Privacy Policy

Privacy Notice 

Background: 

Autism Together understands that your privacy is important to you and that you care about how your personal data is used and shared online and through Our marketing, publicity and fundraising campaigns and projects. We respect and value the privacy of everyone who visits this website, www.autismtogether.co.uk (“Our Site”) or who come into contact with Us and Our services such as when you donate, share in Our fundraising and campaigns and/or attend Our events and where your details are included on a database under Our control. We will only collect and use personal data in ways that are described here, and in a manner that is consistent with Our obligations and your rights under the law. 

Please read this Privacy Notice carefully and ensure that you understand it. Your acceptance of Our Privacy Notice is deemed to occur upon your first use of Our Site or when We request your details and you are directed to this Privacy Notice. If you do not accept and agree with this Privacy Notice, you must stop using Our Site immediately and/or inform Us that you do not wish for Us to continue to use your details. 

1.Definitions and interpretation 

In this Privacy Notice the following terms shall have the following meanings: 

Term	Meaning
“Cookie”	Is a small text file placed on your computer or device by Our Site when you visit certain parts of Our Site and/or when you use certain features of Our Site. Details of the Cookies used by Our Site are set out in section 14, below;
“Cookie Law”	Is the relevant parts of the Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003;
“personal data”	Is any and all data that relates to an identifiable person who can be directly or indirectly identified from that data. In this case, it means personal data that you give to Us via Our Site. This definition shall, where applicable, incorporate the definitions Provided in the Data Protection Act 2018 and/ or the UK General Data Protection Regulation (“UK GDPR”); and means the relevant parts of the Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003;
“We/Us/Our”	Refers to Autism Together, a registered charity (registered charity number 1007878) a limited company by guarantee registered in England under company number 2658268 the registered office being Oak House, 6 Tebay Road, Bromborough, Wirral, Merseyside, CH62 3PA.

 2. Information about Us

Our Site is owned and operated by Autism Together, a registered charity (registered charity number 1007878) a limited company by guarantee registered in England under company number 2658268 the registered office being Oak House, 6 Tebay Road, Bromborough, Wirral, Merseyside, CH62 3PA. 

3. What does this Privacy Notice cover? 

This Privacy Notice applies to your use of Our Site and the storage and use of your data including the databases that We have for marketing and fundraising purposes. Our Site may contain links to other websites. Please note that We have no control over how your data is collected, stored, or used by other websites and We advise you to check the privacy notices of any such websites before providing any data to them. 

4. Your rights

As a data subject, you have the following rights under the UK GDPR, which this Privacy Notice and Our use of personal data have been designed to uphold: 

• The right to be informed about Our collection and use of personal data; 

• The right of access to the personal data We hold about you (see section 13); 

• The right to rectification if any personal data We hold about you is inaccurate or incomplete (please contact Us using the form in section 18); 

• The right to be forgotten – i.e. the right to ask Us to delete any personal data We hold about you (We only hold your personal data for a limited time, as explained in section 6 but if you would like Us to delete it sooner, please contact Us using the form in section 18); 

• The right to restrict (i.e. prevent) the processing of your personal data; 

• The right to data portability (obtaining a copy of your personal data to re-use with another service or organisation); 

• The right to object to Us using your personal data for particular purposes; 

• Rights with respect to automated decision making and profiling; and 

• The right to raise a complaint about how your personal data is collected, used, or handled. 

 

To exercise any of these rights, please complete the form below in section 18. 

 

It is important to note that some of these rights are not absolute. As a result, there may be occasions where We are unable to fulfil all or part of your request at that time in accordance with the law. 

Before processing your request, We may need to verify your identity and may ask you to provide additional information for this purpose. We aim to respond to all requests without undue delay and within 30 days of receipt. However, in exceptional cases where a request is particularly complex, We may need to extend this timeframe. If an extension is required, We will inform you within the initial one-month period. 

If you remain dissatisfied, you can escalate your concern to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). 

For further information about your rights, please contact the Information Commissioner’s Office via Contact us – public | ICO or your local Citizens Advice Bureau. 

5. What do, We collect?

We may collect some or all of the following personal and non-personal data (please also see section 14 on Our use of Cookies and similar technologies): 

• Name including family member and friend names; 

• gender; 

• contact details; 

• age (where required for legitimate purposes); 

• business/company name; 

• job title; 

• profession; 

• contact information such as email addresses and telephone numbers; 

• demographic information such as postcode, preferences and interests; 

• financial information such as credit/debit card numbers; 

• photographs and images (e.g. taken at Our events); 

• IP address; 

• web browser type and version; 

• operating system; 

• a list of URLs starting with a referring site, your activity on Our Site, and the site you exit to; 

• bank account details. 

6. How do We use your data?

All personal data is processed and stored securely, for no longer than is necessary in light of the reason(s) for which it was first collected. We will comply with Our obligations and safeguard your rights under the Data Protection Act 2018 and/or UK GDPR at all times. For more details on security see section 8, below. 

