Privacy Notice

This privacy notice tells you what to expect when Buckingham Evangelical Church (BEChurch) collects personal information. It applies to information we collect about:

• Visitors to our website
• People who use our services e.g. who subscribe to our newsletters and correspondence
• Church address book
• Job applicants, volunteers, current & former employees
• Financial Support and Gift Aid

Visitors to our Website

When someone visits www.bechurch.org or www.bechurch.org.uk we use a third party service, Google Analytics, to collect standard internet log information and details of visitor behaviour patterns. We do this to find out things such as the number of visitors to the various parts of the site. This information is only processed in a way which does not identify anyone. We do not make, and do not allow Google to make, any attempt to find out the identities of those visiting our website. If we do want to collect personally identifiable information through our website, we will be up front about this. We will make it clear when we collect personal information and will explain what we intend to do with it.

Use of online 'cookies' by BEChurch

You can read more about how we use ‘cookies’ on our cookies page.

Newsletters & Correspondence

When someone requests to receive BEChurch’s newsletters/updates/prayer updates/missionary newsletters/correspondence or information, we will either ask them to use an online form or a paper form to subscribe to our communications.

The online form will ask for an email address, and the person’s first name and surname. The subscription will require a double opt-in so there is no misunderstanding about what the subscriber is signing up for. Links to our privacy notice and instructions about unsubscribing or updating details is also given.

We use a third-party provider, Mail Chimp, to deliver our e-newsletters and other information about BEChurch. We gather statistics around email opening and clicks using industry standard technologies including clear gifs to help us monitor and improve our communications. For more information. Mailchimp hold only your name and email address and you can unsubscribe from our mailing list at any time by using the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any email received via Mail Chimp. MailChimp is based in the US and is certified under the EU-US Privacy Shield Network. When you sign up to our emailing list, you agree to your information being shared with Mail Chimp in this way. For more information please see MailChimp’s Privacy Policy.

For people requesting to sign up BEChurch's newsletters/updates/prayer updates/missionary newsletters/correspondence or information by post, we will give them a paper form (requesting their postal address, first name and surname) and our privacy notice. Details of how to unsubscribe or update their details will also be specified on the paper form.

Subscribers can contact BEChurch by telephone or email to request changes to the details we hold or ask to be unsubscribed. Once someone unsubscribes from our communications, we delete all contact information held about them in accordance with our procedures.

People who email us or contact us via our contact form

Any information we send or receive by email may not be protected in transit. We will also monitor any emails sent to us, including file attachments, for viruses or malicious software. Please be aware that you have a responsibility to ensure that any email you send is within the bounds of the law.

Church address book

We have a church address book which contains contact details for consenting current church congregational members. People currently worshipping regularly with us at BEChurch will be approached and asked if they would like to have their details added to the address book, for circulation to other regular attendees. The purpose of this address book is so people can contact people on the list regarding church groups/meetings/prayer support etc. and know the address where certain events are taking place. This information is only given out after consent is obtained and will not be published on the website or any public place. If you cease regularly attending BEChurch, your details may be retained for up to one year until the address book is updated.

Job applicants, volunteers, current & former BEChurch employees

BEChurch is the data controller for the information you provide during the process unless otherwise stated. If you have any queries about the process or how we handle your information, please contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

What will we do with the information you provide to us?

All of the information you provide during the process will only be used for the purpose of progressing your application or to fulfil legal or regulatory requirements if necessary.

We will not share any of the information you provide during the recruitment process with any third parties for marketing purposes. We will use the contact details you provide us to contact you to progress your application. We will use the other information you provide to assess your suitability for the role you have applied for.

If your application to work with us as a member of staff or as a volunteer is successful, your email address will be added to our emailing list so you receive information and communications from BEChurch (please see our 'Newsletters & Correspondence' section above for more details). Your application form and references will be shared with the Elders and possibly the Deacons. We do not collect more information than we need to fulfil our stated purposes and will not retain it for longer than is necessary.

The information we ask for is used to assess your suitability for employment or to work voluntarily for BEChurch. You don’t have to provide what we ask for but it might affect your application if you don’t.

What information do we ask for, and why?

