Privacy Policy Statement

This privacy policy sets out how Community and Voluntary Service (CVS) uses and protects any information that you give CVS when you use this website.

CVS is committed to ensuring the best standards of practice in all its activities. Visitors to the CVS website can be assured that the protection of privacy and confidentiality are given the highest priority. Should we ask you to provide certain information by which you can be identified when using this website, then you can be assured that it will only be used in accordance with this privacy statement.

Any personal information is collected, held and used in strict compliance with the Data Protection Act 1998.

Information Collected

CVS does not collect any personal information from visitors to its website other than information that is knowingly and voluntarily given. Anonymous information is collected, such as the number of visitors to the website in a given period, but it is purely statistical and cannot be used to identify an individual user. We require this information to understand your needs and provide you with a better service, and in particular for the following reasons:

• Internal record keeping.
• We may use the information to improve our services.

Cookies are not used to collect any other information from visitors to the website.

How we use cookies

A cookie is a small file which asks permission to be placed on your computer's hard drive. We use traffic log cookies to identify which pages are being used. This helps us analyse data about web page traffic and improve our website in order to tailor it to customer needs. We only use this information for statistical analysis purposes and then the data is removed from the system.

Overall, cookies help us provide you with a better website, by enabling us to monitor which pages you find useful and which you do not. A cookie in no way gives us access to your computer or any information about you, other than the data you choose to share with us.

You can choose to accept or decline cookies. Most web browsers automatically accept cookies, but you can usually modify your browser setting to decline cookies if you prefer. This may prevent you from taking full advantage of the website.

Links to other websites

Our website may contain links to other websites of interest. However, once you have used these links to leave our site, you should note that we do not have any control over that other website. Therefore, we cannot be responsible for the protection and privacy of any information which you provide whilst visiting such sites and such sites are not governed by this privacy statement. You should exercise caution and look at the privacy statement applicable to the website in question.

Data Security

CVS takes appropriate measures to safeguard the information it holds from unauthorised access or improper use. we have put in place suitable physical, electronic and managerial procedures to safeguard and secure the information we collect online. CVS has a strict internal data protection policy with which members of staff must comply as a condition of employment. CVS continually reviews and up-dates its security procedures as new technologies become available and new activities are introduced.

Any third parties to whom information is transferred are made aware of these security practices and are also required to take reasonable precautions to protect the transferred information.

Integrity of Data

CVS takes all reasonable measures to ensure that the information it holds is accurate. In particular it uses reliable collection methods and destroys or converts to an anonymous form any out-of-date data. Individuals may request details of all personal information held by CVS so as to contest inaccurate or incomplete data, verify the information and have it corrected it as appropriate.

Enforcement

Any queries relating CVS's collection or use of personal information should be addressed to the Chief Officer, CVS, 43 Bromham Road, Bedford, MK40 2AA, telephone 01234 354366, email info@yourcvs.org

• We will not sell, distribute or lease your personal information to third parties unless we have your permission or are required by law to do so.
• You may request details of personal information which we hold about you under the Data Protection Act 1998. A small fee will be payable. If you would like a copy of the information held on you please write to us.
• If you believe that any information we are holding on you is incorrect or incomplete, please write to or email us as soon as possible. We will promptly correct any information found to be incorrect.
• You may choose to restrict the collection or use of your personal information. If you have previously agreed to us using your personal information for direct marketing purposes, you may change your mind at any time by writing to or emailing us.

CVS may change this policy from time to time by updating this page. You should check this page from time to time to ensure that you are happy with any changes. This policy is effective from 20th February 2012.