Privacy Policy

Introduction

The Chagos Conservation Trust relies on the generosity of its members and supporters to carry out vital conservation work in the Chagos Archipelago. We aim to be transparent in why we need to collect your personal data and once we have it how we will use it.

This policy exists so that you feel confident about the privacy and security of your personal information. We take protecting your privacy very seriously and will always take all reasonable steps within our power to make sure your information is safe. 

In this Privacy Policy, references to “we” and “us” are to the Chagos Conservation Trust.

The Chagos Conservation Trust is a charity, registered in the UK No. 1155836.

Why do we collect information?

Chagos Conservation Trust aims to promote and conduct scientific and historical research and environmental conservation work in the Chagos Archipelago. We work to advance international understanding of the global environmental importance of the Chagos Archipelago to ensure its protection for the wider public benefit.

To deliver our mission, we need to communicate our work to existing and new supporters and to raise funds. We need to collect your information and process it in order to communicate the appropriate messages to you which in turn raise awareness of the Chagos Archipelago, our work there and help us raise funds to meet our goals.

What information do we collect and how do we collect it?

We respect everyone’s right to personal privacy. To that end, we collect and use information only as disclosed in this Privacy Policy. We collect information every time you interact with us –through our website, over the phone, by email or by post. The type and quantity of information we collect and how we use it depends on why you are providing it.

For example, we may collect information when you:

  • become a member of the Chagos Conservation Trust 
  • come to an event
  • purchase something from our shop 
  • make a donation to us
  • subscribe to our e-newsletters
  • respond to our mailings
  • contact us online, via email, by post or by telephone

The information we collect and store includes but may not be limited to:

Your name, address, telephone number, mobile number and email address, along with your preferences as to how we should or shouldn’t contact you in the future

How long do we store your data and how do we keep it safe?

We store your data for as long as you are a member of the Chagos Conservation Trust or is appropriate and relevant to your preferences. All Gift Aid Declarations are kept securely for the six years as per HMRC guidance. All personal data is stored in a secure marketing automation platform.

What we do with your information?

Any personal information we collect from you will be used in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation and other applicable laws. The details we collect will be used:

  • To comply with legal requirements
  • To send you information on our work, our fundraising products and services
  • To send you products that you have bought
  • To sign you up to certain bulletins like our bi-annual Chagos News, fundraising communications or our e-news but only where you have signed up to receive these from us

We may pass your information onto our data processors to allow them to perform services on our behalf for which you have already agreed to (e.g. payment processing, to send out mailings or to send out e-newsletters). 

In these circumstances we will not give these organisations any rights to use your personal information except to provide services to us and in accordance with our instructions. We also utilise a third party, Google, to track the usage and volume of users on our site. The information they collect is not in any way associated with the details we hold about you online.

Your rights

We want to make it easy for you to tell us how you want us to communicate, in a way that suits you. Our communications have clear marketing preference questions and we include information on how to opt out when we send you marketing.

If you don’t want to hear from us, that’s fine. Just tell us so when you provide your data or email us info@chagos-trust.org. 

You can also ask us to update or remove your personal information and you have the right to request a copy of any personal information we hold about you.

Changes to this Policy

We may amend or update this policy at any time to take account of any changes to data protection law or other legislation. When further updates to the policy are made they will be posted on this page, but rest assured we will not make any other changes to the way we use your data without asking you first.