Privacy notice
How we look after your personal information.
Last updated: October 2026
We take your privacy seriously. This notice explains what information we collect when you use this website or contact us, why we collect it, and your rights under UK data protection law (the UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018).
Who we are
The Coastlands Community Outreach Centre is run by Coastlands Church. Coastlands Church is the "data controller" for the information described here. You can contact us at 41 Chapel Road, Worthing, West Sussex, BN11 1EG, by phone on 01903 600584, or by email at info@coastlands-coc.org.uk.
What we collect and why
- Messages and help requests. Your name, email, phone number (if given) and what you tell us, so we can reply and help you. Our lawful basis is your consent, which you give when you send the form, and our legitimate interest in supporting people who ask us for help.
- Website accounts. Your name, email, a securely scrambled ("hashed") version of your password, and your message history, so you can sign in and see our replies. Lawful basis: providing the service you asked for.
- Newsletter. Your email address (and name, if given), and when you subscribed and confirmed. Lawful basis: your consent. You can unsubscribe at any time using the link in every email.
- Security records. IP addresses and sign-in attempts, kept for a short time to protect the site from misuse. Lawful basis: legitimate interests.
Sometimes people tell us about their health, beliefs or other sensitive matters. We only use this to support you, and we treat it with extra care.
Who we share it with
We do not sell your information, and we never share it for marketing. Only our staff and trained volunteers can see your messages. We use trusted providers to run this website and send emails (our web host, IONOS, in the UK and EU). We would only share your information with others, such as emergency services, if we believed someone was at serious risk of harm, or if the law required it. See our safeguarding statement.
How long we keep it
- Messages and help requests: up to 2 years after our last contact with you, then deleted.
- Website accounts: until you ask us to close your account, or after 2 years without signing in.
- Newsletter: until you unsubscribe.
- Security records: up to 90 days.
Cookies
We only use essential cookies: one to keep you signed in, and one to protect our forms from misuse. We don't use advertising or tracking cookies, and our fonts are hosted on our own website, so no information is sent to Google when you visit.
Your rights
You have the right to ask for a copy of your information, to have it corrected or deleted, to object to or restrict how we use it, and to withdraw your consent at any time. To do any of these, please contact us using the details above. We'll respond within one month.
If you're unhappy with how we've handled your information, please tell us first. You can also complain to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) at ico.org.uk or on 0303 123 1113.