PLEASE NOTE: THIS IS A WEBPAGE VERSION OF THE ORIGINAL DOCUMENT AND IS PROVIDED FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY.

Scope of the policy

This policy applies to the work of Portsdown U3A. The policy sets out the requirements that Portsdown U3A has to gather information for membership purposes. This policy details the following; how personal information will be collected, stored and managed in line with data protection principles and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The policy is reviewed on an ongoing basis by Portsdown U3A Committee members to ensure that we are compliant.

This policy should be read in conjunction with Portsdown U3A’s:

  • Website Cookie and Privacy Policy
  • Website Publishing Policy
  • Policy on ICE- In Case of Emergency numbers

Why this policy exists

This data protection policy ensures Portsdown U3A:

  • Complies with data protection law and follows good practice
  • Protects the rights of members
  • Is open about how it stores and processes members’ data
  • Protects itself from the risks of a data breach

Data Protection Principles

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) identifies key data protection principles:

Principle 1 – Personal data shall be processed lawfully, fairly and in a transparent manner.

Principle 2 – Personal data must be collected for specified, explicit and legitimate purposes and not further processed in a manner that is incompatible with those purposes; further processing for archiving purposes in the public interest, scientific or historical research purposes or statistical purposes shall not be considered to be incompatible with the initial purposes.

Principle 3 – The collection of personal data must be adequate, relevant and limited to what is necessary in relation to the purposes for which they are processed;

Principle 4 – Personal data held should be accurate and, where necessary, kept up to date; every reasonable step must be taken to ensure that personal data that is inaccurate, having regard to the purposes for which they are processed, are erased or rectified without delay;

Principle 5 – Personal data must be kept in a form which permits identification of data subjects for no longer than is necessary and for the purposes for which the personal data was processed.

Principle 6 – Personal data must be processed in a manner that ensures appropriate security of the personal data, including protection against unauthorised or unlawful processing and against accidental loss, destruction or damage, using appropriate technical or organisational measures.

General guidelines for Committee members and Group Leaders

  • The only people able to access data covered by this policy should be those who need to communicate with or provide a service to the Portsdown U3A members.
  • Portsdown U3A will provide induction training to committee members and group leaders to help them understand their responsibilities when handling data.
  • Committee Members and Group Leaders should keep all data secure, by taking sensible precautions and following the guidelines below.
  • Strong passwords must be used and they should never be shared.
  • Data should not be shared outside of the U3A unless with prior consent and/or for specific and agreed reasons. Examples would include Gift Aid information provided to HMRC or information provided to the distribution company for the Trust publications.
  • Member information should be revisited periodically to ensure accuracy.
  • Additional support will be obtained from the Third Age Trust where uncertainties or incidents regarding data protection arise.

Lawful, fair and transparent data processing

Portsdown U3A requests personal information from potential members and members for membership applications and for sending communications about their involvement with the U3A.

The forms used to request personal information will contain a privacy statement informing potential members and members as to why the information is being requested and what the information will be used for.

The lawful basis for obtaining member information is due to the contractual relationship that the U3A has with individual members. In addition members will be asked to provide consent for specific processing purposes.

Portsdown U3A members will be informed as to who they need to contact should they wish for their data not to be used for specific purposes. Where these requests are received they will be acted upon promptly.

Processed for specified, explicit and legitimate purposes

Members will be informed as to how their information will be used and the Committee of Portsdown U3A will seek to ensure that member information is not used inappropriately. Appropriate use of information provided by members will include:

  • Communicating with members about Portsdown U3A events and activities
  • Group leaders communicating with group members about specific group activities
  • Consent will be sought in order to add members’ details to the direct mailing information for the Third Age Trust magazines – Third Age Matters and Sources
  • Sending members information about Third Age Trust events and activities
  • Communicating with members about their membership and/or renewal of their membership
  • Communicating with members about specific issues that may have arisen during the course of their membership

Portsdown U3A will ensure that Group Leaders are made aware of what would be considered appropriate and inappropriate communication. Inappropriate communication would include sending U3A members marketing and/or promotional materials from external service providers.

