Privacy Policy
Last updated: July 2026
1. Who we are
Mikeysline is a metal health and suicide prevention charity, working across the Highlands, Islands and Moray.
We are responsible for deciding how we collect, use and protect personal information, under the terms of data protection legislation. This privacy policy explains what personal information we collect, why we use it, who we share it with, how long we keep it and what rights you have.
Contact details: Mikeysline, 4 Strothers Lane, IV1 1LR
01463 729000
If you have any questions about this policy or how we use your personal information, please contact the Chief Executive Officer of Mikeysline at enquiries@mikeysline.co.uk.
2. Why we collect personal information
Mikeysline is committed to safeguarding the privacy of our service users while providing the highest possible quality of service.
We collect personal data from service users that allows us to work with them to assess and address their individual needs. We will hold the minimum amount of information that is reasonable and appropriate to each individual’s circumstances.
3. What personal information we collect
Depending on how you interact with us, we may collect and use the following types of personal information:
- Your name, address, email address, date of birth and telephone number.
- Information relating to your health and other professionals working with you if you are a service user
- Information you provide when you make a donation, register for an event, sign up to receive updates, volunteer, request support or contact us.
- Donation history, Gift Aid information and payment details where relevant.
- Website usage information, such as pages visited and cookie preferences.
- Any other information you choose to give us.
We only collect sensitive personal information, such as health information, safeguarding information or information about children and young people, where it is necessary for our charitable work, where we have a clear lawful reason to do so and where appropriate safeguards are in place to protect the information.
4. How we collect personal information
We may collect personal information directly from you when you complete a form, make a donation, attend an event, use our website, contact us by phone or email, volunteer with us or receive support from us. We may also receive information from trusted third parties where this is lawful and relevant, such as fundraising platforms, referral organisations, payment providers or public bodies.
5. Why we use personal information
We use personal information to:
- Provide our services, support and charitable activities.
- Respond to enquiries, referrals, requests and complaints.
- Process donations, claim Gift Aid and keep financial records.
- Manage volunteers, supporters, trustees and event participants.
- Send newsletters, fundraising updates, invitations and information about our work where we are allowed to do so.
- Keep people safe and meet safeguarding responsibilities.
- Meet legal, regulatory, accounting and reporting obligations.
- Improve our website, services, communications and activities.
- Protect our charity, systems, staff, volunteers, beneficiaries and supporters from fraud, misuse or harm.
6. Our lawful bases for using personal information
Under UK data protection law, we must have a lawful basis for using personal information. Depending on the situation, we may rely on one or more of the following:
- Consent: where you have clearly agreed that we may use your information for a specific purpose, such as receiving email updates.
- Contract: where we need to use your information to provide something you have requested or to take steps before doing so.
- Legal obligation: where we must use or keep information to comply with the law, such as financial records or safeguarding duties.
- Legitimate interests: where we have a genuine and proportionate reason to use your information and your rights do not override that reason.
- Vital interests: where we need to use information to protect someone’s life or wellbeing.
- Public task: where this applies to activities carried out in the public interest or under official authority.
7. Marketing and fundraising communications
We may contact you about our work, fundraising, events and ways to support us where you have consented to this or where another lawful basis allows us to do so. You can opt out of marketing or fundraising communications at any time by contacting us.
8. Who we share personal information with
Service user information will be shared with relevant Mikeysline staff to ensure effective service delivery. Information may also be shared with trained Mikeysline volunteers involved in providing services.
Where appropriate, and where we have the written consent of a service user, we may share information with relevant third parties. These may include:
- Partner organisations/other professionals that service users are being supported by
- GP or other medical professionals
- Social workers
We will only share personal information without a service user’s expressed consent, in the following circumstances:
- In cases where we have a legal obligation to share information – e.g. to comply with a court order
- In emergency situations – e.g. where we judge there is a risk to life and need to contact emergency services or other relevant authorities
9. How long we keep personal information
We keep personal information only for as long as necessary for the purpose it was collected, including to meet legal, accounting, reporting, safeguarding and regulatory requirements. Retention periods may vary depending on the type of information and the reason we hold it. When information is no longer needed, we will delete it securely or anonymise it so that it can no longer identify you.
10. How we protect personal information
We use appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect personal information from loss, misuse, unauthorised access, disclosure, alteration or destruction. These measures include access controls, secure systems, password protection, data minimisation and secure disposal of records.
11. Cookies and website analytics
Our website may use cookies or similar technologies to make the site work, improve performance, understand how visitors use the site and support our communications. Where required, we will ask for your consent before using non-essential cookies. You can change your cookie settings through your browser or through any cookie preference tool provided on our website.
12. Links to other organisations
Our website may contain links to other sites that are not operated by us. If you click on a third-party link, you will be directed to that third party’s site. We strongly advise you to review the Privacy Policy of every site you visit.
We have no control over and assume no responsibility for the content, privacy policies or practices of any third-party sites or services.
13. Your data protection rights
You have certain rights in relation to the information that we hold.
- You can ask to see what information we hold – a ‘data subject access request’.
- You can ask us to change or erase information where reasonably the data should be changed/erased.
- You can ask us to restrict our use of the information.
- You can ask us to send information to other people.
- You can ask us to stop using information.
- The UK General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) gives you specific rights, which can be found here: https://ico.org.uk/for-the-public/
- You have a right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) should you feel the need to do this.
To exercise your rights, please contact us using the contact details in section 1. We will respond without undue delay and usually within one month of receipt of the request.
14. Children and young people
Where we collect information about children or young people, we will do so only where necessary for our charitable purposes, with appropriate safeguards and in line with relevant legal and safeguarding responsibilities. Where appropriate, we will provide privacy information in a clear and accessible way for children, young people and their parents or guardians.
15. Complaints
If you are unhappy with how we use your personal information, please contact us first so we can try to resolve your concern. You also have the right to complain to the UK Information Commissioner’s Office, the independent regulator for data protection.
16. Changes to Policy
We may update our Privacy Policy from time to time and you will see any changes on this page. You are advised to review this Privacy Policy periodically for any changes.
