• When you voluntarily provide us your personal details in order to register on our Site;
• When you use or access our Site in connection with your use of our services;
• From third party providers, services and public registers (for example, traffic analytics vendors).

What information we collect?

We do not rent, sell, or share Users’ information with third parties.

We may use the information for the following:

• Communicating with you – sending you notices regarding our activities, and responding to any enquiry you may have;
  
• To communicate with you and to keep you informed of our latest news and activities
  
• Conducting statistical and analytical purposes, intended to improve the Site.

We may also disclose information if we have good faith to believe that disclosure of such information is helpful or reasonably necessary to: (i) comply with any applicable law, regulation, legal process or governmental request; or collaborating with law enforcement agencies 

User Rights

You may request to: 

1. Receive confirmation as to whether or not personal information concerning you is being processed, and access your stored personal information, together with supplementary information. 
   
2. Receive a copy of personal information you directly volunteer to us in a structured, commonly used and machine-readable format. 
   
3. Request rectification of your personal information that is in our control.
   
4. Request erasure of your personal information. 
   
5. Object to the processing of personal information by us. 
   
6. Request to restrict processing of your personal information by us.
   
7. Lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority.
   

However, please note that these rights are not absolute, and may be subject to our own legitimate interests and regulatory requirements. 

If you wish to exercise any of the aforementioned rights, or receive more information, please speak to committee member or email steppingstonesmk@gmail.com

Retention

We will retain your personal information for as long as necessary to provide our services, and as necessary to comply with our legal obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce our policies. Retention periods will be determined taking into account the type of information that is collected and the purpose for which it is collected, bearing in mind the requirements applicable to the situation and the need to destroy outdated, unused information at the earliest reasonable time. Under applicable regulations, we will keep records containing client personal data, account opening documents, communications and anything else as required by applicable laws and regulations. 

We may rectify, replenish or remove incomplete or inaccurate information, at any time and at our own discretion.

Cookies

We and our trusted partners use cookies and other technologies in our related services, including when you visit our Site . 

A "cookie" is a small piece of information that a website assign to your device while you are viewing a website. Cookies are very helpful and can be used for various different purposes. These purposes include allowing you to navigate between pages efficiently, enable automatic activation of certain features, remembering your preferences and making the interaction between you and our Services quicker and easier. Cookies are also used to help to compile statistical data on your use of our Services. 

The Site uses the following types of cookies:

a. 'session cookies' which are stored only temporarily during a browsing session in order to allow normal use of the system and are deleted from your device when the browser is closed; 

b. 'persistent cookies' which are read only by the Site, saved on your computer for a fixed period and are not deleted when the browser is closed. Such cookies are used where we need to know who you are for repeat visits.

c. 'third party cookies' which are set by other online services who run content on the page you are viewing, for example by third party analytics companies who monitor and analyse our web access.

Cookies do not contain any information that personally identifies you, but Personal Information that we store about you may be linked, by us, to the information stored in and obtained from cookies. You may remove the cookies by following the instructions of your device preferences; however, if you choose to disable cookies, some features of our, and other, Sites may not operate properly and your online experience may be limited.

We also use a tool called “Google Analytics” to collect information about your use of the Site. Google Analytics collects information such as how often users access the Site, what pages they visit when they do so, etc. We use the information we get from Google Analytics only to improve our Site and services. Google Analytics collects the IP address assigned to you on the date you visit sites, rather than your name or other identifying information. We do not combine the information collected through the use of Google Analytics with personally identifiable information. Google’s ability to use and share information collected by Google Analytics about your visits to this Site is restricted by the Google Analytics Terms of Use and the Google Privacy Policy.

Third party collection of information including Facebook

Our policy only addresses the use and disclosure of information we collect from you. To the extent you disclose your information to other parties or sites throughout the internet, different rules may apply to their use or disclosure of the information you disclose to them. Accordingly, we encourage you to read the terms and conditions and privacy policy of each third party that you choose to disclose information to. 

This Privacy Policy does not apply to the practices of companies that we do not own or control, or to individuals whom we do not employ or manage, including any of the third parties which we may disclose information as set forth in this Privacy Policy. 

How do we safeguard your information?

We take great care in implementing and maintaining the security of the Site and your information.  Membership records are not stored on this web site. Although we take reasonable steps to safeguard information, we cannot be responsible for the acts of those who gain unauthorized access or abuse our Site, and we make no warranty, express, implied or otherwise, that we will prevent such access.

Transfer of data outside the UK 

Please note that some data recipients may be located outside the UK. In such cases we will transfer your data only to such countries as approved by the UK Government, European Commission, or other body under the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) as providing adequate level of data protection, or enter into legal agreements ensuring an adequate level of data protection.

Advertisements

 We do not partner with or have special relationships with any banner or pop-up advertising server companies. Visitors who receive pop-up or other intrusive advertising materials whilst visiting this site are advised to check their computer for advertising software and spyware using a commercial or freeware tool. Please advise the site’s WebMaster should this occur.

Minors

We understand the importance of protecting children’s privacy, especially in an online environment. The Site is not designed for or directed at children. Under no circumstances shall we allow use of our services by minors without prior consent or authorisation by a parent or legal guardian. We do not knowingly collect Personal Information from minors. If a parent or guardian becomes aware that his or her child has provided us with Personal Information without their consent, he or she should contact us at steppingstonesmk@gmail.com

Updates or amendments to this Privacy Policy

We reserve the right to periodically amend or revise the Privacy Policy; material changes will be effective immediately upon the display of the revised Privacy policy. The last revision will be reflected in the "Last modified" section. Your continued use of the Platform, following the notification of such amendments on our website, constitutes your acknowledgment and consent of such amendments to the Privacy Policy and your agreement to be bound by the terms of such amendments.

How to contact us

If you have any general questions about the Site or the information we collect about you and how we use it, you can contact us at steppingstonesmk@gmail.com

Last Modified November 2022