Privacy Policy

Created: November 2021
Updated: March 2024
Reviewed: November 2025

1. Background

This Policy applies between you, the user of this website, and Growing Different, a registered charity in England and Wales (number 1196698), being the owner and provider of this website.
This Policy explains how we collect, store, and use your personal information in line with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.

2. Introduction

We are committed to safeguarding the privacy of our website visitors.
By using this website and agreeing to this Policy, you consent to our use of cookies as described below.

3. Collecting personal information

We may collect, store and use the following types of information:

• Information about your computer and about your visits to and use of this website (including IP address, browser type, operating system, referral source, time on site and pages viewed).

• Information you provide when subscribing to our newsletter or updates, such as your name, email address and, if relevant, organisation.

• Information you provide when using our services or contacting us, and any communications or metadata associated with those communications.

• Any other information you choose to send to us.

Before sharing another person’s personal information, please ensure you have their consent to both disclose and process that information in accordance with this Policy.

4. Using personal information

Personal information submitted to us through our website will be used for the purposes set out in this Policy or on relevant pages of the website.
We may use your information to:

• Administer and improve our website and charity activities;

• Personalise the website for you;

• Send you updates, surveys, or newsletters (you may unsubscribe at any time);

• Provide anonymised statistical information to partners or funders;

• Deal with enquiries and feedback;

• Keep our website secure and prevent fraud.

We will never sell or share your personal data with third parties for direct marketing.

5. Disclosing personal information

We may disclose your personal information to our staff, trustees, insurers, professional advisers, suppliers or service providers as reasonably necessary for the purposes set out in this Policy.

We may disclose your personal information:

• Where required by law;

• In connection with legal proceedings;

• To establish, exercise or defend our legal rights;

• To a purchaser (or prospective purchaser) of any assets of the charity.

Except as described above, we will not share your information with third parties.

6. International data transfers

We store and process data primarily in the United Kingdom.
If we use third-party processors outside the UK, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place, such as Standard Contractual Clauses approved by the Information Commissioner’s Office.

7. Retaining personal information

We keep personal information only for as long as necessary for the purposes for which it was collected.
Subscriber information will be deleted within one year of unsubscribing.
We may retain limited data where required by law or to establish or defend legal claims.

8. Security of personal information

We take reasonable technical and organisational precautions to prevent the loss, misuse or alteration of your information.
Data are stored on secure, password- and firewall-protected servers.
Transmission of data over the internet is never completely secure; you share information at your own risk.
We will never ask you for your password by email.

9. Amendments

We may update this Policy from time to time by publishing a new version on this website.
Please check this page occasionally to ensure you remain happy with any changes.
We may also notify you of significant changes by email.

10. Your rights

Under data-protection law you have the right to:

• Access the personal data we hold about you;

• Request correction or deletion of your data;

• Object to or restrict certain types of processing;

• Withdraw consent (where applicable).

We respond to requests free of charge unless they are manifestly excessive or unfounded.
To make a data-access or deletion request, please contact us. 

11. Third-party websites

Our website may include links to third-party websites.
We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of those websites.

12. Cookies

Our website uses cookies to improve your experience and understand how visitors use our site.

Types of cookies we use:

• Strictly necessary cookies – essential for site operation and security.

• Performance cookies – help us understand traffic and page use.

• Functionality cookies – remember your preferences.

• Targeting cookies – used only where you consent, for analytics or outreach.

You can manage or delete cookies through your browser settings.

Comments and media

If visitors leave comments or upload images, we collect the data shown in those forms (including IP address and browser user-agent) to help detect spam. Avoid uploading images with location data (EXIF GPS) as visitors could download that information.

Embedded content

Some pages may include embedded content (e.g. videos, maps, or social-media feeds). Embedded content from other websites behaves in the same way as if you had visited those sites directly; they may collect data and use cookies according to their own privacy policies.

Our details

The website https://growingdifferent.org.uk is owned and operated by Growing Different, a charity registered in England and Wales (1196698).
You can contact us via our Contact Us page.

© 2026 Growing Different. All rights reserved.