GDPR and Privacy Policy

What personal data do I collect and why?

I collect personal data from you when you contact me, book my services or leave a comment on my website.  The types of personal data I collect may include:

• Your name, email address, phone number and postal address.
• Information about the person who has died, such as their name, date of birth, date of death and cause of death.
• Information about your preferences and wishes for the ceremony such as music, readings and tributes.
• Any feedback or testimonials you provide about my services.
• Any other information you voluntarily share with me.

I collect and use your personal data for the following purposes:

• To provide you with my services as an independent funeral celebrant and to create and perform a personalised and meaningful ceremony for you and your loved ones.
• To communicate with you about your booking, the ceremony and any other matters related to my services.
• To respond to your enquiries, requests or complaints.
• To improve my website, services and customer satisfaction.
• To comply with any legal or regulatory obligations such as tax, accounting or reporting requirements.

How do I protect your personal data?

I take appropriate measures to ensure the security and confidentiality of your personal data.  I use encryption, passwords and firewalls to protect your data from unauthorised access, disclosure, alteration or loss.  I only store your data for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes for which I collected it or to comply with any legal or regulatory obligations.  I delete or anonymise your data when it is no longer needed.

Who do I share your personal data with?

I do not sell, rent or trade your personal data with any third parties for marketing purposes.  I only share your personal data with the following parties, when necessary to provide you with my services or to comply with any legal or regulatory obligations:

• The funeral director, the venue staff and any other service providers involved in the ceremony such as musicians, florists or caterers.
• My website host and email provider, who help me manage and operate my website and communications.
• My accountant, bookkeeper and tax advisor, who help me with my financial and legal affairs.
• Any law enforcement, regulatory or governmental authorities, who may request or require your data for legal or official purposes.

I only share your personal data with these parties on the basis of a contractual agreement or a legitimate interest and I ensure that they respect and protect your data in accordance with the law.

What are your rights regarding your personal data?

You have the following rights regarding your personal data, subject to certain conditions and exemptions:

• The right to access your personal data and to receive a copy of it.
• The right to rectify your personal data, if it is inaccurate, incomplete or outdated.
• The right to erase your personal data, if you no longer want me to store or use it or if it is unlawful for me to do so.
• The right to restrict the processing of your personal data, if you have a valid reason to do so such as disputing its accuracy or legality.
• The right to object to the processing of your personal data, if you have a valid reason to do so such as for direct marketing purposes.
• The right to withdraw your consent to the processing of your personal data, if you have given it for a specific purpose such as receiving my newsletter.
• The right to data portability which means you can request to receive your personal data in a structured, commonly used and machine-readable format and to transmit it to another controller, if technically feasible.
• The right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), the UK’s data protection authority, if you are unhappy with how I handle your personal data.

Cookies

How Do I Use Cookies and Other Tracking Technologies

Cookies are small text files that are stored on your device when you visit a website.  They help the website to function properly, to remember your preferences, to provide you with a better user experience and to collect statistical data.  Some cookies are essential for the website to work while others are optional and can be disabled by you.

I use the following types of cookies on my website:

• Strictly necessary cookies:  These cookies are essential for the website to function and they cannot be switched off.  They enable you to navigate the website, to use its features and to access secure areas.  They do not collect or store any personal data.
• Performance cookies:  These cookies help me to measure and improve the performance of the website and to understand how visitors use it.  They collect anonymous data such as the number of visitors, the pages they view, the time they spend and any errors they encounter.  They do not collect or store any personal data.
• Functional cookies:  These cookies help me to provide you with a more personalised and enhanced user experience, by remembering your choices and preferences such as your name, email address and language.  They do not collect or store any personal data.
• Marketing cookies:  These cookies help me to deliver relevant and tailored advertising to you, by tracking your browsing activity and interests, both on and off the website.  They may also be used by third-party advertisers such as Google Ads, to show you ads that match your preferences.  They may collect and store personal data such as your IP address, device ID or location.

You can manage your cookie preferences at any time, by clicking on the cookie banner or the cookie settings button on the website.  You can also change your browser settings to block or delete cookies but this may affect the functionality and performance of the website.

I may also use other tracking technologies such as web beacons, pixels, or tags, to collect and analyse data about your online activity such as your email opens, clicks and conversions.  These technologies are similar to cookies but they are embedded in emails or web page and they are not stored on your device.  They help me to improve my communications and marketing campaigns and to measure their effectiveness.  They may collect and store personal data such as your IP address, device ID or location.

You can opt out of these tracking technologies, by disabling images in your email settings or by using an ad blocker or a privacy browser extension.

How do I update this policy?

I may update this policy from time to time, to reflect any changes in my data collection and use practice or to comply with any legal or regulatory requirements.  I will notify you of any significant changes, by posting a notice on the website or by sending you an email, if provided.  I encourage you to review this policy periodically, to stay informed about how I protect your personal data.  This policy was last updated on 08^th February 2024.