Privacy Policy

Pathway to Protection CIC
Last reviewed: August 2026

1. Our Commitment to Your Privacy

Pathway to Protection CIC respects your privacy and is committed to protecting your personal information.

We recognise that people accessing domestic abuse services may be sharing particularly sensitive information and may have concerns about confidentiality, safety and how their information is used.

This Privacy Notice explains what personal information we may collect, why we collect it, how we use and protect it, when information may need to be shared, and the rights available to you under UK data protection law.

We aim to handle personal information lawfully, fairly, transparently and with particular sensitivity to the safety of people using our services.

2. Who We Are

Pathway to Protection CIC provides confidential support, advocacy, information and recovery services for individuals, children and families affected by domestic abuse.

For data protection purposes, Pathway to Protection CIC is the data controller for personal information that we determine how and why to process.

Organisation: Pathway To Protection Network CIC
Registered address:
Office 8633, 321-323 High road, Chadwell Heath
Essex RM6 6AX
Email: info@pathwaytoprotection.org.uk
Telephone: 07446229732

3. Information We May Collect

Depending on how you interact with us, we may collect information such as:

• Your name and contact details;
• Safe methods and times for contacting you;
• Information you provide about domestic abuse or safeguarding concerns;
• Details about children or other family members where relevant;
• Referral information;
• Records of support, advocacy or services provided;
• Information relating to housing, finances, benefits or employment where relevant to your support;
• Information about interactions with other agencies;
• Communications you send to us;
• Complaints and feedback;
• Website and technical information, subject to our Cookie Policy; and
• Any other information you choose to provide.

Because of the nature of our work, information provided to us may sometimes include particularly sensitive or special category personal data, such as information concerning health, racial or ethnic origin, religion, sexual orientation or other protected information.

We will only process such information where we have a lawful basis and, where required, an additional condition permitting us to process special category data.

4. Why We Use Personal Information

We may use personal information to:

• Provide domestic abuse support and advocacy;
• Assess risk and safeguarding needs;
• Develop appropriate support or safety plans;
• Respond to enquiries;
• Make or receive referrals;
• Coordinate support with relevant organisations where appropriate;
• Maintain appropriate case records;
• Protect individuals from serious harm;
• Manage complaints and feedback;
• Improve our services;
• Train and supervise staff and volunteers appropriately;
• Meet legal, regulatory, safeguarding, contractual and funding requirements; and
• Operate and protect our website and information systems.

We will not use personal information for purposes that are incompatible with the reasons for which it was collected unless permitted or required by law.

5. Our Lawful Bases

Under UK data protection law, organisations must have a lawful basis for processing personal information.

Depending on the circumstances, Pathway to Protection may rely upon bases including:

• Consent — where you have freely given permission for a particular use;
• Contract — where processing is necessary in connection with an agreement;
• Legal obligation — where we must process information to comply with the law;
• Vital interests — where processing is necessary to protect someone’s life;
• Legitimate interests — where processing is necessary for a legitimate organisational purpose and those interests are not overridden by your rights; and
• Other lawful bases or conditions applicable to charitable, safeguarding or support activities.

Where special category information is processed, we will also identify an appropriate condition under data protection legislation.

6. Confidentiality

We understand that confidentiality can be particularly important to people affected by domestic abuse.

Information you share with us will normally be treated confidentially and only accessed by people who need it to perform their role.

However, confidentiality cannot always be absolute.

There may be circumstances in which we need to share information without consent, including where:

• We believe a child may be at risk of significant harm;
• We believe an adult with care and support needs may be at risk of abuse or neglect;
• There is a serious and immediate risk to someone’s life or safety;
• Disclosure is required by law or a court order; or
• Another compelling legal or safeguarding obligation applies.

Where it is safe, lawful and appropriate to do so, we will normally try to explain a disclosure before information is shared.

7. Sharing Your Information

Where necessary and lawful, information may be shared with organisations such as:

• Local authorities;
• Police and other emergency services;
• Health and social care services;
• Safeguarding teams;
• Housing providers;
• Schools or education providers;
• Legal or specialist support services;
• Organisations receiving or making referrals;
• IT and other contracted service providers; and
• Regulators, courts or public authorities where legally required.

We aim to share only information that is relevant and necessary for the particular purpose.

We do not sell personal information.

8. Children’s Information

We take particular care when processing information relating to children and young people.

Where services involve children, information will be processed in accordance with applicable data protection and safeguarding requirements, taking account of the child’s age, understanding, circumstances and best interests.

9. Website Information and Cookies

When you use our website, limited technical information may be collected automatically.

Cookies and similar technologies may also be used where appropriate.

For more information, please read our Cookie Policy.

10. Keeping Your Information Secure

We use appropriate organisational and technical measures to protect personal information against unauthorised access, loss, alteration, disclosure or destruction.

Measures may include:

• Access controls;
• Password protection;
• Secure systems;
• Staff confidentiality requirements;
• Appropriate training;
• Data minimisation;
• Secure disposal procedures; and
• Periodic review of information-security arrangements.

No internet-based system can be guaranteed to be completely secure, but we take reasonable measures proportionate to the sensitivity of the information we process.

11. How Long We Keep Information

We retain personal information only for as long as necessary for the purposes for which it was collected and to satisfy applicable legal, safeguarding, insurance, regulatory and contractual requirements.

Different categories of information may have different retention periods.

Our retention arrangements are documented in our internal data-retention procedures.

12. Your Data Protection Rights

Depending on the circumstances, you may have rights including:

• The right to be informed about how your information is used;
• The right to request access to your personal information;
• The right to request correction of inaccurate information;
• The right to request erasure in certain circumstances;
• The right to request restriction of processing;
• The right to object to certain processing;
• The right to data portability in applicable circumstances; and
• Rights relating to certain forms of automated decision-making.

Some rights are subject to legal exemptions, particularly where information relates to safeguarding, legal proceedings or the rights of another person.

To exercise a right, contact:

Email: info@pathwaytoprotection.org.uk

13. Complaints About Data Protection

If you have concerns about how we use your personal information, please contact us first so that we have an opportunity to address them.

You may also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), the UK’s independent data protection regulator.

Current information about your rights and making a complaint can be found on the ICO website.

14. Changes to This Notice

We may update this Privacy Notice when our services, legal obligations or data-processing practices change.

The latest version will always be published on this website with its review date.

Contact Us

For questions about this Privacy Notice or how Pathway to Protection handles personal information:

Pathway to Protection CIC
Office 8633, 321-323 High road, Chadwell Heath
Essex RM6 6AX
info@pathwaytoprotection.org.uk
07446229732