1. Important information and who we are

GARD is a group of unpaid volunteers whose aim is to identify and promote viable solutions to meet the future needs of water users in the Thames Water Region.  Where we say “we or “us” in this policy, we are referring to GARD. 

GARD’s affiliated company, ‘SAFERWaterS’ is registered under company number 16076454 and has its registered office at St Michael’s Hall Church Lane, Steventon, Abingdon, United Kingdom, OX13 6SW.

The website(s) we refer to in this policy as the ”website” or “site” are: 

2. Contact us

For more information about our privacy practices, if you have questions, or if you would like to make a complaint or request any information about your personal data, please contact us by the following means:

3. The data we collect about you

When you contact us or visit our website(s), our social media accounts, sign up to our mailing list or make a donation to our organisation, we may collect information from you and use that information to tailor your experience and fulfil our obligations to you. 

We may collect:

• Identity data which includes your first name, last name, and date of birth
• Contact data which includes your billing address, delivery address, email address and telephone numbers
• Financial data which includes your bank account and payment card details
• Transaction data which includes details about payments to and from you and other details of donations or membership fees you have paid to us
• Technical data which includes internet protocol (IP) address, browser type and version, time zone setting and location, browser plug-in types and versions, operating system and platform, and other technology on the devices you use to access this website
• Usage data which includes information about how you use our website and information archive.
• Marketing and communications data which includes your preferences in receiving communcations from us and our third parties and your communication preferences.

4. How your personal data is collected

We may use different methods to collect data from and about you including through: direct interactions where you may give us your Identity, Contact and Financial Data by filling in forms or by corresponding with us by post, phone, email or otherwise. This includes personal data you provide when you:

• Request communications to be sent to you, such as signing up to our mailing list
• Give us feedback 
• Contact us

5. How we use your personal data

We will only use your personal data when the law allows us to. Most commonly, we will use your personal data in the following circumstances:

• Where we need to fulfil the contract we are about to enter into or have entered into with you, such as a membership of GARD
• Where it is necessary for our legitimate interests (or those of a third party) and your interests and fundamental rights do not override those interests
• Where we need to comply with a legal obligation.

6.  Disclosures of your personal data

We may share your information with the following entities:

• Third-party vendors who provide services or functions on our behalf, including operation of the website, or to third parties who provide a service for us. Third-party vendors have access to and may collect information only as needed to perform their functions and are not permitted to share or use the information for any other purpose.
• In response to subpoenas, court orders, or other legal processes; to establish or exercise our legal rights; to defend against legal claims; or as otherwise required by law. In such cases we reserve the right to raise or waive any legal objection or right available to us.
•  When we believe it is appropriate to investigate, prevent, or take action regarding illegal or suspected illegal activities; or to protect and defend the rights, property, or safety of our GARD, our members, or others.
• Other than as set out above, you will be notified when personal information about you will be shared with third parties, and you will have an opportunity to choose not to have us share such information.
• We also may share aggregate or anonymous information with third parties, including His Majesty’s Government. This information does not contain any personal information and is used to support GARD’s current position on the reservoir.

7.  Disclosures of your personal data

When you make a donation or sign up as a member, we will maintain your donation or membership payment information for our records.

8. Your legal rights

You have the right to:

• Request access to your personal data (commonly known as a “data subject access request”). This enables you to receive a copy of the personal data we hold about you and to check that we are lawfully processing it.
• Request correction of the personal data that we hold about you. This enables you to have any incomplete or inaccurate data we hold about you corrected, though we may need to verify the accuracy of the new data you provide to us.
• Request erasure of your personal data. This enables you to ask us to delete or remove personal data where there is no good reason for us continuing to process it. You also have the right to ask us to delete or remove your personal data where you have successfully exercised your right to object to processing (see below), where we may have processed your information unlawfully or where we are required to erase your personal data to comply with local law. Note, however, that we may not always be able to comply with your request of erasure for specific legal reasons which will be notified to you, if applicable, at the time of your request.
• Object to processing of your personal data where we are relying on a legitimate interest (or those of a third party) and there is something about your particular situation which makes you want to object to processing on this ground as you feel it impacts on your fundamental rights and freedoms. You also have the right to object where we are processing your personal data for direct marketing purposes. In some cases, we may demonstrate that we have compelling legitimate grounds to process your information which override your rights and freedoms.
• Request restriction of processing of your personal data. This enables you to ask us to suspend the processing of your personal data in the following scenarios:
  • If you want us to establish the data’s accuracy.
  • Where our use of the data is unlawful but you do not want us to erase it.
  • Where you need us to hold the data even if we no longer require it as you need it to establish, exercise or defend legal claims.
  • You have objected to our use of your data but we need to verify whether we have overriding legitimate grounds to use it.
• Request the transfer of your personal data to you or to a third party. We will provide to you, or a third party you have chosen, your personal data in a structured, commonly used, machine-readable format. Note that this right only applies to automated information which you initially provided consent for us to use or where we used the information to perform a contract with you.
• Withdraw consent at any time where we are relying on consent to process your personal data. However, this will not affect the lawfulness of any processing carried out before you withdraw your consent. If you withdraw your consent, we may not be able to provide certain products or services to you. We will advise you if this is the case at the time you withdraw your consent.

9. Third parties

We may share your personal data with third parties to help us demonstrate support for GARD’s cause. We may also share your personal data to comply with applicable laws and regulations or other lawful requests for information we receive, or to otherwise protect our rights.