Introduction

African Relief Fund (ARF) is committed to protecting your privacy and handling your personal data with transparency and care.

We are a UK-registered charity and process personal data in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR), the Data Protection Act 2018, and other applicable laws.

This policy explains how we collect, use, store, and protect your information when you visit our website, donate, volunteer, or engage with our services.

Who We Are

• African Relief Fund (ARF)
• Registered UK Charity No. 1197360
• Email: info@arf.org.uk
• Address: 26 Grange Rd, Birmingham B10 9QN

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or your data, please contact us using the details above.

What Information We Collect

We may collect the following types of personal data:

1. Information You Provide Directly

• Name
• Email address
• Postal address
• Phone number
• Donation details
• Gift Aid declarations
• Volunteer or fundraising information

2. Payment Information

Online donations are processed securely via trusted third-party payment providers. ARF does not store full card details.

3. Website Usage Information

• IP address
• Browser type
• Pages visited
• Cookies and analytics data

How We Use Your Information

We use your data to:

• Process donations and issue receipts
• Claim Gift Aid (where applicable)
• Respond to enquiries
• Administer volunteer and fundraising applications
• Send updates about our work (where you have consented)
• Improve our website and services
• Comply with legal and regulatory obligations

We only process your data where we have a lawful basis, including consent, legitimate interest, contract fulfilment, or legal obligation.

Gift Aid Information

If you complete a Gift Aid declaration, we will use your details to claim Gift Aid from HMRC in accordance with UK tax regulations.

How We Protect Your Data

We implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to safeguard your personal data, including:

• Secure servers and encrypted payment processing
• Restricted staff access to personal data
• Regular security monitoring

While we take strong precautions, no internet transmission can be guaranteed 100% secure.

Sharing Your Information

We do not sell or trade your personal data. We may share your information with:

• Payment processing providers
• IT service providers
• Professional advisors (where required)
• Regulatory authorities where legally required

All third parties are required to respect the security of your data.

International Transfers

Where we work with partners overseas, personal data sharing is limited and protected in line with UK data protection standards.

How Long We Keep Your Data

We retain personal data only for as long as necessary to:

• Fulfil the purpose for which it was collected
• Meet legal and regulatory requirements
• Maintain financial and audit records

Donation records may be retained for up to 6 years in line with UK charity and HMRC requirements.

Cookies

Our website uses cookies to improve functionality and analyse website traffic. You can manage cookie preferences through your browser settings.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. The latest version will always be available on our website.