Clear Answers. Real Help.

Local Support.

Trusted Help for Life, Work & Business.

We’re a not-for-profit organisation proudly serving the residents, business owners, and sole traders of Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre.

Our team of trained, experienced consultants are here to provide trusted information, practical advice, and clear guidance — all delivered with the highest standards of care and professionalism.

While we don’t offer legal or medical advice ourselves, we’ll always point you in the right direction — and when possible, refer you directly to the best agency, department, or specialist to help you efficiently and effectively.

Whether it’s personal, professional or financial, we’re here to help.

Privacy Policy

Last updated: 12 June 2025

Your privacy matters to Blackpool Advice ("we", "our", "us").

This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose and protect your personal information when you visit https://www.blackpooladvice.org.uk (the "Site") or engage with our advice services, funding programmes, events or communications (collectively, the "Services").

Please read this Policy carefully. If you have any questions, contact us using the details in Section 16 below.

By using our Site or Services you acknowledge you have read and understood this Policy.

1. Who We Are – Data Controller

Blackpool Advice is a registered non‑profit organisation providing free, impartial advice to residents and businesses in Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre.

Our registered office is 27 St Anne’s Road, Blackpool, Lancashire FY4 2AP.

For UK data‑protection law (UK GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018), Blackpool Advice is the Data Controller for personal information collected via the Site or in person.

We are registered with the UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).

2. What Personal Data We Collect

Identity & Contact - Name, postal address, email, phone, date of birth, National Insurance number.

Case Information - Details of your enquiry (e.g. benefits decisions, debt amounts, landlord letters), supporting documents you provide, adviser notes.

Business Information - Company/trading name, registration number, turnover, number of employees, website, bank details for grant payments.

Special Category Data - Health, disability or ethnic‑origin information you volunteer so we can advise on benefits or discrimination claims.

Technical & UsageIP address, browser type/version, device identifiers, pages visited, session timestamps, cookie preferences. Marketing & Preferences

Your consent choices for newsletters, event invitations or feedback surveys.

We do not collect credit‑card details on our Site.

3. How We Collect Your Data

Directly from you – when you submit an online form, book an appointment, call, email, text, attend our walk‑in surgery or apply for a grant.

Automatically – through cookies and similar technologies when you browse the Site (see

Section 9).

From third parties – e.g. local councils, DWP, HMRC, Companies House or grant‑funding bodies, but only with your clear consent or where law permits.

4. Lawful Bases for Processing

We rely on one or more of the following legal bases under UK GDPR:

Consent

– for email marketing or when you allow us to share your details with third‑party funders.

Contract

– to take steps at your request before entering into a grant agreement or provide advice you asked for.

Legal Obligation

– to comply with audit, safeguarding or anti‑fraud requirements.

Legitimate Interests

– to improve our services, maintain IT security and keep usage statistics, provided these interests are not overridden by your rights.

Vital Interests

– very occasionally, where processing is necessary to protect someone’s life (e.g. safeguarding).

For Special Category Data we process it only with your explicit consent or where advice work creates a substantial public interest (e.g. social‑security law).

5. How We Use Your Data

Advise you on benefits, debt, housing, consumer and business issues.

Assess your eligibility for grants such as the

Digital Resilience Grant Fund.

Submit grant or benefit applications on your behalf.

Manage your case, appointments and follow‑up actions.

Respond to enquiries and complaints.

Send service updates, newsletters or event invitations (only with your consent).

Monitor website performance, detect fraud and keep our systems secure.

Produce anonymised statistics for funders and impact reporting.

We never sell your personal data.

6. Automated Decision‑Making / Profiling

We do not use automated decision‑making that produces legal or similarly significant effects. Eligibility assessments for grants involve human review.

7. Who We Share Your Data With

SafeguardsGrant funders / local authorities

To confirm eligibility, process and pay awards.

Information‑sharing agreement; secure portals.

Government agencies (e.g. DWP, HMRC)

With your consent to progress benefit or tax‑credit claims.

Encrypted email / Gov Notify.

Service providers (IT hosting, case‑management system, email newsletter platform, analytics)

Hosting and supporting our Site and Services.

UK‑based or UK GDPR‑compliant SCCs; data‑processing agreements.

Professional advisers

Accountants, auditors or legal advisers under confidentiality.

Professional‑duty confidentiality.

Law enforcement / regulators

Where legally required or to protect vital interests.

As permitted by law.

8. International Data Transfers

We primarily store data in the UK. If we transfer data outside the UK / EEA (e.g. cloud backups in the US), we ensure appropriate safeguards such as ICO‑approved international data‑transfer agreements or UK Addendum to the EU Standard Contractual Clauses.

9. Cookies & Similar Technologies

Our Site uses:

Essential cookies

– necessary for core functionality like form submission.

Analytics cookies

– to understand traffic, via Google Analytics (IP anonymisation enabled).

Preference cookies

– to remember language or accessibility settings.

When you first visit, a cookie banner lets you accept or reject non‑essential cookies. You can also adjust settings or delete cookies via your browser. See our separate Cookie Notice for details.

10. Data Retention

We keep personal data only as long as necessary:

Record typeStandard retention

Advice case notes

6 years after case closure (charity best practice & audit).

Grant applications

7 years from last payment (funding rules).

Contact‑form enquiries

2 years if no ongoing case.

Marketing preferences

Until you unsubscribe or 2 years after last interaction.

We securely delete or anonymise data when no longer needed.

11. Keeping Your Data Secure

Encrypted website (HTTPS) and secure servers.

Case‑management system with role‑based access controls.

Regular security updates, penetration testing and staff training.

Confidentiality agreements for staff and volunteers.

Data‑sharing only via encrypted email or secure portals.

12. Your Data Protection Rights

Under UK GDPR you have rights to:

Access

– receive a copy of your personal data.

Rectification

– correct inaccurate or incomplete data.

Erasure

– request deletion where data is no longer needed.

Restriction

– pause processing in certain circumstances.

Portability

– obtain a machine‑readable copy of data you provided.

Object

– to processing based on legitimate interests or direct marketing.

Withdraw consent

– at any time, without affecting prior lawful processing.

To exercise any right, contact us (Section 16). We may ask for ID to confirm your identity. We aim to respond within one month.

If you believe we have not handled your data properly, you have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office (www.ico.org.uk, Tel  0303  123  1113).