Portsdown U3A will ensure that members’ information is managed in such a way as not to infringe an individual members rights which include:

  • The right to be informed
  • The right of access
  • The right to rectification
  • The right to erasure
  • The right to restrict processing
  • The right to data portability
  • The right to object

Adequate, relevant and limited data processing

Members of Portsdown U3A will only be asked to provide information that is relevant for membership purposes. This will include:

  • Name
  • Postal address
  • Email address
  • Telephone number(s)
  • In Case of Emergency numbers (ICE)
  • Gift Aid Declaration

Where additional information may be required such as health related information this will be obtained with the consent of the member who will be informed as to why this information is required and the purpose that it will be used for.

Where Portsdown U3A organises a trip or activity that requires ICE information to be provided, a legitimate interest assessment will have been completed in order to request this information. Members will be made aware that the assessment has been completed..

Photographs

Photographs are classified as personal data. Where group photographs are being taken members will be asked to step out of shot if they dont wish to be in the photograph. Otherwise consent will be obtained from members in order for photographs to be taken and members will be informed as to where photographs will be displayed which may be on the website. Should a member wish at any time to remove their consent and to have their photograph removed then they should contact the group co-ordinator to advise that they no longer wish their photograph to be displayed.

Accuracy of data and keeping data up-to-date

Portsdown U3A has a responsibility to ensure members’ information is kept up-to-date. Members will be asked to let the Membership Secretary know, if any of their personal information changes. The members can also use the Members’ Portal on the Home page of the website to update their own change of details.

Accountability and governance

The U3A Committee is responsible for ensuring that the U3A remains compliant with data protection requirements and can evidence that it has done so. Where consent is required for specific purposes then evidence of this consent, either electronic or paper, will be obtained and retained securely.

The U3A Committee will ensure that new members joining the Committee receive an induction into the requirements of GDPR and the implications for their role.

Portsdown U3A will also ensure that Group Leaders are made aware of their responsibilities in relation to the data they hold and process.

Committee members shall also stay up to date with guidance and practice within the U3A movement and shall seek additional input from the Third Age Trust National Office should any uncertainties arise. The Committee will review data protection and who has access to information on a regular basis as well as reviewing what data is held.

When Committee members and Group Leaders relinquish their roles, they will be asked to either pass on data to those who need it and/or delete data.

Secure Processing

Portsdown U3A Committee Members have a responsibility to ensure that data is both securely held and processed. This will include:

  • Committee members using strong passwords
  • Committee members not sharing passwords
  • Restricting access of sharing member information to those on the Committee and group leaders who need to communicate with members on a regular basis
  • Using password protection on laptops and PCs that contain personal information
  • Using password protection or secure cloud systems when sharing data between committee members and/or group leaders

Subject Access Request

U3A members are entitled to request access to the information that is held by Portsdown U3A. The request needs to be received in the form of a written request to the Membership Secretary of Portsdown U3A. On receipt of the request, the request will be formally acknowledged and dealt with expediently. The legislation requires that information should generally be provided within one month unless there are exceptional circumstances as to why the request cannot be granted. Portsdown U3A will provide a written response detailing all information held on the member. A record shall be kept of the date of the request and the date of the response.

Data Breach Notification

Where a data breach occurs action shall be taken to minimise the harm. This will include ensuring that all Portsdown U3A Committee members are made aware that a breach has taken place and how the breach occurred. The Committee shall then seek to rectify the cause of the breach as soon as possible.

The Chair of the U3A shall contact National Office within 24 hours of the breach occurring.

A discussion will take place between the Chair and National Office as to the seriousness of the breach and the action to be taken. Where the breach has an adverse effect on a member, the Information Commissioner’s Office would be notified. The Committee shall also contact the relevant U3A members to inform them of the data breach and actions taken to resolve the breach.

Where a U3A member feels that there has been a breach by the U3A, a Committee member will ask the member to provide an outline of the breach. If the initial contact is by telephone, the committee member will ask the U3A member to follow this up with an email or a letter detailing their concern.

The alleged breach will then be investigated by members of the Committee who are not in any way implicated in the breach. Where the Committee needs support or if the breach is serious they should notify National Office. The U3A member should also be informed that they can report their concerns to National Office if they don’t feel satisfied with the response from the Portsdown U3A.

Breach matters will be subject to a full investigation, records will be kept and all those involved notified of the outcome.

BS/CC May 2018
Revised August 2019
Review August 2020