PRIVACY POLICY

Spark UK ("we", "our", "us") respects your privacy and is committed to protecting your personal data. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store and share your information when you use our websites, including sparkuk.co.uk, allstaradvent.com, resources.sparkuk.co.uk or participate in our services, events, campaigns, surveys and research projects.

1. Who We Are

Spark UK is the UK’s leading youth-led mental health charity. We are a non-profit creating free resources and campaigns to spark conversations around mental health.

Contact details:
Spark UK (1214446)
Email: info@sparkuk.co.uk
Address: Spark UK, Station Road, Ilfracombe, EX348DE

2. Information We Collect

Depending on how you interact with us, we may collect and process the following information:

Personal Information

  • Name

  • Email address

  • Telephone number

  • Postal address

  • Organisation or school (where applicable)

Payment Information

Payment card details are processed securely by our payment providers. Spark UK does not store full payment card information.

Communications

Information you provide through:

  • Contact forms

  • Newsletter sign-ups

  • Event registrations

  • Volunteer applications

  • Surveys

  • Research questionnaires

  • Tally Forms and similar platforms

  • Emails and correspondence

Research Information

Where you take part in Spark UK research, we may collect:

  • Survey responses

  • Interview or focus group responses

  • Opinions and experiences

  • Demographic information (such as age range, region, education setting or other relevant characteristics)

  • Feedback relating to our services, campaigns or resources

Where appropriate, research data will be anonymised or pseudonymised before analysis. If we intend to collect identifiable information, audio recordings or quotations, we will explain this clearly before participation and request your consent where required.

Technical Information

When using our websites we may collect:

  • IP address

  • Browser type

  • Device information

  • Operating system

  • Website usage information

  • Cookies and analytics data

Third-Party Interactions

Information generated through embedded services such as YouTube videos or linked third-party platforms.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use your information to:

  • Provide resources, services and support you request

  • Process donations and event payments

  • Manage volunteering opportunities and partnerships

  • Communicate about our work, campaigns and events where you have consented

  • Improve our websites, services and resources

  • Conduct research into youth mental health, wellbeing and related issues

  • Evaluate the effectiveness of our programmes, campaigns and projects

  • Produce anonymised reports, statistics and research findings

  • Meet our safeguarding, legal and regulatory responsibilities

  • Maintain website security

We will never sell or rent your personal information to third parties.

4. Research and Lawful Basis

Spark UK conducts research to better understand the experiences, needs and wellbeing of young people and those who support them.

Depending on the project, we process research data under one or more of the following lawful bases under UK GDPR:

  • Consent

  • Legitimate interests

  • Public task (where applicable)

  • Legal obligations

Participation in research is voluntary unless otherwise stated.

Where consent is relied upon, you may withdraw your consent at any time unless the data has already been anonymised or incorporated into published findings where it can no longer be linked to you.

Research findings are normally published only in aggregated or anonymised form unless you have explicitly agreed otherwise.

If information shared during research indicates that someone may be at risk of harm, Spark UK may need to share relevant information in line with our safeguarding responsibilities.

5. Cookies and Tracking

Our website uses cookies and similar technologies to:

  • Enable website functionality.

  • Analyse site usage via Google Analytics.

  • Provide embedded content (e.g., YouTube videos).

You can manage or disable cookies in your browser settings. More detail is provided in our Cookie Policysparkuk.co.uk/cookies.

6. Sharing Your Data

We may share your information with trusted organisations that help us deliver our services, including:

  • Secure payment providers (such as Stripe or Paypal)

  • Email and communication platforms (such as Brevo or Monday)

  • Tally Forms

  • Survey and research platforms

  • Analytics providers (such as Google Analytics)

  • Website hosting providers (such as Squarespace or Lovable)

  • Embedded content providers (such as YouTube)

Where research is carried out with partner organisations, universities or commissioned researchers, we will explain this to participants before data is shared. Where possible, shared research data will be anonymised or pseudonymised.

All organisations processing data on our behalf are required to comply with UK data protection law.

7. Data Security

We have put in place appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your personal data against loss, misuse, or unauthorised access.

Where we use third-party providers (such as payment processors), they use encryption and other safeguards to ensure your information is protected.

8. Data Retention

We will only keep your personal data for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes we collected it for, including legal, accounting, or reporting requirements.

  • Donation and financial records: retained in accordance with legal requirements.

  • Newsletter and marketing information: retained until you unsubscribe or request deletion.

  • Volunteer and recruitment records: retained only as long as necessary.

  • Research data: retained only for as long as required for the research project, reporting obligations and any legal or funding requirements. Where possible, identifiable information will be deleted or anonymised once it is no longer needed.

9. Your Rights

Under the UK GDPR laws, you have the right to:

  • Access the personal data we hold about you.

  • Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data.

  • Request deletion of your data (“right to be forgotten”).

  • Restrict or object to how we process your data.

  • Withdraw consent at any time (where we rely on consent).

  • Lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) if you believe your data has been mishandled.

To exercise these rights, please contact us at info@sparkuk.co.uk

10. Children’s Privacy

We take the privacy of children seriously. Our website is designed to be safe for all ages. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children under 13 without parental consent.

11. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Any updates will be posted on this page with the revised date.

12. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or how we handle your data, please contact us:

Spark UK (1214446)
Email: info@sparkuk.co.uk
Address: Spark UK, Station Road, Ilfracombe, EX348DE