The safety of your personal information is something that we take very seriously and we are committed to protecting and respecting your privacy.
It explains how we collect, use, and protect your personal data in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018. It also sets out the lawful bases on which we rely when processing your information, the periods for which we retain it, and the rights you hold as a data subject.
Stop Domestic Abuse will, wherever possible, collect, process, and store only the personal data that you choose to provide to us. We are committed to ensuring that our data processing is fair, transparent, and lawful, and to clearly informing you about the purposes for which your information will be used.
Personal data is any information which would then make you as an individual identifiable, or any information combined with other information which would then make you identifiable.
These privacy statements tells you what to expect when Stop Domestic Abuse collects personal information. It applies to information we collect about groups of people.
Stop Domestic Abuse will only collect, process and store information where we have a lawful basis to do so. We want to be open about collecting this information and clear about what we will use it for.
For some of the groups of people listed below we have different statements which explain in more detail how we process your information, the lawful bases for this, our responsibilities and your rights. You can read those statements by clicking on the sections below:
All individuals accessing support from Stop Domestic Abuse are required to complete a Confidentiality and Sharing Agreement at the start of their engagement with our services. This agreement outlines:
what personal information we collect
how we use your information to keep you safe and provide support
when we may need to share information with other agencies
your rights under UK GDPR
how you can tell us your preferences about information sharing
We go through this agreement with every service user so you can ask questions, understand your rights, and decide how you want your information to be used. You
Our intention is to ensure that all service users are fully informed about how their personal information is handled and to provide assurance that confidentiality, privacy, and data protection are integral to the support we provide.
When you use our website to browse the content we make available we do collect or use cookies. Cookies are small text files that are placed on your computer by websites that you visit. They are widely used in order to make websites work, or work more efficiently, as well as to provide information to the owners of the site.
When you submit an enquiry via our website your email enquiry goes directly to Stop Domestic Abuse via email.
We use your email address to respond to your query, including providing you with any requested information about our services. We may also email you several times after your enquiry in order to follow up on your interest and ensure that we have answered it to your satisfaction.
We will do this based on our legitimate interest in providing accurate information.
You can change your cookie preferences at any time by clicking on the ‘C’ icon. You can then adjust the available sliders to ‘On’ or ‘Off’, then clicking ‘Save and close’. You may need to refresh your page for your settings to take effect.
Alternatively, most web browsers allow some control of most cookies through the browser settings. To find out more about cookies, including how to see what cookies have been set, visit www.aboutcookies.org or www.allaboutcookies.org.
Find out how to manage cookies on popular browsers:
To find information relating to other browsers, visit the browser developer’s website.
To opt out of being tracked by Google Analytics across all websites, visit http://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout.
Privacy – People who apply to work or volunteer with us
Staff and Volunteers privacy notice
This privacy notice tells you what to expect us to do with your personal information when you work for us.
Staff recruitment, administration and management
We collect or use the following personal information as part of staff recruitment, administration and management:
We also collect or use the following special category information for staff recruitment, administration and management. This information is subject to additional protection due to its sensitive nature:
Salaries and pensions
We collect or use the following personal information as part of managing salaries and pensions:
Staff health and wellbeing
We collect or use the following personal information for managing staff health and wellbeing:
We also collect or use the following special category information for managing staff health and wellbeing. This information is subject to additional protection due to its sensitive nature:
Lawful bases and data protection rights
Under UK data protection law, we must have a “lawful basis” for collecting and using your personal information. There is a list of possible lawful bases in the UK GDPR. You can find out more about lawful bases on the ICO’s website.
Which lawful basis we rely on may affect your data protection rights which are set out in brief below. You can find out more about your data protection rights and the exemptions which may apply on the ICO’s website:
Your right of access – you have the right to ask us for copies of your personal information. You can request other information such as details about where we get personal information from and who we share personal information with. There are some exemptions which means you may not receive all the information you ask for. Read more about the right of access.
If you make a request, we must respond to you without undue delay and in any event within one month.
To make a data protection rights request, please contact us using the contact details at the top of this privacy notice.
Our lawful bases for the collection and use of your data
Our lawful bases for collecting or using staff, applicant or volunteer personal information are:
Where we get personal information from
We collect your information from the following places:
Sharing your personal data
We may share your data with
Professional advisers and insurers where necessary
How We Handle Your Personal Information
Your support means a great deal to us, and so does your privacy. This notice explains what information we collect about you, how we use it, and the choices you have.
When you donate to Stop Domestic Abuse or choose to support our work in any way, we collect certain personal information so we can manage your engagement with us.
Information We Collect
We may collect:
Your name and contact details
How We Use Your Information
We use your information to:
Process donations and Gift Aid
Our Legal Grounds for Using Your Information
We rely on:
Who We Share Your Information With
We may share your information with:
They will only receive the information necessary to carry out their work and must meet our data protection standards.
We will never sell your personal information.
Keeping Your Information Safe
We use appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your information from loss, misuse, or unauthorised access.
