Privacy and accessibility

How we look after your information, and how we make this website easy to use.

Draft for KCIMESG to check: please compare this page with the group’s data policy and update anything that is different before relying on it. You can then delete this box.

Privacy notice

This notice explains what information the Kirklees and Calderdale Independent ME Support Group (KCIMESG) collects through this website, why, and what your rights are under UK data protection law (UK GDPR).

What we collect

  • When you become a member: your name, email address, phone number, whether you have ME/CFS, PVFS or Long Covid (or are awaiting a diagnosis, or are family, a friend or a carer), whether you are new or renewing, how you would like the newsletter, and, only if you choose, your postal address, how you heard about us and any notes you add.
  • When you donate: your name, email address and the amount, and, if you add Gift Aid, your home address and postcode.
  • Payments are handled by PayPal. We receive a confirmation and the PayPal reference, never your card details.

Why we use it

  • To manage your membership, send your newsletter and receipts, and keep our accounts (our legitimate interests and legal obligations).
  • To claim Gift Aid from HMRC on donations, when you ask us to (legal obligation).
  • To email you about updates, events and activities, only if you tick the box to agree (consent). You can withdraw your consent at any time.
  • Information about health (for example that you have ME/CFS) is special category data. We only use it to understand who our members are and to support them, and we never share it.

Who can see it

Only the KCIMESG management committee members who need it (for example the Membership Secretary and the Treasurer). We do not sell or share your information. PayPal processes payments under its own privacy notice. If you claim Gift Aid, the details HMRC requires are sent to HMRC.

How long we keep it

Membership details are kept while you are a member and for up to two years after your membership ends. Payment and Gift Aid records are kept for six years, as required for charity accounts and HMRC.

Your rights

You can ask to see, correct or delete the information we hold about you, or object to how we use it, by emailing kirklees.calderdale.imesg@gmail.com. If you are unhappy with how we have handled your information, you can complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ico.org.uk).

Cookies

This website does not use advertising or tracking cookies. Your reading choices (text size, colours, calm mode) are saved only in your own browser. The video only loads from YouTube when you press play, and the payment buttons only load PayPal on the membership and donations page.

Accessibility statement

We want everyone, including people who are very unwell, to be able to use this website. It is designed to be calm and easy to read:

  • Use the bar at the top of every page to make the text larger, switch to dark colours, or turn on Calm mode, which stops all movement.
  • The site respects your device settings for dark mode and reduced motion.
  • Everything can be used with a keyboard, and works with screen readers.
  • Text is written in plain English, with short sections and a contents list on longer pages.
  • Videos never play by themselves and have subtitles.

We aim to meet the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 at level AA. If you find something difficult to use, or need information in a different format, please email kirklees.calderdale.imesg@gmail.com. We are volunteers with ME/CFS, so please allow us some time to reply.