Privacy Policy

1. Who controls data retained by Lit?

The data controller is The Germinal Project CIC (companies house number 11322135), trading as Lit. The Germinal Project CIC retains and processes all relevant data. Information about this is detailed below.

2. Data gathered by us

Our website uses cookies for security and for the functioning of the website.  However, Lit’s website does not use tracking cookies, and so no personal data are gathered automatically by visiting this website.  The Germinal Project CIC does retain your data if you contact us directly, opt in to receive automatic mailing from Lit, volunteer for us or carry out paid work for us.

As The Germinal Project CIC is a not-for-profit organisation, it is not required to register with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).  However, we have registered voluntarily as a data controller.

3. The purposes for which personal data is processed

The purposes for which your data will be used will depend in what capacity you came into contact with Lit.

  • Mailing list: the purpose of processing your data is to send you a limited number of emails promoting Lit content. You can opt out at any time.
  • Enquiries: if you contact Lit directly, your data will be processed solely to deal with whatever you contacted us about. It will never be shared with anyone else, unless there is a legal obligation to do so. You will be informed if this happens.
  • Volunteers: the purpose of processing your data is to organise content creation for the site. It will never be shared with anyone else.

4. The lawful basis for the processing

4.1 Company directors: contact details, date of birth, potentially bank details and NI number.

  • Purpose: company administration and legal compliance
  • Lawful basis: legal obligation + necessary for the performance of contract

4.2 Volunteers & Freelancers: contact details, bank details in cases of expenses remuneration

  • Purpose: company administration
  • Lawful basis: contract or legitimate interest
  • You have the right to withdraw consent at any time.

4.3 Visitors to the site that have donated to the project or purchased future merchandise: contact details, payment details.

  • Purpose: sales
  • Lawful basis: necessary for the performance of contract

4.4 Supporters: contact details

  • Purpose: marketing
  • Lawful basis: consent
  • You have the right to withdraw consent at any time.

4.5 Funders and accountant: contact details, signed payment agreements, bank details if applicable

  • Purpose: company administration
  • Lawful basis: legitimate interest

5. External organisations to whom personal data has been or will be disclosed

Mailchimp and Patreon will process data of Lit mailing list subscribers, supporters and online donors. Stripe and Donorbox will process data of donors.

6. How long the personal data will be stored for, or if that is not possible, the criteria used to determine how long it will be stored for

  • Mailing List Subscribers: Your data will be retained as long as you consent, and you have the right to withdraw at any time. All of our regular content emails contain an unsubscribe link.
  • General Email Enquiries: Emails and other correspondence are purged after one year. Invoices or other data with your name on will be accessed by Lit’s accountant for the purposes of paying tax and other legal requirements, but the data will not be used by them for any other purposes.
  • Volunteers: Your data will not be retained after any work is completed anEmails and other correspondence are purged after one year. Invoices or other data with your name on will be accessed by Lit’s accountant for the purposes of paying tax and other legal requirements, but the data will not be used by them for any other purposes.d any invoices are paid, unless you consent to do so, or Lit has a legal obligation to retain the data.
  • Donors: Emails and other correspondence are purged after one year. Invoices or other data with your name on will be accessed by Lit’s accountant for the purposes of paying tax and other legal requirements, but the data will not be used by them for any other purposes.

Your data will be stored in the UK.

7. Your data rights

You can exercise any of your data protection rights to Lit. Contact us by clicking here if you wish to do so.

Your rights are:

  • a right of access to your personal data held by or on behalf of Lit
  • a right to rectify any personal data held by Lit that you believe is incorrect
  • a right to erase any personal data that Lit no longer has a legitimate purpose to process
  • a right of access to a machine readable version of your data, as long as you have provided it or Lit has observed it via your use of a service. This is only applicable to data provided with your consent or under a contract, but we will endeavour to give you a portable version of any of your data should time and technology allow
  • a right to stop Lit processing any of your data that it does not have a legal or contractual obligation to process
  • a right to prevent any wholly automated decisions involving your data

If you have any concerns about Lit’s handling of your personal data, you can raise these with the data controller (The Germinal Project CIC) directly, but you have a right to make a complaint to the Information Commissioner. See their website: www.ico.org.uk.

 

If you wish to view Lit’s editorial policy or make a complaint about our published material, please visit our regulation & complaints page here.