Our use of your personal data will always have a lawful basis, either because it is necessary for Our performance of a contract with you, for the performance of Our services, for Our work as a charity in seeking funding and support for our charitable causes or because you have consented to Our use of your personal data (e.g. by subscribing to emails), or because it is in Our legitimate interests. Specifically, We may use your data for the following purposes: 

• Providing and managing your donations and support; 

• Providing and managing your access to Our Site; 

• Personalising and tailoring your experience on Our Site; 

• Informing you of events and news relating to Our charitable work; 

• Thanking you for your donations and support; 

• Supplying Our products and/or services to you (please note that We require your personal data in order to enter into a contract with you); 

• Personalising and tailoring Our products and/or services for you; 

• Replying to emails from you; 

• Supplying you with emails that you have opted into (you may unsubscribe or opt-out at any time by contacting Us); 

• Market research; 

• Analysing your use of Our Site and gathering feedback to enable Us to continually improve Our Site and your user experience. 

With your permission and/or where permitted by law, We may also use your data for marketing purposes which may include contacting you with information, news and offers on Our charitable causes, events, products and/or We will not, however, send you any unsolicited marketing or spam and will take all reasonable steps to ensure that We fully protect your rights and comply with Our obligations under the Data Protection Act 2018 and/or UK GDPR and the Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003. 

You have the right to withdraw your consent to Us using your personal data at any time, and to request that We delete it. 

We do not keep your personal data for any longer than is necessary in light of the reason(s) for which it was first collected.

7. Soft opt-in for marketing purposes (changes under the Data Use and Access Act 2025) 

Where permitted by data protection law, We may rely on the ‘soft opt-in’ to send you electronic communications about Our charitable purposes, activities, and ways you can support Our work. This applies where you have previously provided your contact details in connection with Our activities, and We believe the information We send is relevant to your relationship with Us. 

If We collected your contact details before these legal changes took effect, your existing contact preferences will remain unchanged. We will only rely on the soft opt-in for you if you subsequently re-engage with Us after the new rules come into force, for example by submitting your details again. 

Whenever We collect your contact details, you will be given the opportunity to opt out of receiving direct marketing. All marketing communications sent under the soft opt-in will include a simple way to unsubscribe. You can also change your preferences at any time by contacting Us using the form below. 

We will never share your personal data with other organisations for their own marketing purposes. 

8. How do We store your data?

We only keep your personal data for as long as We need to in order to use it as described above in section 6, and/or for as long as We have your permission to keep it. 

Some or all of your data may be stored outside of UK and European Economic Area (EEA). You are deemed to accept and agree to this by using Our Site and/or submitting information to Us. If We do store data outside the UK and the European Economic Area (EEA), We will take all reasonable steps to ensure that your data is treated as safely and securely as it would be within the UK and under the Data Protection Act 2018 and/or UK GDPR 

Data security is very important to Us, and to protect your data We have taken suitable measures to safeguard and secure data collected through Our Site. 

9. Do We share your data?

We may compile statistics about the use of Our Site including data on traffic, usage patterns, user numbers, sales, and other information. All such data will be anonymised and will not include any personally identifying data, or any anonymised data that can be combined with other data and used to identify you. We may from time to time share such data with third parties such as prospective investors, affiliates, partners, and advertisers. Data will only be shared and used within the bounds of the law. 

In certain circumstances, We may be legally required to share certain data held by Us, which may include your personal data, for example, where We are involved in legal proceedings, where We are complying with legal requirements, a court order, or a governmental authority. 

10. What happens if Our business changes hands?

We may, from time to time, expand or reduce Our business and this may involve the sale and/or the transfer of control of all or part of Our business. Any personal data that you have provided will, where it is relevant to any part of Our business that is being transferred, be transferred along with that part and the new owner or newly controlling party will, under the terms of this Privacy Notice, be permitted to use that data only for the same purposes for which it was originally collected by Us. 

In the event that any of your data is to be transferred in such a manner, you will be contacted in advance and informed of the changes. 

11. How can you control your data?

In addition to your rights under the UK GDPR, set out in section 4, when you submit personal data via Our Site, you may be given options to restrict Our use of your data. Further, We aim to give you strong controls on Our use of your data for direct marketing purposes (including the ability to opt-out of receiving emails from Us which you may do by unsubscribing using the links provided in Our emails and at the point of providing your details and by managing your Account). 

You may also wish to sign up to one or more of the preference services operating in the UK: the Telephone Preference Service (“the TPS”), the Corporate Telephone Preference Service (“the CTPS”), and the Mailing Preference Service (“the MPS”). These may help to prevent you from receiving unsolicited marketing. Please note, however, that these services will not prevent you from receiving marketing communications that you have consented to receive. 

12. Your right to withhold information

You may access certain areas of Our Site without providing any data at all. However, to use all features and functions available on Our Site you may be required to submit or allow for the collection of certain data. 

You may restrict Our use of Cookies. For more information, see section 14 and Our Cookie Policy. 

