Privacy

GamCare use Google Analytics  to gather information about everyone who uses our site, and we will also ask people registering for our Forum to provide contact details. We ask for contact details so that we are able to follow up with you: a) in case we are concerned for your safety and wellbeing; b) so that we can contact you regarding specific posts or comments which we feel contravene our guidelines for the Forum and Chatrooms.

Our site, Text ChatBot and Google Analytics track IP addresses (the location of the device you are using to access our site). We use this information to:

• Keep track of the number of people who have accessed our site before;
• Report, moderate or block users who are abusive to other users;
• Restrict access to our live chat service so that people located outside the UK are not able to access this channel (our funding agreement states that we are funded to provide this service in England, Scotland, and Wales).

We collect and process the following information via Google Analytics regarding visitors to our website, however this data is non-identifiable to individuals and is not used for any purpose other than to better understand how and why people may be using our online services, so that we can continue to improve them and adapt to changing needs:

• Details of visits to our site, i.e. how many people are accessing our site, whether they have visited before, when they visit and for how long, and which pages they view;
• Where users are located in the world, what type of devices they are using to access our site;
• How users accessed our site, including whether this was through a social media platform (please note that we do not have access to any individual accounts).
• Information on the estimated demographic of people accessing our site (this information is provided through Google Analytics via cookies, see below for further information).

Information gathered through Google Analytics is deleted after a maximum period of three years.

We will also record the following in our secure databases:

• Information that you provide by filling in forms on our site, such as survey information, email address or your preferred method of communication;
• Details of transactions, for example donations or event bookings, that are carried out on the GamCare web site.

When we want to collect personal data, we will be transparent about this. We will make it clear when we collect personal data and will explain what we intend to do with it.

Transcripts of chatroom conversations will be stored in our system automatically after each session; and are then deleted every 48 hours.

We also collect anonymous data for research purposes only. This includes anonymised data shared through the GamCare website, which GamCare and select research partners use to improve the services we offer.

GamCare uses the information collected about you to help us understand how our site is used and enable us to send you communications electronically or by other means, which you have registered to receive. We will only send communications to you if you have provided your contact details to us for this purpose.

When you have registered for our Forum or Chatroom, we will use your contact details to a) check in with you if we are concerned for your welfare or that of others; b) alert you if you may be contravening our Forum and chatroom guidelines; c) correspond with you about your account.

Your Forum account and the content you post will remain on the site unless we feel that the content is damaging to you or others, or unless you ask us to delete this. In this case, we will delete your personal data and attribute your posts to a ‘guest user’ profile.

We share anonymised information with select third parties for research purposes only.

GamCare collects information at several different points on our website.

We use Google Analytics to analyse the use of our site. Google Analytics generates statistical information about the use of our site through ‘cookies’. A cookie consists of information sent by a web server (our site) to a web browser (the application you use to access the site, like Google Chrome) which stores it.   Information is then sent back to the server each time the browser requests a page from the server. This enables the web server to identify and track the web browser.

The information generated relating to our website is used to create reports about the use of the website. Google will store this information. Read Google’s privacy policy.

When you use our secure online donation pages, your transaction will be processed by a secure partner company (currently the Charities Aid Foundation) and the information you give, such as your payment card number and contact information, is only provided so that these transactions can take place. Our website will not retain any of your payment information.

Where we collect your personal data through our website, we will make it clear when we are gathering this information and how we intend to use it.

GamCare is committed to protecting the personal data of all our users, supporters, and members. Under no circumstances will we sell or rent your personal information to third parties. If you have requested a referral into our treatment network, your information will only be shared with the relevant provider agency delivering this service.

We share anonymous data with select partners for research purposes only. These partners include: Ipsos Mori. No personal identifiable information is shared with these partners.

Any details you give us will be held in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR). GamCare is the data controller and is located at: 1st floor 91-94 Saffron Hill, London EC1N 8QP. Our registered data controller number is Z5715938.

The following GamCare staff member is our named Data Protection Officer:

Sheyi Oriade

[email protected]

You can adjust your own privacy settings and controls on the devices you use to access our site and others.

When you have provided information to us, we will not disclose any of your personal data gathered through our website to other parties, except where you have given us your consent, or where we are required by law, to do so.

From time to time, we may want to contact you about other GamCare services and products, and you can let us know if you would like to receive these different communications through the different sign-up forms provided. Our e-newsletter, GamShare, is one example of these communications. You can withdraw consent to this type of processing at any time.

The accuracy of the information you provide is important to GamCare. If you change your email address, or any of the other information we hold is inaccurate or out of date, please email us at [email protected], or write to us at GamCare, 1st floor 91-94 Saffron Hill, London EC1N 8QP.

If we hold personal information about you which you would like us to delete or  would like to update your preferences on how you receive communications from us, please email us at the email address above or write to us at the postal address above to let us know.

The UK General Data Protection Regulation provides the following rights for individuals:

• 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
• Rights in relation to automated decision making and profiling.

For more information please visit the ICO website.

Some details (like your email address etc.) may be transmitted normally over the Internet. However, this medium can never be guaranteed to be a hundred percent secure. While we strive to protect your personal data by ensuring that our site is upgraded with robust security technology, we cannot completely ensure or warrant the security of any information you transmit to us, so you do so at your own risk.

Once we receive your transmission, we make our best effort to ensure its security on our systems in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR). If your data does not need to be stored, we will ensure it is deleted as soon as it is processed.

Where we have given you (or where you have chosen) a password which enables you to access certain parts of our site, you are responsible for keeping this password confidential.

GamCare is one of many organisations working in the health and care system to improve care for patients and the public).

Whenever you use a health or care service, such as attending Accident & Emergency or using Community Care services, important information about you is collected in a patient record for that service. Collecting this information helps to ensure you get the best possible care and treatment.

The information collected about you when you use these services can also be used and provided to other organisations for purposes beyond your individual care, for instance to help with:

• Improving the quality and standards of care provided
• Research into the development of new treatments
• Preventing illness and diseases
• Monitoring safety
• Planning services

This may only take place when there is a clear legal basis to use this information. All these uses help to provide better health and care for you, your family and future generations. Confidential patient information about your health and care is only used like this where it is allowed by law.

Most of the time, anonymised data is used for research and planning so that you cannot be identified in which case your confidential patient information isn’t needed.

You have a choice about whether you want your confidential patient information to be used in this way. If you are happy with this use of information you do not need to do anything. If you do choose to opt out your confidential patient information will still be used to support your individual care.

To find out more or to register your choice to opt out, please visit www.nhs.uk/your-nhs-data-matters.

If for any reason you would like to register a complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) please visit https://ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint/

Otherwise, you may wish to contact us at [email protected] to lodge a complaint.

For further information about our privacy policy or for GDPR requests, please email us at [email protected], or write to us at GamCare, 1st floor 91-94 Saffron Hill, London EC1N 8QP.