How Long We Keep Your Information
We keep your information only for as long as necessary for the purposes outlined above, including legal and financial record‑keeping.
Your Communication Choices
If you change your mind after opting in to receive updates, you can unsubscribe at any time using the link in our emails or by contacting us directly.
Your Rights
You can:
Request access to the information we hold about you
Credit, debit card and payment information
Donations to Stop Domestic Abuse can be made via credit or debit card payments, standing order, cash and cheques.
We ensure that all payments or donations are carried out securely and, where applicable for payment cards (such as MasterCard and Visa payment), are processed in accordance with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS).
To find out more about PCI DSS standards visit their website at pcisecuritystandards.org.
Your payment information
In addition to keeping your payment information safe during the payment process, we will:
Stop Domestic Abuse shall not keep personal data for any longer than is necessary in light of the purpose or purposes for which that personal data was originally collected, held, and processed. When personal data is no longer required, all reasonable steps will be taken to erase or otherwise dispose of it without delay.
Stop Domestic Abuse’s approach to data retention, including retention periods for specific personal data types held by Stop Domestic Abuse is as follows:
Type of Data / Data Subject
Retention Period
Type of Data / Data Subject
Retention Period
Type of Data / Data Subject
Retention Period
Type of Data / Data Subject
Retention Period
Type of Data / Data Subject
Retention Period
Type of Data / Data Subject
Retention Period
Under UK data protection law, we must have a “lawful basis” for collecting and using your personal information. There is a list of possible lawful bases in the UK GDPR. You can find out more about lawful bases on the ICO’s website.
Which lawful basis we rely on may affect your data protection rights which are set out in brief below. You can find out more about your data protection rights and the exemptions which may apply on the ICO’s website:
If you make a request, we must respond to you without undue delay and in any event within one month.
To make a data protection rights request, please contact us using the contact details below.
Any questions relating to this policy or to Data Protection Law should be referred to the Data Protection Officer. In particular, the Data Protection Officer should always be consulted in the following cases:
if there is any uncertainty relating to the lawful basis on which personal data is to be collected, held, and/or processed;
If you remain unhappy with how we’ve used your data after raising a complaint with us, you can also complain to the ICO.
The ICO’s address:
Information Commissioner’s Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Helpline number: 0303 123 1113
Website: https://www.ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint
Our Data Protection Officer can be contacted via:
Post: PO Box 53, Havant, PO9 1UA
Email: dpo@stopdomesticabuse.uk
Telephone: 0330 0533 630
8.5.2026
Introduction
This Cookie Policy outlines how we use cookies and similar technologies on our websites to deliver a secure, efficient, and user-centred experience. It explains what cookies are, why we use them, and how you can manage your preferences. By continuing to browse our websites, you agree to our use of cookies in accordance with this policy, unless you have disabled them.
What Are Cookies?
Cookies are small text files placed on your device when you access a website. These files collect and store information about your visit, which is then communicated back to our website or third-party service providers upon subsequent visits. Cookies support website functionality, enhance user experience, and help us understand how our site is being used.
Types of Cookies We Use
We use the following categories of cookies:
Strictly Necessary Cookies
These cookies are essential for the operation of our websites. They enable core functions such as security, network management, and accessibility. You cannot opt out of these cookies.
Example:
Remembering your cookie consent preferences
Enabling secure log-in sessions
Performance and Analytics Cookies
These cookies collect aggregated data to help us understand how visitors interact with our site. This includes metrics such as page views, bounce rates, and navigation patterns. All data is anonymised.
Example Tools:
Google Analytics
Functionality Cookies
These cookies remember choices you make (such as language preferences or form inputs) to provide enhanced, personalised features.
Some of these cookies may be set by third-party platforms when you interact with embedded content such as YouTube videos or social media feeds.
Data Collected via Cookies
Through cookies, we may collect:
IP address and device type
Browser type and operating system
Pages visited, time spent, and actions taken
Referral URLs and geographic location (at a city/region level)
This information does not identify you personally and is used solely for statistical, functional, and service improvement purposes.
Legal Basis for Processing
Under the UK GDPR and similar frameworks, we rely on:
Consent for all non-essential cookies (e.g., analytics).
Legitimate interests for essential operational cookies.
Managing Your Cookie Preferences
You have full control over how cookies are used.
You can disable cookies by adjusting your browser settings. However, doing so may impact your ability to access certain parts of our site or experience reduced functionality.
To opt out of Google Analytics tracking, you may install the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on.
Third-Party Cookies
Some features on our website rely on third-party providers who may place cookies on your device. These providers are responsible for their own cookie and privacy policies. We recommend reviewing them directly to understand how your data is processed.
Data Security
We are committed to safeguarding your data. We use a combination of encryption, firewalls, access controls, and real-time monitoring to protect information collected via cookies. While no system is infallible, we maintain industry best practices to mitigate risks.
Policy Updates
We may update this Cookie Policy periodically to reflect changes in legal requirements or our data practices. The most recent version will always be accessible on our website, and material changes will be clearly communicated.
