Privacy notice

Introduction

Your privacy is important to us. This Privacy Notice explains what personal data Grace Church Beckenham collects from you through our interactions with you, and how we manage and use that data.

Legal Basis

The law on data protection allows a number of scenarios under which personal data may be collected and processed.  The key ones relevant to Grace Church Beckenham are:

  • Consent - In specific situations, we can collect and process your data with your consent, for example, when you tick a box to receive email newsletters or agree to be included on the church membership list. 

  • Legal Compliance - If the law requires us to, we may need to collect and process your data, for example, for Safeguarding and Child protection issues or for reclaiming Gift Aid payments. 

Personal Data we Collect and Why

  • Names and email addresses for Mailing Lists:

    • So that updates can be sent to anyone interested in keeping in touch and informed of church news, activities and events.

  • Names and contact details of all those within our church family:

    • So that a database of Church members can be maintained to enable the day-to-day administration of the Church including pastoral care and oversight, preparation and operation of ministry rotas and (with an individual’s specific permission) the sharing of a church contact list with other members of Grace Church Beckenham;

    • So that we can meet legal obligations in relation to the reclaiming of Gift Aid on financial donations.

  • Names, emergency contact details and relevant health information (e.g. about allergies), and records of attendance/any incidents in respect of children who take part in Grace Church Beckenham activities:

    • For their health and safety and legal Safeguarding purposes.

How we Protect your Personal Data

  • Mailing Lists - We use MailChimp to store subscriber lists and to deliver our newsletter. We gather statistics around email opening and clicks using industry standard technologies to help us monitor and improve our e-newsletter.  For more information, please see MailChimp’s Privacy Notice. You can unsubscribe to general mailings at any time of the day or night by clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any of our emails or by emailing: info@gracechurchbeckenham.org

  • Church Database – We use ChurchSuite to store and manage church membership information.   Access to this is password protected and can only be accessed by users who have been given permission to do so and is through SSL encryption. The main database is only accessible to church staff or authorised church members who have agreed to and signed the church’s Data Protection Policy and who have been issued with a log-on password.  (The full version of our Data Protection Policy is available here).  Church members can manage and update their own data and can control the option to allow other church members to access some or all of their contact details through the password protected, on-line directory. 

  • Child H&S Data – This is stored in ChurchSuite and/or paper format and kept in the secure possession of those authorised to lead each of the child activities (Creche, Grace Kids, Baby Talk).

How Long do we Keep your Personal Data?

Whenever we collect or process your personal data, we’ll only keep it for as long as is necessary for the purpose for which it was collected.   Data will be held whilst individuals are members of the church and destroyed 18 months after they leave the church or we receive a written request. The exception to this will be where there is a need to keep statutory records for a longer period.

Sharing your Personal Data

Our policy can be summarised in one sentence: we will not share your information with others without your consent (unless the law requires us to do so).

Access to your personal information

You have the right to view, amend, or delete the personal information that we hold.  Please email any request to our data protection officer Stephen Lock at: info@gracechurchbeckenham.org