
Privacy Policy
Welcome to the privacy policy for the website operated by the International Society for Public Engagement and Policy (ISPEP). ISPEP, a not-for-profit Community Interest Company registered in the UK (Company number: 15967785), is committed to protecting your privacy and safeguarding your personal data. This policy outlines how we collect, use, store, and share information obtained from your interactions with our website, https://www.ispephub.org/ (our website).
Who We Are
The International Society for Public Engagement and Policy (ISPEP) (referred to as "we," "us," or "our") is a not-for-profit organisation focused on advancing public engagement and policy initiatives. For more information about ISPEP and our mission, please visit our About Us page
Introduction
We take your privacy seriously. This privacy policy explains how we collect, store, and use your personal data when you use our website. It also details your rights in relation to your data and how to contact us if you have questions or concerns. ISPEP adheres to the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) for data protection and privacy.
What This Policy Applies To
This privacy policy applies to your use of our website and any personal data collected through your interactions with it. Links to third-party websites, products, or services are governed by their respective privacy policies, and we encourage you to review them before sharing personal data.
Personal Data We Collect
The personal data we collect may include:
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Identification and contact information: Name, contact details (such as email address, phone number), organisation, and job title.
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Payment information: Payment details for event registrations, membership subscriptions, or donations.
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Website usage information: Data on your interactions with our website and portal, such as pages visited, content viewed, and actions taken.
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Community and interaction data: Information you provide when participating in portal chats, discussion boards, or other interactive community features. This may include comments, messages, and shared files.
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Document uploads and shared resources: Documents or other files you upload to the portal for sharing with other members.
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Profile and preference data: Information you provide to personalise your profile, such as your professional interests, expertise, and any optional preferences for receiving notifications or participating in specific community areas.
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Survey and feedback responses: Details you provide through surveys, feedback forms, or event registrations.
We collect this data either directly from you or indirectly via cookies and other tracking technologies, which are explained in our Cookie Policy section.
Cookie Policy
Our website uses cookies and similar tracking technologies to improve user experience, analyse site usage, and support our community features. Cookies are small data files placed on your device when you visit our website, helping us recognize you and remember your preferences.
The following are the types of Cookies we use
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Essential Cookies: Necessary for site functionality, such as logging in and accessing secure areas.
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Analytics Cookies: Collect anonymous data to help us understand website usage and improve performance.
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Preference Cookies: Remember your settings and preferences to personalize your experience.
You can control cookies through your browser settings. Please note that disabling some cookies may impact website functionality. By using our website, you consent to our use of cookies as outlined in this policy.
How We Use Your Personal Data
We process your personal data for the following purposes:
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Providing services: To facilitate memberships, process event registrations and donations, and support access to community resources.
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Enabling communication and community interaction: To support portal features that allow you to communicate and collaborate with other members, participate in chats and discussion boards, and share documents and resources within the community.
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Enhancing community engagement: To encourage networking, public engagement, and sharing of best practices, while enabling members to connect based on shared professional interests.
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Communications: To send you updates, newsletters, and relevant communications based on your engagement preferences and consent.
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Improving our website and portal: To analyse usage of the website and portal, enhance user experience, and develop new features.
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Ensuring compliance and safety: To moderate content within interactive areas of the portal, ensuring compliance with community guidelines and applicable legal requirements.
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Legal obligations: To comply with regulatory and legal obligations as a not-for-profit organisation.
We may use your data under the lawful bases of contractual necessity, legal obligations, consent, or our legitimate interests, as appropriate.
Content Ownership and Retention
By contributing content to our portal (e.g., chat messages, forum posts, and uploaded documents), you grant ISPEP a perpetual, non-exclusive license to use, store, and display this content in support of our mission. ISPEP retains ownership of the intellectual property of content shared within the portal and may retain copies for archival or legal purposes, even if content is deleted by the member.
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Member Control: Members can delete their own contributions directly through their account. Deleted content will no longer be accessible to other users, although ISPEP may retain backups for compliance or record-keeping.
Community Guidelines and Moderation
Our website and portal encourage open communication and sharing among members. To maintain a respectful and safe environment, all members are expected to adhere to a Code of Conduct and Community Guidelines. We may monitor chats, discussion forums, and shared content to ensure compliance with these guidelines. ISPEP reserves the right to review, moderate, or remove content that violates our community standards or is otherwise deemed inappropriate.
Marketing
With your permission, we may send you information on ISPEP initiatives, events, and news. You can opt-out of receiving marketing emails at any time by clicking the "unsubscribe" link in any email or by contacting us directly at info@ispephub.org
Data Sharing and Disclosure
We may share your personal data with third-party service providers who assist us in delivering our services, such as payment processors and IT support. These third parties are obligated to protect your data and use it solely for the purposes specified in this policy.
Data Retention
We will retain your personal data only as long as necessary for the purposes set out in this policy or as required by law. After that period, we will securely delete or anonymise your data.
International Data Transfers
If we transfer personal data outside the UK, we will ensure adequate protection by using approved safeguards, such as standard contractual clauses. To support our global membership, ISPEP adheres to applicable cross-border data regulations and employs recognised safeguards—such as standard contractual clauses and approved data transfer agreements—to ensure your data receives adequate protection, in compliance with UK data protection laws.
Your Rights
Under the UK GDPR, you have rights regarding your personal data, including the right to access, correct, or delete your data and the right to object to processing in certain situations. To exercise these rights, please contact us at info@ispephub.org
Keeping Your Data Secure
We take security seriously and implement appropriate measures to protect your personal data. This includes technical and organisational measures to prevent unauthorised access, loss, or misuse of your data.
How to Contact Us
If you have any questions or concerns about this policy or our data practices, please contact us at:
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Email: info@ispephub.org
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Address: Elstree, Cromwell Terrace, Scarborough, England, YO11 2DT
Changes to This Policy
We may update this policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. We encourage you to review this policy periodically to stay informed about how we protect your data.