13. How can you access your data?

You have the right to ask for a copy of any of your personal data held by Us (where such data is held). Under the UK GDPR, no fee is payable and We will provide any and all information in response to your request free of charge. Please contact Us via the contact form below in section 18. 

14. Our use of cookies

Our Site may place and access certain first party Cookies on your computer or device. First party Cookies are those placed directly by Us and are used only by Us. We use Cookies to facilitate and improve your experience of Our Site and to provide and improve Our products and services. We have carefully chosen these Cookies and have taken steps to ensure that your privacy and personal data is protected and respected at all times. 

All Cookies used by and on Our Site are used in accordance with current Cookie Law. 

Before Cookies are placed on your computer or device, you will be shown a pop-up requesting your consent to set those Cookies. By giving your consent to the placing of Cookies you are enabling Us to provide the best possible experience and service to you. You may, if you wish, deny consent to the placing of Cookies; however certain features of Our Site may not function fully or as intended. 

Certain features of Our Site depend on Cookies to function. Cookie Law deems these Cookies to be “strictly necessary”. Your consent will not be sought to place these Cookies, but it is still important that you are aware of them. You may still block these Cookies by changing your internet browser’s settings as detailed below in this section, but please be aware that Our Site may not work properly if you do so. We have taken great care to ensure that your privacy is not at risk by allowing them. 

The first party Cookies may be placed on your computer or device. 

Our Site uses analytics services provided by Google Analytics. Website analytics refers to a set of tools used to collect and analyse anonymous usage information, enabling Us to better understand how Our Site is used. This, in turn, enables Us to improve Our Site and the products and services offered through it. You do not have to allow Us to use these Cookies, however, whilst Our use of them does not pose any risk to your privacy or your safe use of Our Site, it does enable Us to continually improve Our Site, making it a better and more useful experience for you. 

The analytics service(s) used by Our Site use(s) Cookies to gather the required information. 

Our Site use(s) the following Cookies: 

Cookie Name	Type	Provider	Purpose	Duration
cookieyes-consent / CookieConsent	Necessary	Autism Together	Records cookie consent preferences.	1 year
PHPSESSID	Necessary	Autism Together	Maintains session state.	Session
wordpress_test_cookie	Necessary	WordPress	Checks browser cookie acceptance.	Session
wpEmojiSettingsSupports	Necessary	WordPress	Enables emoji display.	Session
_ga	Analytics	Google Analytics	Distinguishes users.	Up to 2 years
_ga_<container-id>	Analytics	Google Analytics	Maintains session state.	Up to 2 years
_gid	Analytics	Google Analytics	Tracks session interactions.	24 hours
_gat	Analytics	Google Analytics	Limits request rate.	1 minute
wp-settings-*	Functional	WordPress	Stores user preferences.	1 year
wp-settings-time-*	Functional	WordPress	Tracks preference time.	1 year
pll_language	Functional	Plugin	Stores language preference.	1 year
YSC	Third-party Analytics	YouTube	Tracks video views.	Session
VISITOR_INFO1_LIVE	Third-party Advertising	YouTube	Tracks video interaction.	Up to 6 months
yt-remote-device-id	Functional	YouTube	Stores video preferences.	Persistent

 

In addition to the controls that We provide, you can choose to enable or disable Cookies in your internet browser. Most internet browsers also enable you to choose whether you wish to disable all cookies or only third-party cookies. By default, most internet browsers accept Cookies, but this can be changed. For further details, please consult the help menu in your internet browser or the documentation that came with your device. 

You can choose to delete Cookies on your computer or device at any time; however, you may lose any information that enables you to access Our Site more quickly and efficiently including, but not limited to, login and personalisation settings. 

It is recommended that you keep your internet browser and operating system up-to-date and that you consult the help and guidance provided by the developer of your internet browser and manufacturer of your computer or device if you are unsure about adjusting your privacy settings. 

15. Social media networking and social media analytics

We also use social networking services such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube to communicate with the public about Our work. When you communicate with Us using these services We may collect your personal information, but We only use it to help Us to communicate with you and the public. The social networking service will also handle your personal information for its own purposes. These services have their own privacy policies. You can access the privacy policies for Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube. 

We receive anonymous, aggregated statistics about visitors to Our social media pages through Facebook Insights, LinkedIn Analytics, Instagram Insights and YouTube. This helps Us to understand how people are engaging with Our posts and to improve Our content for Our audience. 

16. Contacting Us

If you have any questions about Our Site, please contact using this link: Contact us – Autism Together or by telephone on 0151 334 7510, or by post to Autism Together, Oak House, 6 Tebay Road, Bromborough, Wirral, Merseyside, CH62 3PA.  

17. Changes to Our Privacy Notice

We may update this Privacy Notice from time to time, for example to reflect changes in the law. Any updates will be immediately posted on Our Site. By continuing to use Our Site after any changes have been made, you will be considered to have accepted the revised Privacy Notice. We encourage you to review this page regularly to stay informed of any updates.