1. Introduction
The Feeding Circle respects your privacy and is committed to protecting your personal information.
This Privacy Policy explains how The Feeding Circle collects, uses, stores and protects any personal information you provide when using this website, making an enquiry, booking a service, attending an appointment, or communicating with The Feeding Circle.
By using this website or providing your personal information, you agree to the terms of this Privacy Policy.
2. Who we are
The Feeding Circle provides infant feeding support, guidance and related services for parents, babies and families.
For the purposes of data protection law, The Feeding Circle is the data controller for the personal information you provide.
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or how your information is handled, please contact The Feeding Circle using the contact details provided on this website.
3. What information we collect
The information we collect may include:
- your name;
- your contact details, including email address and phone number;
- your address, where required for home visits or service delivery;
- your baby’s name and date of birth;
- relevant feeding, health and family information shared as part of an enquiry, booking or consultation;
- appointment details, notes and communication history;
- payment or transaction information, where applicable;
- website usage information, such as pages visited, browser type and device information;
- any other information you choose to provide through forms, email, telephone, WhatsApp, social media or other communication channels.
4. How we collect your information
We may collect personal information when you:
- use this website;
- complete an enquiry or contact form;
- book a consultation, home visit, package or support service;
- communicate by phone, email, WhatsApp, social media or another messaging platform;
- attend an appointment, support group or consultation;
- make a payment;
- sign up to receive updates, newsletters or marketing communications;
- provide feedback, reviews or testimonials.
5. How we use your information
The Feeding Circle may use your personal information to:
- respond to enquiries;
- arrange, manage and deliver services;
- provide infant feeding support and guidance;
- maintain appropriate appointment and consultation records;
- process payments and manage bookings;
- communicate with you before, during and after a service;
- send relevant service updates or follow-up information;
- improve the website, services and customer experience;
- meet legal, regulatory, insurance or safeguarding obligations;
- request feedback or testimonials, where appropriate;
- send marketing communications, where you have given consent or where legally permitted.
6. Health and sensitive information
As part of providing infant feeding support, The Feeding Circle may collect information relating to feeding, birth, health, medical history, wellbeing or family circumstances.
This may include special category data under UK data protection law. This information will only be collected where relevant and necessary to provide safe, appropriate and personalised support.
The Feeding Circle will handle this information with care, confidentiality and respect.
7. Lawful basis for using your information
The Feeding Circle will only use your personal information where there is a lawful basis to do so. This may include:
- Contract: to provide services you have requested or booked;
- Consent: where you have clearly agreed to a specific use of your information;
- Legal obligation: where information must be used or retained to comply with the law;
- Legitimate interests: to manage the business, respond to enquiries, improve services and communicate with clients;
- Vital interests: where information may need to be shared to protect someone’s life or safety;
- Special category conditions: where health or sensitive information is necessary for the provision of care, support, safeguarding or related professional services.
8. Sharing your information
The Feeding Circle will not sell, rent or trade your personal information.
Your information may be shared only where necessary, such as with:
- healthcare professionals, where you have given consent or where there is a safeguarding, safety or legal need;
- payment providers;
- booking or diary management systems;
- website hosting, email, IT or administrative service providers;
- insurers, legal advisers or professional bodies, where required;
- safeguarding agencies, emergency services or relevant authorities, where there is a concern about safety or wellbeing;
- HMRC or other authorities, where legally required.
Any third parties used by The Feeding Circle are expected to handle personal information securely and only for the agreed purpose.
9. WhatsApp, email and digital communication
The Feeding Circle may use WhatsApp, email, telephone or other digital communication methods to provide support and communicate with clients.
While reasonable care is taken, no digital communication method can be guaranteed as completely secure. Please avoid sending highly sensitive information unless it is necessary for your support.
By communicating with The Feeding Circle through WhatsApp, email or similar platforms, you understand that those platforms may process your information in accordance with their own privacy policies.
10. Testimonials and reviews
The Feeding Circle may ask for feedback, reviews or testimonials.
Testimonials will only be published with your permission. Personal details, names or identifying information will not be used publicly unless you have agreed to this.
You can withdraw permission for a testimonial to be used at any time by contacting The Feeding Circle.
11. Marketing communications
The Feeding Circle may occasionally send updates, news or information about services.
You will only receive marketing emails where you have consented to receive them or where there is another lawful basis for doing so.
You can unsubscribe or ask to stop receiving marketing communications at any time.
12. Cookies and website analytics
This website may use cookies or similar technologies to improve functionality, analyse website usage and support the user experience.
Cookies are small files placed on your device when you visit a website. Some cookies are essential, while others may help understand how visitors use the website.
You can manage or disable cookies through your browser settings. Please note that some parts of the website may not function properly if cookies are disabled.
If analytics tools are used, information collected may include pages visited, time spent on the website, device type, browser type and general location data.
13. How long we keep your information
The Feeding Circle will only keep your personal information for as long as necessary for the purpose it was collected.
This may include keeping records for a period required for legal, insurance, safeguarding, tax, accounting or professional reasons.
When information is no longer needed, it will be securely deleted, anonymised or destroyed.
14. How we protect your information
The Feeding Circle takes reasonable steps to keep personal information secure and protect it from unauthorised access, loss, misuse or disclosure.
This may include secure devices, password protection, restricted access, secure storage and careful handling of written and digital records.
15. Your rights
Under UK data protection law, you have rights in relation to your personal information. These may include the right to:
- access the personal information held about you;
- ask for inaccurate information to be corrected;
- ask for information to be deleted in certain circumstances;
- object to certain uses of your information;
- ask for use of your information to be restricted;
- withdraw consent where consent is the lawful basis for processing;
- request a copy of your information in a portable format, where applicable.
To exercise any of these rights, please contact The Feeding Circle using the contact details provided on this website.
16. Children’s information
The Feeding Circle may collect relevant information about babies and children where necessary to provide infant feeding support.
This information will usually be provided by a parent, guardian or person with parental responsibility. Children’s information will be handled carefully and only used where relevant to the support being provided.
17. Data breaches
If a personal data breach occurs that is likely to result in a risk to your rights or freedoms, The Feeding Circle will take appropriate steps to manage the breach and, where required, notify you and the Information Commissioner’s Office.
18. Links to other websites
This website may contain links to external websites.
The Feeding Circle is not responsible for the privacy practices, security or content of other websites. You should read the privacy policy of any external website you visit.
19. Complaints
If you are concerned about how your personal information has been handled, please contact The Feeding Circle first so the matter can be reviewed.
You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office, the UK supervisory authority for data protection matters.
20. Changes to this Privacy Policy
The Feeding Circle may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Any changes will be posted on this page.
You should review this page occasionally to ensure you are happy with any updates.
21. Contact
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or how your personal information is used, please contact The Feeding Circle using the contact details provided on this website.