Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. Where and how we collect your data
  3. How we keep your data safe and who has access
  4. Data protection officer
  5. Your right to know what we know about you, make changes or ask us to stop using your data
  6. Changes to this policy

1. Introduction

Best Beginnings (“we”) promises to respect any personal data you share with us, or that we get from other organisations and keep it safe. We aim to be clear when we collect your data and not do anything you wouldn’t reasonably expect. 

In May 2018, in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR), we will only send marketing communications to those that have explicitly stated that they are happy for us to do so, via their preferred channel(s) (email, SMS, phone or post).

Our marketing communications include information about our latest news, campaigns and exciting projects. If you would like to receive such communications, please contact us on 0203 675 9451 or email [email protected] or go to our website www.bestbeginnings.org.uk

2. Where and how we collect data from you

We collect information in the following ways:

When you give it to us DIRECTLY

 You may give us your information in order to register to use our Baby Buddy app, sign up for events and workshops, make a donation, fundraise for us, purchase our products or communicate with us. Sometimes when you support us, your information is collected by an organisation working for us (e.g. a partner organisation), but we are responsible for your data at all times.

When you give it to us INDIRECTLY

 Your information may be shared with us by independent event organisers, for example the London Marathon or fundraising sites like Just Giving or Virgin Money Giving. These independent third parties will only do so when you have indicated that you wish to support Best beginnings and with your consent. You should check their Privacy Policy when you provide your information to understand fully how they will process your data.

Social Media

Depending on your settings or the privacy policies for social media and messaging services like Facebook, WhatsApp or Twitter, you might give us permission to access information from those accounts or services.

Information available publicly

This may include information found in places such as Companies House and information that has been published in articles/ newspapers.

When we collect it as you use our WEBSITE or APPS

 Like most websites, we use “cookies” to help us make our site – and the way you use it – better. Cookies mean that a website will remember you. They’re small text files that sites transfer to your computer (or phone or tablet). They make interacting with a website faster and easier – for example by automatically filling your name and address in text fields.

In addition, the type of device you’re using to access our website or apps and the settings on that device may provide us with information about your device, including what type of device it is, what specific device you have, what operating system you’re using, what your device settings are, and why a crash has happened. Your device manufacturer or operating system provider will have more details about what information your device makes available to us.

For more information on use of cookies, please visit view our Cookies Policy

What personal data we collect from you and how we use it

The type and quantity of information we collect and how we use it depends on why you are providing it. 

Further Research - Privacy Policy 

Click here to find out about data protection in relation to any current research projects.

Fundraisers, ambassadors, volunteers and donors

If you support us, for example make a donation, volunteer, register to fundraise, sign up for an event, we will usually collect via an online web form:

  • Your name
  • Your contact details
  • Your postcode
  • Your communication preferences

We will mainly use your data to:

  • Provide you with the services, products or information you asked for
  • Administer your donation or support your fundraising, including processing gift aid
  • Keep a record of your relationship with us
  • Ensure we know how you prefer to be contacted
  • Understand how we can improve our services, products or information.

Building profiles of supporters and targeting communications

We use profiling and screening techniques to ensure communications are relevant and timely, and to provide an improved experience for our supporters. Profiling also allows us to target our resources effectively, which donors consistently tell us is a key priority for them. We do this because it allows us to understand the background of the people who support us and helps us to make appropriate requests to supporters who may be able and willing to give more than they already do. Importantly, it enables us to raise more funds, sooner, and more cost-effectively, than we otherwise would. 

When building a profile we may analyse geographic, demographic and other information relating to you in order to better understand your interests and preferences, so that we only send you the most relevant communications.

Baby Buddy application users

When you install the Baby Buddy app, you are asked to provide the following information:

  • Your name
  • Your full postcode
  • Your age
  • Whether you are pregnant, new mother, partner or health care professional
  • Your ethnicity

All data is encrypted, so we are not able to identify individual users on the Baby Buddy application. We collect the information above to be able to analyse the trends and usage of the app and review our products to better respond to the needs of our users.