Depending on the position you are applying for, you will be asked a variety of questions about your personal details and previous experience. You will also be asked to provide two referees who will be contacted using the details you provide in your application to obtain references. If you are successful in your application, your application form and references will be shared with the Elders (for all positions), and possibly the Deacons. Fellow team members may also receive your contact details.

If you are employed by BEChurch or have travel expenses paid by BEChurch, relevant details about you will be passed to our Finance Deacon and you will be asked for your bank details to process payments. Employed BEChurch staff details will also be passed to the pension and insurance providers if applicable.

How long is the information retained for?

If you are successful and become a member of staff, the information you provide during the application process will be retained by us as part of your employee file for the duration of your employment plus 6 years following the end of your employment. If you are successful in becoming a volunteer with BEChurch, the information you provide during the application process will be retained for 6 years following the end of employment.

If you are unsuccessful at any stage of the process, the information you have provided until that point will be retained for 6 months from the closure of the application process.

Financial Support and Gift Aid

You may wish to give financial gifts or donations to the church and any financial details given to the church will be held in strictest confidence and used only in the processing of your financial support. Any personal information given to BEChurch to enable us to collect Gift Aid on your gifts will be shared only with HMRC as required. Financial details will be retained for up to 2 years post your last donation/gift and Gift Aid details retained for up to 6 years.

Your rights

Until May 24th 2018, under the Data Protection Act 1998, you have rights as an individual which you can exercise in relation to the information we hold about you. From May 25th 2018, the GDPR European Union (EU) privacy law will come into force and will replace the older directive on data privacy, Directive 95/46/EC. You have new rights as an individual under this new GDPR law, which you can exercise in relation to the information we hold about you.

From May 25th 2018, you have the right to:

• be informed
• have access to your information
• to rectify your information
• to have your information erased
• to restrict your processing
• to data portability
• to object
• not be subject to automated decision-making including profiling

For more details about these rights please visit the ICO website or request more information from BEChurch.

Complaints or queries

BEChurch tries to meet the highest standards when collecting and using personal information. For this reason, we take any complaints we receive about this very seriously. We encourage people to bring it to our attention if they think that our collection or use of information is unfair, misleading or inappropriate. We would also welcome any suggestions for improving our procedures.

This privacy notice was drafted with brevity and clarity in mind. It does not provide exhaustive detail of all aspects of BEChurch’s collection and use of personal information. However, we are happy to provide any additional information or explanation needed. Any requests for this should be sent to the address below. If you want to make a complaint about the way we have processed your personal information, you can contact the ICO who oversee data protection laws: www.ico.org.uk/concerns

BEChurch tries to be as open as it can be in terms of giving people access to their personal information. Individuals can find out if we hold any personal information by making a 'subject access request'. If we do hold information about you we will:

• give you a description of it
• tell you why we are holding it
• tell you who it could be disclosed to
• let you have a copy of the information in an intelligible form

To make a request to BEChurch for any personal information we may hold, you need to put the request in writing to BEChurch, providing proof of ID. If you agree, we will try to deal with your request informally, for example by providing you with specific information you need over the telephone. If we do hold information about you, you can ask us to correct any mistakes by, once again, contacting BEChurch, providing proof of ID.

Disclosure of personal information

In many circumstances we will not disclose personal data without consent. However, when we investigate a complaint, for example, we will need to share personal information with the organisation concerned and with other relevant bodies e.g. circumstances where we pass on personal data without consent to prevent and detect crime.

Links to Other Websites

Our website may contain links to enable you to visit other websites of interest easily. However, once you have used these links to leave our site, you should note that we do not have any control over that other website. Therefore, we cannot be responsible for the protection and privacy of any information which you provide whilst visiting such sites and such sites are not governed by this privacy policy. We encourage you to read the privacy statements on the other websites you visit.

Changes to this privacy notice

We keep our privacy notice under regular review. This privacy notice was last updated on 14th May 2018.

If you want to request information about our privacy policy you can email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or write to:

BUCKINGHAM EVANGELICAL CHURCH
c/o 17 Otters Brook
Buckingham
MK18 7EB

This privacy notice has been adapted from the ICO privacy notice (24th November 2017) and the information is used under the Open Government Licence