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Data Protection Policy

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Girlguiding UK’s policies and related statements provide a structure in which guiding can take place safely, consistently and in accordance with legislation. Policies must be followed by Girlguiding UK’s members and by recognised volunteers involved in delivering or supporting guiding. These policy statements are supported by further information and resources to ensure that our members put the policies into practice.

 

Policy Statement

Girlguiding UK conforms to the requirements of the Data Protection Act 1994 when storing personal data on the Girlguiding UK membership database Go! as well as when storing any manual records. It is the policy of Girlguiding UK that all personal information will only be used for guiding purposes and will never be passed to a third party.

 

Guiding Organiser database (Go!)

Go! contains information on all Girlguiding UK members and volunteers, as well as certain other associated individuals.  Authorised County, County/Region and Association personnel are authorised to view Go! records.  Individual members are able to access Go! via a secure web portal, to update their personal information and the records of young members in their Unit.

The information in the system is added locally and is derived from information provided by individuals to authorised personnel and should be taken from the current Girlguiding UK forms available online (the Starting… leaflets) for girls and young women, and directly from Volunteers (no forms required). Units and guiding areas should use the current online forms to obtain information relevant to the safe delivery of guiding and to obtain permission to add the details of any Young Member who is under 18.

Individuals are responsible for maintaining their own data, either directly or via a nominated person.  Volunteers should not store members’ information on their own personal computer.

Guiding units are required to hold personal data on members of Girlguiding UK provided that it:

  • relates only to members of Girlguiding UK and enables them to deliver guiding to the girls and young women in their care
  • is held only to calculate remuneration, or to keep a record of payments due to or from an individual.

A member, or an adult with parental responsibility for her, has the right to request a copy of the information being held. This can be provided by the Girlguiding UK Confidential Records Team. In the case of an adult this information can be requested from the local Commissioner or her nominee, the County Membership Support Coordinator, or from Membership Support Services. The Information Commissioners’ Office guidance allows Girlguiding UK to make a charge of £10 if a ‘hard’ copy is requested. Email requests are free of charge.

If guiding units and areas wish to hold personal data on individuals who are not members of Girlguiding UK they must ensure that the data subjects, having been asked, have not objected. 

 

Statement of fair processing

The data on Go! is held and used in accordance with the provisions of the Data Protection Act 1998. In particular:

  • The personal data is only used for activities directly relating to guiding and/or a person’s membership of Girlguiding UK.
  • The information is never passed to a third party.
  • The information is kept as accurate and up-to-date as is necessary for the purposes for which it is being held. The Association undertakes to keep it secure and to prevent it being used in an unauthorised or unlawful way.
  • The Data Protection Act gives members rights in relation to the information held about them and members have the right to request a copy of the data.
Page last updated: 10/28/2011