Privacy Policy

North Shields Fishermen’s Heritage Project
Dockmasters House
Suite 3
40 The Fish Quay
North Shields
Tyne and Wear
NE30 1JA

Registered Charity Number: 1197252

Last updated: August 2026

1. Introduction

North Shields Fishermen’s Heritage Project (“NSFHP”, “we”, “us” or “our”) is committed to protecting and respecting your privacy.

This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store and protect personal information when you visit our website at **nsfhp.org**, contact us, support our work, participate in our activities or otherwise interact with the Project.

We process personal information in accordance with applicable UK data protection legislation, including the **UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR)** and the **Data Protection Act 2018, as amended**.

North Shields Fishermen’s Heritage Project is the **data controller** for personal information covered by this policy.

2. Information We May Collect

Depending on how you interact with the Project, we may collect information including:

•  your name
• postal address
• email address
• telephone number
• correspondence you send to us
• information supplied in connection with donations or fundraising
• information provided when volunteering, supporting or participating in Project activities
• information supplied in connection with historical research or the Book of Remembrance
• photographs, video or other material relating to Project events and activities where appropriate
• technical information about your visit to our website, such as browser type, device type, IP address and pages visited
• cookie preferences and similar website information.

We only seek to collect information that is reasonably necessary for the purpose for which it is required.

3. How We Collect Personal Information

We may receive personal information:

• directly from you when you contact us
• when you participate in or support one of our projects or activities
• when you make a donation or assist with fundraising
• when you provide information relating to local fishing heritage or the Book of Remembrance
• through schools, community organisations or other organisations working with us, where appropriate
• when you attend an event or activity organised by the Project
• automatically when you use our website, through essential website technologies and, where you have given permission, optional cookies or similar technologies.

4. How We Use Your Information

We may use personal information to:

• respond to enquiries and correspondence
• administer the activities of the charity
• organise heritage, community and educational projects
• communicate with volunteers, supporters, donors and partner organisations
• process and maintain appropriate records relating to donations and fundraising
• maintain historical records and information connected with our heritage projects
• administer submissions or enquiries relating to the Book of Remembrance
• organise events, visits and activities
• maintain and improve our website
• protect the security and proper operation of our website
• comply with legal, financial, regulatory and charitable obligations
• promote the work and achievements of North Shields Fishermen’s Heritage Project where appropriate.

We will not use your personal information for purposes that are incompatible with those for which it was originally collected unless we have a lawful reason to do so.

Our Lawful Basis for Processing

Under UK data protection law, we must have a lawful basis for using personal information.

Depending on the circumstances, we may rely upon:

Consent

Where you have specifically agreed that we may use your information for a particular purpose, such as receiving certain communications or allowing the use of a photograph.

You may withdraw your consent at any time.

• Legitimate Interests

We may process information where it is reasonably necessary for the legitimate activities of North Shields Fishermen’s Heritage Project, provided those interests are not overridden by your rights and interests.

This may include responding to enquiries, administering the charity, maintaining relationships with supporters and promoting our charitable and heritage activities.

Legal Obligation

We may need to process or retain certain information to comply with our legal, accounting, regulatory or charitable obligations.

Contract

In some circumstances, we may need to process information in order to fulfil an agreement with you or to take steps at your request before entering into an agreement.

6. The Book of Remembrance and Historical Information

An important part of the work of North Shields Fishermen’s Heritage Project is preserving the history and memory of people associated with the North Shields fishing industry.

Information relating solely to a deceased person is not normally considered personal data under UK data protection legislation. However, information provided to us by living relatives, researchers or other contributors may include their personal data.

Where we receive such information, we will only use the personal details of living individuals for appropriate purposes connected with the Project, unless we have permission or another lawful reason to use them for another purpose.

Historical information may be retained permanently where this is appropriate to the Project’s charitable purpose of preserving North Shields’ fishing heritage.

7. Children and School Activities

The Project works with local schools and supports educational visits and activities.

We do not intentionally seek to collect unnecessary personal information about children through this website.

Where personal information relating to children is required for an educational activity, visit or event, we will aim to collect only the information that is necessary. Arrangements may be made through the relevant school, parent, guardian or responsible organisation as appropriate.

Photographs or other identifiable material involving children will only be used where the Project has an appropriate lawful basis and any necessary permissions have been obtained.

