PCS Data Protection policy

Overview

 

Key details

• Approved by Board/committee on: 5/09/2023
• Next review date: 01/02/2026

Introduction

In order to operate, Penshurst Choral Society (‘PCS’) needs to gather, store and use certain forms of information about individuals.

These can include members, contractors, suppliers, volunteers, audiences and potential audiences, business contacts and other people the group has a relationship with or regularly needs to contact.

This policy explains how this data should be collected, stored and used in order to meet PCS’s data protection standards and comply with the law.

Why is this policy important?

This policy ensures that PCS:

• Protects the rights of our members, volunteers and supporters
• Complies with data protection law and follows good practice
• Protect the group from the risks of a data breach

Roles and responsibilities

Who and what does this policy apply to?

This applies to all those handling data on behalf of PCS, e.g.:

• Committee members
• Volunteers
• Members
• Contractors/3^rd-party suppliers

It applies to all data that PCS holds relating to individuals, including:

• Names
• Email addresses
• Postal addresses
• Phone numbers
• Any other personal information held (e.g. financial)

Roles and responsibilities

Everyone who has access to data as part of PCS has a responsibility to ensure that they adhere to this policy.

Data controller

Data protection principles

The Data Controller for PCS is J Medhurst, Administration Secretary, who together with the PCS committee, is responsible for why data is collected and how it will be used. Any questions relating to the collection or use of data should be directed to the Data Controller.

1.   We fairly and lawfully process personal data

PCS will only collect data where lawful and where it is necessary for the legitimate purposes of the group.

• A member’s name and contact detail will be collected when they first join the group, and will be used to contact the member regarding group membership administration and activities. Other data may also subsequently be collected in relation to their membership, including on their payment history for ‘subs’.
• The name and contact details of volunteers, committee members and contractors will be collected when they take up a position, and will be used to contact them regarding group administration related to their role.Further information, including personal financial information and criminal records information may also be collected in specific circumstances where lawful and necessary (in order to process payment to the person or in order to carry out a DBS check).
• An individual’s name and contact details may be collected by PCS when they make a booking for an event. This may be used to contact them about their booking and to allow them entry to the event.
• An individual’s name, contact details and other details may be collected at any time (including when booking tickets or at an event), with their consent, in order for PCS to communicate with them about group activities, and/or for Direct Marketing. See ‘Direct Marketing’ below.

2.  We only collect and use personal data for specified and lawful purposes.

When collecting data, PCS will always explain to the subject why the data is required and what it will be used for, e.g.

“Please enter your email address in the form below. We need this so that we can send you email updates for group administration including about rehearsal and concert schedules, subs payments and other business.”

We will never use data for any purpose other than that stated or that can be considered reasonably to be related to it. For example, we will never pass on personal data to 3^rd parties without the explicit consent of the subject.

3.  We ensure any data collected is relevant and not excessive

PCS will not collect or store more data that the minimum information required for its intended purpose.

E.g. we need to collect telephone numbers from members in order to be able to contact them about group administration, but data on their marital status or sexuality will not be collected, since it is unnecessary and excessive for the purposes of group administration.

4. We ensure data is accurate and up-to-date

PCS will ask members and volunteers to check and update their data from time to time.

Any individual will be able to update their data at any point by contacting the Data Controller.

5. We ensure data is not kept longer than necessary

PCS will keep data on individuals for no longer than 12 months after our involvement with the individual has stopped, unless there is a legal requirement to keep records.

6. We process data in accordance with individuals’ rights

The following requests can be made in writing to the Data Controller:

• Members, volunteers and supporters can request to see any data stored on about them. Any such request will be actioned within 14 days of the request being made.
• Members and supporters can request that any inaccurate data held on them is updated. Any such request will be actioned within 14 days of the request being made.
• Members and supporters can request to stop receiving any marketing communications. Any such request will be actioned within 14 days of the request being made.
• Members and supporters can object to any storage or use of their data that might cause them substantial distress of damage or any automated decisions made based on their data. Any such objection will be considered by the committee, and a decision communicated within 30 days of the request being made.

7. We keep personal data secure

PCS will ensure that data held by us is kept secure.

• Electronically-held data will be held within a password-protected and secure environment

 

• Passwords for electronic data files will be re-set each time an individual with data access leaves their role/position

 

• Physically-held data (e.g. membership forms or email sign-up sheets) will be stored securely

 

• Access to data will only be given to relevant committee members/contractors where it is clearly necessary for the running of PCS. The Data Controller will keep a master list of who has access to data

8. Transfer to countries outside the EEA

PCS will not transfer data to countries outside the European Economic Area (EEA), unless the country has adequate protection for the individual (e.g. USA).

 

We only share members’ data with other members with the subject’s prior consent

As a membership organisation PCS encourages communication between members.

To facilitate this:

• Members can request the personal contact data of other members in writing via the Data Controller or Membership Secretary. These details will be given, as long as they are for the purposes of contacting the subject (e.g. an email address, not financial data) and the subject consents to their data being shared with other members in this way

 

PCS may collect data from consenting supporters for marketing purposes. This includes contacting them to promote concerts, updating them about group news, fundraising and other group activities.

Any time data is collected for this purpose, we will provide:

• A clear and specific explanation of what the data will be used for (e.g. ‘Tick this box if you would like PCS to send you email updates with details about our forthcoming events, fundraising activities and opportunities to get involved’)
• A method for users to show their active consent to receive these communications (e.g. a ‘tick box’)

Data collected will only ever be used in the way described and consented to (e.g. we will not use email data in order to market 3^rd-party products unless this has been explicitly consented to).

Every marketing communication will contain a method through which a recipient can withdraw their consent (e.g. an ‘unsubscribe’ link in an email). Opt-out requests such as this will be processed within 14 days.

 

A cookie is a small text file that is downloaded onto ‘terminal equipment’ (e.g. a computer or smartphone) when the user accesses a website. It allows the website to recognise that user’s device and store some information about the user’s preferences or past actions.

PCS uses cookies on its website, www.penshurstchoralsociety.co.uk  , in order to monitor and record users’ activity. This allows PCS to improve users’ experience of the website by, for example, allowing for a ‘logged in’ state, and by giving useful insights into how users as a whole are engaging with the website.

PCS has a pop-up box on www.penshurstchoralsociety.co.uk that activates each new time a user visits the website. This will allow them to click to consent (or not) to continuing with cookies enabled, or to ignore the message and continue browsing (i.e. give their implied consent).

PCS uses Google Analytics.

Cookies can be disabled in the most common browsers.