Privacy Notice (UK GDPR)

The Hands Up Project

Effective date: 1/01/2018
Last updated: 13/05/26

1. Who We Are

The Hands up Project (“we”, “us”, “our”) is a charitable organisation registered in England and Wales under charity number 1170272., with its principal address at Flat 8, Apple Court, South Street, Totnes, TQ9 5DZ

We are committed to protecting and respecting your privacy. This Privacy Notice explains how we collect, use, store, and protect personal data in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR), the Data Protection Act 2018, and related legislation.

For the purposes of data protection law, The Hands up Project is the data controller.

2. Contact Details

If you have any questions about this Privacy Notice or how we use your personal data, please contact:

Data Protection Lead
The Hands up Project
Flat 8, Apple Court, South Street, Totnes, TQ9 5DZ

Email: info@handsupproject.org
Telephone: 00 44 7944506493

You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the UK regulator, the Information Commissioner's Office.
ICO website

3. Personal Data We Collect

We may collect and process the following categories of personal data:

a) Identity Data

  • Full name

  • Date of birth

  • Nationality

  • Identification documents (where required for safeguarding, legal compliance, or travel support)

b) Contact Data

  • Postal address

  • Email address

  • Telephone number

  • Emergency contact details

c) Supporter / Donor Data

  • Donation history

  • Gift Aid declarations

  • Communication preferences

  • Event attendance records

d) Volunteer / Staff Data

  • Employment history

  • References

  • DBS or safeguarding checks (where applicable)

  • Training records

  • Right-to-work documents

e) Beneficiary Data

  • Support needs

  • Case notes

  • Program participation records

  • Immigration or legal support documents

  • Language preferences

f) Special Category Data

In some cases, we may process special category personal data, including:

  • Health information

  • Ethnic origin

  • Religious beliefs

  • Biometric or identity documents

  • Information relating to vulnerability or safeguarding

This is only processed where lawful and necessary for our charitable purposes.

4. How We Collect Data

We collect personal data when you:

  • Contact us directly

  • Complete forms on our website

  • Apply for services or assistance

  • Donate to us

  • Volunteer or work with us

  • Participate in our projects

  • Communicate by email, telephone, or social media

  • Are referred to us by partner organisations, NGOs, schools, or public bodies

5. How We Use Personal Data

We process personal data for the following purposes:

  • Delivering charitable services and humanitarian assistance

  • Managing volunteer recruitment and training

  • Communicating with beneficiaries and supporters

  • Processing donations and Gift Aid

  • Administering events and educational programmes

  • Safeguarding children and vulnerable adults

  • Monitoring programme effectiveness

  • Legal and regulatory compliance

  • Managing funding applications and reporting to grant-makers

  • Maintaining organisational records

  • Protecting our staff, volunteers, and beneficiaries

6. Lawful Bases for Processing

Under UK GDPR, we rely on one or more of the following lawful bases:

Article 6 UK GDPR

  • Consent

  • Performance of a contract

  • Legal obligation

  • Vital interests

  • Public task

  • Legitimate interests

Article 9 UK GDPR (Special Category Data)

Where special category data is processed, we rely on:

  • Explicit consent

  • Employment/social protection obligations

  • Vital interests

  • Substantial public interest

  • Provision of health or social care

  • Safeguarding of children and vulnerable individuals

7. Sharing Personal Data

We will not share your personal data outside of the HUP. 

We do not sell personal data to third parties.

8. International Transfers

Where our work involves international humanitarian support, personal data may be transferred outside the UK.

Where this occurs, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place, including:

  • Adequacy regulations

  • International Data Transfer Agreements

  • Standard contractual clauses

  • Additional security protections where required

9. Data Retention

We retain personal data only for as long as necessary for the purposes for which it was collected, including legal, safeguarding, funding, and regulatory obligations.

Typical retention periods:

Data Type. Retention

Donor records 6 years

Gift Aid records 6 years

Volunteer records 6 years after leaving

Safeguarding records Up to 25 years

Beneficiary case files 7 years after support ends

Recruitment records 12 months

Retention periods may be extended where legally required.

10. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect personal data, including:

  • Access controls

  • Password protection

  • Encrypted cloud storage

  • Secure file transfer

  • Confidentiality agreements

  • Staff training

  • Safeguarding procedures

  • Incident response protocols

11. Your Rights

Under UK GDPR, you have the right to:

  • Access your personal data

  • Rectify inaccurate data

  • Erase data

  • Restrict processing

  • Object to processing

  • Data portability

  • Withdraw consent at any time

  • Complain to the ICO

Requests should be made in writing to the contact details above.

12. Safeguarding

As part of our charitable work, particularly where we support displaced persons, refugees, children, or vulnerable adults, personal data may be processed for safeguarding purposes.

This processing is necessary to:

  • Protect individuals from harm

  • Assess support needs

  • Coordinate with statutory services

  • Comply with legal safeguarding obligations

13. Website and Cookies

Our website may collect limited technical data including:

  • IP address

  • Browser type

  • Device information

  • Cookies

  • Usage analytics

A separate Cookie Policy applies.

14. Changes to This Notice

We may update this Privacy Notice from time to time.