Privacy Policy

1. Introduction & Identity

  • Who we are
    Salvation Church (SC) is a community of faith based at:
    📍 Address: St Katharine Cree, 86 Leadenhall Street, London, EC3A 3BP
    📧 Email: info@salvationchurch.org.uk

SC is a member of the Elim Foursquare Gospel Alliance and registered as a charity in England & Wales (251549) and Scotland (SC037754).

  • Purpose of this Policy
    This Privacy Policy explains:

    • How SC collects, uses, and stores your personal data.

    • Why SC processes your data (lawful bases).

    • Who SC shares your data with.

    • Your privacy rights under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.

    • How SC upholds safeguarding and data protection standards in line with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) guidance.

 

2. What and how your personal data is collected

SC collects personal data when you interact with SC, including via our website, social media, email, phone, attending events, or making donations.

SC may collect:

  • Contact details: name, email address, phone number.

  • Event/activity booking information.

  • Donation-related information (e.g. Gift Aid eligibility).

  • Communication preferences.

  • Any other data you voluntarily provide to facilitate our communications and services.

 

3. Why your personal data is collected (Purposes & lawful bases)

SC processes your personal data for the following purposes, using one or more of the lawful bases permitted under GDPR:

  • To share updates about SC news, events and services (Consent or legitimate interests).

  • To register you for events or activities and for associated communications (Performance of contract).

  • To administer financial records, including but not limited to donations, Gift Aid and expense reimbursements (Legal obligation / legitimate interests).

  • To offer pastoral care and facilitate community engagement (Legitimate interests / vital interests).

  • For administrative reasons, such as communications from church leadership (Legitimate interests).

  • To meet Legal obligations for Safeguarding of minors and vulnerable groups, including but not limited to Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks, parental consent forms.

4. How SC handles your personal data

  • Storage & Retention
    SC keeps your personal information only as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes outlined above. Retention periods account for legal, accounting and safeguarding requirements.

  • Location & Security

    • Data is stored in a GDPR/ICO-compliant cloud-based system, which may be hosted outside the European Economic Area (EEA).

    • SC implements appropriate technical and organisational measures (e.g. encryption, access controls).

  • Third-Party Processors

    • SC does not store debit or credit card details. Payments are securely handled by GDPR-compliant third-party processors.

    • These processors have their own privacy policies and security measures in place.

 

5. Sharing Your Information

  • Your personal data is shared only with authorised church personnel when necessary to fulfil church-related activities (e.g. event coordination, safeguarding, pastoral support).

  • SC will not share your data with external organisations or third parties without your explicit consent, except where required by law (e.g. DBS checks, safeguarding, His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) for Gift Aid).

 

6. Social Media Policy

SC uses social media platforms, including but not limited to YouTube, Facebook and Instagram (Meta), to share updates about our activities, services and student events.

6.1 Use of Social Media Platforms

  • SC uses only official, church-managed accounts.

  • Content is overseen by designated team members following our safeguarding and communications guidelines.

  • Personal data shared via comments, tags, or direct messages (DMs) are processed in line with this Privacy Policy.

6.2 Personal Data on Social Media

  • Interactions (comments, follows, likes) are subject to the platform’s privacy policies (e.g. Instagram/Meta).

  • SC encourages you to review the relevant Social Media Platform’s privacy policy to understand how your data is processed by them.

6.3 Safeguarding Commitments

  • SC’s Instagram account is aimed at audiences aged 16 years and over.

  • SC does not knowingly collect or process personal data from anyone aged under 16.

  • For those aged under 18, SC will not publish identifiable images, names, or other personal data without explicit parental/guardian consent.

  • Student-focused content is reviewed for safeguarding compliance.

6.4 Messaging & Direct Contact

  • SC does not provide pastoral or counselling services via social media platforms.

  • Where appropriate, conversations may be redirected to approved church communication channels (e.g. email, in-person, or pastoral meetings under safeguarding oversight).

6.5 Data Retention on Social Media

  • SC does not retain personal data shared with us via social media longer than necessary.

  • Any essential information (e.g. event registration details) will be securely transferred into our church systems and handled in accordance with our general retention schedule.

6.6 Safeguarding Concerns

If concerns arise via our social media platforms, SC may:

  • Record and report relevant information following SC safeguarding procedures.

  • Share details with safeguarding authorities or law enforcement where required.

 

7. Your GDPR Rights

You have the following rights:

  • Access – to request copies of your personal data.

  • Rectification – to correct inaccurate or incomplete data.

  • Erasure – to request deletion of your data where applicable.

  • Restriction – to limit SC’s processing of your data.

  • Objection – to processing, where applicable.

  • Portability – to request transfer of your data to another provider.

  • Withdraw consent – where processing is based on consent.

To exercise your rights, please contact: info@salvationchurch.org.uk

 

8. International Transfers

Your data may be processed outside the European Economic Area (EEA) due to cloud services SC uses. SC ensures that any such transfer is governed by appropriate safeguards (e.g. UK adequacy regulations, Standard Contractual Clauses).

 

9. Complaints

If you believe your privacy rights have been infringed, you may lodge a complaint with:

 

10. Review & Updates

SC will review and, if needed, update this Privacy Policy at least annually or whenever:

  • Our services or processing activities change, or

  • Relevant laws and regulations are updated.

 

Last Updated: 10 September 2025
Next Review Date: 10 September 2026 (or earlier if required by law or practice changes)