Privacy Policy

The Forge (Registered Charity No. 1086461) is committed to protecting your personal data and respecting your privacy. This policy explains how we collect, use, and store your personal information when you use our website.

We process personal data in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR), the Data Protection Act 2018, and the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR).

Who we are

The Forge
Stanley Education Centre
King Edward VIII Terrace
Shield Row
County Durham
DH9 0HQ

Email: enquiries@intheforge.com

For the purpose of data protection law, The Forge is the data controller.

How we collect your information

We collect personal data in the following ways:

Information you provide directly

  • When you contact us via email or forms
  • When you make a donation
  • When you sign up for events, workshops, or updates

This may include:

  • Name
  • Email address
  • Organisation (if relevant)
  • Donation details
  • Communication preferences

Information collected automatically

  • When you visit our website, we may collect:
    • IP address
    • Browser type
    • Pages visited
    • Time spent on pages

This is usually collected via cookies or analytics tools.

Cookies

Cookies are small files stored on your device to improve your experience.

We use cookies to:

  • Ensure the website functions properly
  • Understand how visitors use our site
  • Improve performance and usability

Where required, we will ask for your consent before placing non-essential cookies on your device.

You can manage or disable cookies through your browser settings.

Lawful bases for processing

We process your personal data under the following lawful bases:

Contract
When you make a donation or register for an activity, we process your data to fulfil that service.

Legitimate interests
We may use your data where it is necessary for our legitimate interests, such as:

  • Improving our services
  • Managing communications
  • Ensuring website security

We always consider your rights before doing this.

Consent
Where required (e.g. marketing emails), we will ask for your explicit consent. You can withdraw this at any time.

Legal obligation
We may process data where required to comply with legal or regulatory requirements.

How we use your information

We use your personal data to:

  • Process donations
  • Respond to enquiries
  • Deliver workshops and services
  • Manage relationships with supporters
  • Improve our website and services
  • Comply with legal obligations

Sharing your information

We do not sell or share your personal data for marketing purposes.

We may share your data with trusted third parties where necessary, such as:

  • Payment processors
  • IT and website providers
  • Email communication platforms

All third parties are required to keep your data secure and only use it for specified purposes.

Data security

We take appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your personal data from:

  • Unauthorised access
  • Loss or misuse
  • Alteration or disclosure

Data retention

We only keep your personal data for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes it was collected for, including:

  • Legal and accounting requirements
  • Reporting obligations

When data is no longer needed, it will be securely deleted.

Your rights

Under UK data protection law, you have the right to:

  • Access the personal data we hold about you
  • Request correction of inaccurate data
  • Request deletion of your data
  • Restrict or object to processing
  • Withdraw consent at any time
  • Request transfer of your data (data portability)

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at: enquiries@intheforge.com

Complaints

If you are unhappy with how we handle your data, you can contact us first so we can try to resolve the issue.

You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO):
https://www.ico.org.uk

Updates to this policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Any changes will be posted on this page.

Last updated: April 2026