PRIVACY POLICY

At Open Gate Church, your privacy is very important to us. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and protect your personal information when you visit our website or engage with our services. As a registered charity, we are committed to respecting your privacy and complying with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.

1. Who We Are
Open Gate Church
Location: Northampton, UK
Email: opengatenorthampton@gmail.com

2. Personal Data We Collect
We may collect the following personal information from you:

Names and email addresses when signing up for our newsletter
Event registration details submitted through our website
Records of communications with our church, including pastoral contact where relevant

3. How We Use Your Data
Your information is used for the following purposes:

Sending newsletters and communications you have opted into
Managing event registrations and church activities
Maintaining records required for church administration, safeguarding, and financial compliance

We will only use your data for the purposes we collected it for and will not share it for marketing purposes without your consent.

4. Our Legal Basis for Processing Your Data
We rely on the following legal grounds under UK GDPR for processing your personal information:

Consent: when you sign up for newsletters or events
Legal obligation: for safeguarding, finance, and other statutory record-keeping requirements

5. Third-Party Services
We use the following third-party services which may process your data on our behalf:

Brevo – for email marketing and newsletters
Churchsuite – for database management and event registration
Google Analytics – for website analytics and improving our website

These providers may store data outside the UK. We ensure that appropriate safeguards are in place for any international transfers in line with UK GDPR.

6. Cookies
Our website uses cookies to enhance your experience and to collect anonymised analytics via Google Analytics. You can manage your cookie preferences in your browser settings.

7. Data Retention

Newsletter subscriptions: retained until you unsubscribe
Safeguarding records and financial records: retained in line with UK legal requirements

8. Your Rights
Under UK GDPR, you have the right to:

Access the personal data we hold about you
Request correction of inaccurate data
Request deletion of your personal data (where legally permissible)
Withdraw consent at any time for data you have provided voluntarily

To exercise these rights, please contact us at: opengatenorthampton@gmail.com

9. Security
We take the security of your personal data seriously and implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect it.

10. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Any changes will be published on this website.

11. Contact Us
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or how we handle your personal information, please contact:
Email: opengatenorthampton@gmail.com