Privacy Policy

Last Updated: 15 August 2025

SHiELDS Collective is committed to protecting and respecting your privacy. We take your trust seriously, and it’s important to us that you can use and enjoy our website without having to compromise your privacy in any way.

This Privacy Policy (together with our Terms of Use) explains how we collect, use, and protect your personal information when you interact with us. Please read it carefully to understand our practices and your rights.

By visiting www.shields-collective.com, you are accepting the practices described in this Policy.

For the purpose of data protection law (including the UK Data Protection Act 2018, the UK GDPR, the EU GDPR, and any subsequent legislation), the “data controller” is SHiELDS Collective.

1. Information we collect

We may collect and process the following categories of personal information:

When you use our website: details about your visits (such as IP address, browser type, referral website, pages viewed, and duration of visit). This is collected mainly via cookies and analytics tools (see Section 10).
When you contact us or use our services: name, job title, postal address, email address, phone number, payment details, and any other information you choose to share with us.
Sensitive data: only if relevant to the services we provide (e.g., health information for accessibility). This will always be handled with extra care and only with your explicit consent.

We do not knowingly collect data from children under 13 (or 16 in some regions). If you are under this age, please ask a parent or guardian to interact with us on your behalf.

2. How we use your information

We use your personal data to:

Provide and improve our services.
Manage our relationship with you.
Process payments securely.
Send you updates, news, or marketing (only if you opt in).
Comply with legal and regulatory requirements.
Ensure the safety and security of our website and services.

We do not sell your personal information to third parties.

3. How long we keep your data

We keep your data only as long as necessary for the purposes described above, or as required by law. After this, it will be securely deleted or anonymised.

For marketing, we keep your details until you opt out.

4. Sharing your information

We may share your personal data with trusted third parties such as:

IT and website service providers.
Professional advisors (lawyers, accountants, auditors).
Payment processors (handled securely).
Event partners (if you register to attend).

We may also share data if required by law (e.g., to police or regulators).

International transfers

If your data is transferred outside the UK/EEA, we ensure it is protected through legally approved safeguards, such as Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) or the UK International Data Transfer Agreement (IDTA).

5. Protecting your data

We have appropriate security measures in place — both technical and organisational — to protect your personal data against loss, misuse, unauthorised access, alteration, or disclosure.

If a data breach occurs that poses a risk to you, we will notify you and the relevant regulator as required by law.

6. Marketing

We will only send you marketing emails if you have given us your consent. You can withdraw this at any time by clicking “unsubscribe” in our emails or contacting us directly.

7. Your rights

Depending on where you are located, you have rights under data protection law, including to:

Access the personal data we hold about you.
Correct inaccurate or incomplete data.
Request deletion of your data (“the right to be forgotten”).
Restrict or object to our use of your data.
Receive your data in a portable format.
Withdraw consent where processing is based on consent.
Lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority.

For UK visitors, this is the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).

If you are in California, you also have rights under the CCPA/CPRA, including the right to know what personal information we collect, to opt out of “sale or sharing” of data (we do not sell personal data), and to request deletion.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at:
📧 shields.collective.connect@gmail.com
📞 07398 999 788

8. Cookies & tracking

We use cookies to make our site work and to help us understand how it’s used.

Essential cookies: required for the site to function.
Analytics cookies: help us improve our services (e.g., via Google Analytics). These are only used with your consent.
Preferences cookies: remember your choices.

You can manage or withdraw consent for cookies at any time via your browser settings or our cookie banner.

For details on Google Analytics, see: Google Privacy Policy.

9. Complaints

If you are concerned about how we handle your personal data, please contact us first so we can resolve the issue.

If you are not satisfied, you can contact the ICO in the UK or your local supervisory authority.

10. Updates to this Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in the law or our practices. Any changes will be posted on this page with an updated “last revised” date.