DATA PROTECTION AND PRIVACY POLICY
Who are we?
We Support for Families (S4F) is a non-profit organization that provides accessible and appropriately resourced family support services, working with families and friends of substance users to assist them in addressing the issues and difficulties they may experience in caring for a family member or friend.
What personal data we collect
Support for Families (S4F) (“we”) provides services to you, which means we need to collect, store, and process certain personal information. This may include:
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Contact details (such as your name, address, phone number, and email)
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Date of birth
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Health-related information
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Employment or work-related information
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Financial information (such as your salary and payment details)
How do we use your data?
We may receive your personal information directly from you or from someone else—such as a former employer or a professional who has referred you to us (with your permission).
We only collect and retain the minimum amount of data necessary to effectively support you or others. For most individuals, the information we hold is limited and directly related to the services we provide.
We process this data under our legitimate interests, which may include:
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Communicating with you about our services
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Connecting you with people or opportunities we believe may benefit you
We are committed to handling your personal data with care, transparency, and respect. This includes keeping your information secure and only using it in ways that are necessary and proportionate to our work.
How long we keep your data?
We do not transfer your personal data outside the EU.
In certain situations—such as an emergency—we may need to share your information with other parties. In all cases, your data is stored securely, and we are committed to maintaining your confidentiality.
When your relationship with Support for Families (S4F) ends, we retain your data only for as long as necessary. Typically, this means up to three years, unless we are legally required to retain it for a longer period.
You may unsubscribe from our contact lists at any time. For more details about how your information is handled, please contact the Service Manager.
How the law allows us to use your personal data
We only collect personal data when we have a lawful reason to do so under the UK GDPR. This may include your consent (e.g. when you sign up for updates), fulfilling a contract, complying with legal obligations, or pursuing our legitimate interests.
You can read more about legal bases under data protection law on the Information Commissioner's website.
Your Data Protection Rights
Data protection laws give you rights over your personal data.
The exact rights you have may vary depending on which legal basis we’re using to collect and process your data, but they typically include the right to request access to the information we hold about you, and the right to ask us to stop using or even delete your data.
If you’d like to learn more about your rights, you can visit the Information Commissioner’s Office website at www.ico.org.uk, or feel free to get in touch with us directly.
Cookies and Tracking Technologies
Our website uses cookies and similar technologies to enhance your experience, analyse site traffic, and help us understand how people use our site.
Cookies are small text files that are placed on your device when you visit a website. They can serve various purposes, such as:
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Essential cookies – Required for the basic operation of the site.
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Performance cookies – Help us understand how visitors use the site (e.g. via analytics tools).
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Functionality cookies – Remember your preferences and settings.
Managing cookies
When you visit our website, you may be given the option to accept or reject certain types of cookies.
You can also manage your cookie preferences through your browser settings. Most browsers allow you to block or delete cookies, but doing so may affect how the site functions.
For more information about cookies and how to control or delete them, visit www.allaboutcookies.org or the ICO’s Cookies Guidance.