Digital Friends By AFC

Privacy Policy
Last Updated: June 2026
Introduction
Digital Friends is committed to protecting your privacy and handling your personal information responsibly, securely, and transparently.
This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, why we collect it, how we use it, and your rights regarding your personal information.
By using our website or submitting information through our forms, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Privacy Policy.

Who We Are
Digital Friends provides companionship, wellbeing support, social connection, and related services aimed at reducing loneliness and social isolation.
If you have any questions regarding this Privacy Policy or how your information is handled, please contact us using the details provided on our Contact page.

Information We Collect

We may collect:
Information You Provide
Full name
Email address
Telephone number
Relationship to the person being referred
Information contained in messages, enquiries, referrals, or volunteer applications
Consent preferences
Information Collected Automatically
When you visit our website, we may collect:
IP address
Browser type
Device information
Website usage statistics
Pages visited
Date and time of access
This information helps us improve website performance, security, and user experience.

How We Use Your Information
We may use your information to:
Respond to enquiries
Process referrals
Assess suitability for our services
Communicate with you regarding support requests
Manage volunteer applications
Improve our services
Monitor website performance and security
Comply with legal and regulatory obligations
We will only process personal information where we have a lawful basis to do so.

Consent
Where consent is required, we will ask for it clearly and separately.
You may withdraw your consent at any time by contacting us.
Withdrawal of consent does not affect the lawfulness of processing carried out before consent was withdrawn.

Referrals
If you submit information about another individual, you should ensure that you have appropriate authority or consent to provide their information to us.
We may contact individuals where appropriate and lawful to do so.

Volunteers
Information submitted through volunteer applications may be used to assess suitability, availability, experience, safeguarding requirements, and potential matching opportunities.
Submission of an application does not guarantee placement or acceptance into the programme.

How We Store and Protect Information
We take reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect personal information against:
Unauthorised access
Accidental loss
Misuse
Disclosure
Alteration
Destruction
Information is stored using secure systems and reputable service providers.
Access is restricted to authorised personnel who require access for legitimate operational purposes.

Third-Party Service Providers
We use trusted third-party providers to help operate our services.
These may include:
Website hosting providers
Email service providers
Customer relationship management systems (CRM)
Analytics providers
Security and monitoring tools
We currently utilise HubSpot to manage enquiries, referrals, communications, and customer relationship information.
These providers process information only for legitimate business purposes and under appropriate contractual safeguards.

Cookies and Analytics
Our website may use cookies and similar technologies to:
Improve website functionality
Understand visitor behaviour
Monitor website performance
Enhance user experience
Where required by law, we will request consent before placing non-essential cookies on your device.
You can manage cookies through your browser settings.

Data Retention
We retain personal information only for as long as necessary to:
Provide our services
Manage referrals and enquiries
Meet legal obligations
Resolve disputes
Maintain legitimate business records
When information is no longer required, it will be securely deleted or anonymised.

Your Rights
Depending on applicable law, including UK GDPR, you may have the right to:
Access your personal information
Request correction of inaccurate information
Request deletion of your information
Restrict processing
Object to processing
Withdraw consent
Request transfer of your information where applicable
Requests will be considered and responded to in accordance with applicable data protection laws.

Data Sharing
We do not sell personal information.
We may share information only where necessary:
To provide services requested by you
With trusted service providers
To comply with legal obligations
To protect rights, safety, or security

External Links
Our website may contain links to third-party websites.
We are not responsible for the privacy practices, content, or security of external websites.
Users should review the privacy policies of any third-party websites they visit.

Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time.
Any changes will be published on this page together with the updated revision date.

Contact Us
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or how your personal information is handled, please contact us through the Contact page on our website.
We will do our best to respond promptly and appropriately.