Children’s data

We collect and manage information from app users who are under 16, as they may be new parents or parents to be, who wish to use our app for empowerment and information. We aim to manage it in a way which is appropriate to the age of the child. Where possible and appropriate we will seek consent from a parent or guardian before collecting information about those under 16.

Direct Marketing

With your consent, we will contact you to let you know about the progress we are making and to ask for donations or other support. Occasionally, we may include information from partner organisations or organisations who support us in these communications. We make it easy for you to tell us how you want us to communicate, in a way that suits you. Our forms 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 let us know when you provide your data or contact us on 0203 675 9451 or email [email protected]. We do not sell or share personal details to third parties for the purposes of marketing.

Baby Buddy champions, Committee members and Workplace/Chatter members

Some people may be trained by us as a Baby Buddy champion, attend our events, become part of our online community spaces (workplace/Chatter) or sit on our parent panel or editorial board committees. This may include them sharing sensitive information related to their health and family life in addition to their biographical and contact information. Any photos from parent panel events will require separate consent.

We use some of the information provided, including gender, ethnicity or the types of issues people share, to better target campaigns. We will also monitor the types of people who are involved to ensure that the views we hear are representative of all people who use our services and to record the impact of our resources.

If we have the explicit and informed consent of the individuals, (or their parents’ or guardians’ if they are under 18), this information may be made public by us at events, in materials promoting our campaigning and fundraising work, or in documents such as our annual report. 

Workplace/Chatter online community platform asks you to provide your email address when you register and may contact you about administrative issues and changes to the forum. This forum is private and only accessed by staff members, our consultants and other Baby Buddy champions. With your consent, we may also use your email address to send you information about our work.

Enquiries about the app, commissioning, giving feedback or making a complaint

When you contact us to enquire about our products, give feedback or find out about commissioning opportunities, we will collect your contact details which will be kept on our secure CRM salesforce system. This enables us to record your enquiry and log our response to resolve your issue.

We may also collect and retain your information if you send feedback about our services or make a complaint. 

3. How we keep your data safe and who has access

We ensure that there are appropriate technical controls in place to protect your personal details. For example, our online forms are automatically gathered into our secure CRM system and our network is protected and routinely monitored. 

We undertake regular reviews of who has access to information that we hold to ensure that your information is only accessible by appropriately trained staff, volunteers and contractors.

We will only ever share your data in other circumstances, if we have your explicit and informed consent.

Keeping your information up to date

We would really appreciate it if you could let us know if your contact details change, by sending an email to [email protected].

What would happen to your information if our organisation closed

If our organisation closes, we are required by law to delete all personal and sensitive contact information for all our contacts.

4. Data Protection Officer

To communicate with our Data Protection Officer, please send an email with data protection in the subject heading to the following address: [email protected].

5. Your right to know what we know about you, make changes or ask us to stop using your data

You have a right to ask us to stop processing your personal data, and if it’s not necessary for the purpose you provided it to us for (e.g. processing your donation or registering you for an event) we will do so. Contact us on 0203 675 9451 or email [email protected] if you have any concerns.

You have a right to ask for a copy of the information we hold about you. We will respond to any data requests within 1 month. If there are any discrepancies in the information we provide, please let us know and we will correct them.

If you want to access your information, send a description of the information you want to see and proof of your identity by post to Best Beginnings, 10-18 Union Street, London, SE1 1SZ. We do not accept these requests by email so we can ensure that we only provide personal data to the right person.

If you have any questions regarding Best Beginnings' ("we") Privacy Notice or The Baby App ("The App") or you would like request an export or deletion of your data, please email us: [email protected].

Our Data Protection Officer can be contacted at: [email protected].

Telephone us: 020 7443 7895

Write to us: Data Protection Officer, 10-18 Union Street, London, SE1 1SZ

6. Changes to this policy

We may change this Privacy Policy from time to time. If we make any significant changes in the way we treat your personal information we will make this clear on our website, Baby Buddy app or by contacting you directly.

If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, please let us know by emailing us at [email protected].