Privacy Notice

Privacy Policy
Last Updated: February 2025

1. Introduction

The Hawking Centre (“we,” “our,” or “us”) is committed to protecting and respecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy outlines how we collect, use, store, and protect your personal data in compliance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.

2. What Data We Collect

We collect personal information necessary to provide our services, including but not limited to:

• Full name

• Postal address

• Email address

• Telephone number

• Payment details (processed securely via third-party payment providers)

• Any additional information you provide when booking an experience

We do not collect sensitive personal data unless explicitly required and consented to.

3. How We Use Your Data

We process personal data lawfully under the following legal bases:

• Performance of a contract – To fulfil bookings and provide services.

• Legitimate interest – To improve our services, manage customer relationships, and conduct marketing (where appropriate).

• Legal obligation – Where required by law (e.g., accounting and tax reporting).

• Consent – For marketing communications, if you have opted in.

4. Data Sharing and Third Parties

We do not sell or rent personal data. We may share personal data with trusted third parties, including:

• Payment processors (e.g., Stripe, PayPal)

• IT service providers for secure data management

• Legal and regulatory authorities if required by law

5. Data Retention

We retain personal data only for as long as necessary:

• Customer booking information: Retained for six years for accounting and legal purposes.

• Marketing data: Retained until you opt out.

• Any other personal data: Retained only as long as necessary for its original purpose.

Once data is no longer required, it will be securely deleted or anonymised.

6. Your Rights Under UK GDPR

Under the UK GDPR, you have the right to:

• Access the personal data we hold about you (Subject Access Request, SAR)

• Rectify inaccurate or incomplete data

• Erase your data (the “right to be forgotten”)

• Restrict processing of your data

• Object to processing based on legitimate interests

• Withdraw consent where processing is based on consent

• Data portability, where applicable

To exercise your rights, contact us at info@thehawkingcentre.co.uk. We will respond within one month and will not charge a fee unless the request is excessive or unfounded.

7. Data Security

We implement security measures to protect personal data, including:

• Secure servers and firewalls

• Encryption for electronic data transmission

• Limited access to personal data based on job role

8. Marketing Preferences

If you opt-in to receive marketing communications, we may contact you about offers and events. You can unsubscribe anytime by:

• Clicking the “unsubscribe” link in marketing emails

• Contacting us at info@thehawkingcentre.co.uk

We comply with PECR (Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations) regarding marketing consent.

9. International Data Transfers

If we transfer data outside the UK, we ensure appropriate safeguards, such as:

• Data transfer agreements incorporating standard contractual clauses

• Transfers to countries with UK adequacy decisions

10. Contact Information

If you have any questions about this policy or your data, contact:

Data Protection Officer
The Hawking Centre
Email: info@thehawkingcentre.co.uk
Phone: 07544696199

If you are unsatisfied with our response, you have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) at www.ico.org.uk.

11. Changes to This Policy

We may update this policy periodically. Changes will be posted on our website with an updated “Last Updated” date.