8. Photographs and Events

Photographs and video may occasionally be taken at Project events, commemorations, educational activities or other public activities.

These may be used to document and promote the charitable and historical work of the Project, including on our website, social media accounts, printed material or publicity.

Where individual consent is appropriate or required, we will seek permission before using identifiable photographs.

If you have a concern about a photograph of you that we have published, please contact us.

9. Sharing Your Information

We do not sell or rent personal information.

We may share information where reasonably necessary with organisations or individuals such as:

• website hosting and technical service providers
• organisations providing email, IT or administrative services
• payment or banking providers where donations or payments are involved
• schools and community organisations involved in Project activities
• professional advisers such as accountants
• funding bodies where necessary and appropriate
• regulatory or public authorities where we are legally required to do so
• organisations working with us to deliver a particular charitable project or event.

Where third parties process personal information on our behalf, we take reasonable steps to ensure that appropriate data protection arrangements are in place.

10. International Transfers

Some third-party website, email, hosting, social media or technology providers may process information outside the United Kingdom.

Where personal information is transferred internationally, we will take reasonable steps to ensure that an appropriate legal mechanism or safeguard is in place as required by UK data protection law.

11. How Long We Keep Personal Information

We do not keep personal information for longer than is reasonably necessary.

The appropriate retention period will depend on the type of information and the reason it was collected.

For example:

• routine correspondence and enquiries will be retained only for as long as reasonably necessary to deal with the enquiry and any related matter
• financial and donation records may be retained for the periods required by tax, accounting and charity law
• consent records may be retained for as long as necessary to demonstrate that appropriate permission was obtained
• material forming part of the Project’s historical or heritage archive may be retained indefinitely where this is consistent with our charitable objectives.

Information that is no longer required will be securely deleted, destroyed or anonymised where appropriate.

12. Security

We take reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect personal information against loss, misuse, unauthorised access, alteration or disclosure.

However, no website or internet transmission can be guaranteed to be completely secure. You should therefore take appropriate care when sending personal information electronically.

13. Cookies and Website Technologies

Our website may use cookies and similar technologies.

Cookies are small files stored on your computer, tablet or mobile device when you visit a website. Some cookies are necessary for a website to function correctly, while others may be used for purposes such as measuring website usage or providing third-party functionality.

Where cookies or similar technologies are **strictly necessary** for the operation or security of the website, they may be used without consent where permitted by law.

Where consent is required for optional cookies or similar technologies, they will only be activated after you have been given an appropriate opportunity to make a choice.

You can also control or delete cookies using your web browser settings.

14. Third-Party Websites and Social Media

Our website may contain links to other websites, organisations or social media services, including Facebook and other third-party platforms.

When you follow a link to another website, that organisation may collect information about you in accordance with its own privacy policy.

North Shields Fishermen’s Heritage Project is not responsible for the privacy practices or content of third-party websites.

15. Your Data Protection Rights

Depending on the circumstances, UK data protection law gives you rights relating to your personal information.

These may include the right to:

• ask us for a copy of the personal information we hold about you
• ask us to correct inaccurate or incomplete information
• ask us to delete your personal information in certain circumstances
• ask us to restrict the way we use your information
• object to certain types of processing
• receive certain information in a portable format where applicable
• withdraw consent where consent is the basis on which we are processing your information.

These rights are subject to certain legal conditions and exemptions.

We will not normally charge a fee for responding to a valid data protection request.

16. Contacting Us About Your Personal Information

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, wish to exercise your data protection rights or have a concern about the way we have handled your personal information, please contact:

North Shields Fishermen’s Heritage Project
Dockmasters House
Suite 3
40 The Fish Quay
North Shields
Tyne and Wear
NE30 1JA

Registered Charity Number: 1197252

If the Project has a designated email address for privacy enquiries, this should also be included here.

17. Complaints

If you are unhappy with the way we have handled your personal information, we would appreciate the opportunity to deal with your concerns directly.

You also have the right to make a complaint to the **Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO)**, the UK’s independent regulator for data protection.

Information about making a complaint can be found on the Information Commissioner’s Office website.

18. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes to our activities, website, services or legal obligations.

The latest version will be published on this website and the date at the top of this policy will be updated accordingly.