Privacy Policy

This policy (together with any other documents referred to in it) sets out the basis on which any personal data we collect from you, or that you provide to us, will be processed by us.

About Us

The English Concert (TEC) is a registered UK charity, registration number 271765, operating the website https://englishconcert.co.uk/. TEC is responsible for protecting your personal information as a “data controller” under applicable data protection legislation. If you have any queries about this policy or how we use your personal information, please contact us using the details listed below in the How to Get in Touch section.

What Data Do We Collect?

We usually collect personal data from you when you interact with us. For example, this could be when you:

  • Sign up to our mailing list.
  • Become a supporter of the orchestra.
  • Attend one of our events.
  • Make a donation or purchase.

In these cases, we may collect your name, address, email address, contact details, and, in the case of donations or purchases, your payment details, a history of your transactions with us, and any other relevant information you provide.

If you are a musician, employee, or service provider, we will collect information in line with your contract of employment or contract for services.

We may also collect publicly available information, such as newspaper or online media items, publicly available posts on social media, or Companies House listings.

Additionally, we gather general information about the use of our website, such as which pages are visited most often and which services, events, or facilities are of most interest. We may also track which pages users visit when they click on links in emails. This information helps us personalise the website, improve its functionality, and ensure we provide the best service. Wherever possible, we use aggregated or anonymous information that does not identify individual visitors.

Do We Receive Data from Third Parties?

We may receive your data from third parties in the following circumstances:

  • Ticket Purchases from Venues: When you buy tickets to our events directly from venues such as the Barbican or Wigmore Hall, they may ask for your consent to share your data with us. We only receive this data if a data-sharing agreement is in place and a secure mechanism is used to transfer the information. When we receive such data, we send a welcome message to confirm your preferences, including an option to unsubscribe.
  • Audience Data from The Audience Agency: We receive anonymised audience data from The Audience Agency, which includes attendance figures and postcode-based demographic trends. This data helps us improve our concerts and understand broader trends.

What Do We Do with Your Personal Data?

We process your personal data to promote the charitable aims of The English Concert. This includes:

  • Providing you with products or services you have requested.
  • Staying in touch via post, email, or telephone, in line with your marketing preferences.
  • Sending you updates about concerts, news, special offers, fundraising campaigns, and invitations to events.
  • Informing you of any important changes, especially if you are attending one of our concerts.

We will only use your personal information for electronic marketing purposes if permitted by law or if we have your consent. You can opt out of marketing communications at any time by contacting us or updating your preferences.

What Is the Legal Basis for Processing Your Personal Data?

Under GDPR, we process your personal data based on the following legal grounds:

  • Contractual Obligations: For customers, clients, and suppliers (including musicians), we process your data to fulfil contracts or service invoices.
  • Legitimate Interests: We process your data to achieve our charitable purpose, ensuring that your rights and interests are not overridden. You can request further information about how we assess legitimate interests by contacting us.
  • Legal Obligations: For example, we may process your data to comply with HMRC requirements for Gift Aid claims.

We generally do not rely on consent as a legal basis for processing your data, except for direct fundraising communications. You can withdraw your consent at any time.

How Long Will We Keep Your Data?

We retain your data only as long as necessary, including for legal, accounting, or reporting purposes. For example:

  • If you join our mailing list or become a supporter, we will keep your data until you request otherwise.
  • If you unsubscribe, we will store your data on a “Do Not Contact” list to respect your preferences.
  • For financial matters, we are required by HMRC to keep records for at least seven years.

If you have questions about data retention, please contact us.

How Do We Protect Your Personal Data?

We take appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your data. This includes:

  • Storing data securely on GDPR-compliant systems such as Salesforce.
  • Using password-protected systems for CRM, accounting, and payment processing, with encryption where necessary.
  • Ensuring data shared with third parties is transferred securely, often via password-protected mechanisms.
  • Using secure services like Stripe for online donations.

While we strive to protect your data, please note that the use of the internet is not entirely secure. Any transmission of data is at your own risk. Once received, we use strict procedures and security features to prevent unauthorised access.

Who Do We Share Your Data With and Why?

We may share your data in the following circumstances:

  • Gift Aid Claims: If you complete a Gift Aid declaration, we are required to share your name and address with HMRC.
  • Ticket Purchases: We may share names and seat allocations with venue box offices.
  • Printed Communications: Occasionally, we use third parties to send printed communications. In these cases, we share your name and postal address under a data-sharing agreement.
  • Payment Processing: If you make a payment or donation, your information will be shared with our payment processor. By using their services, you agree to their terms and privacy policy.
  • Legal Requirements: We may disclose your information if required by law.

Communication Preferences

Please allow up to seven days for changes to your communication preferences to take effect. While we aim to update your preferences promptly, you may still receive scheduled communications during this period.

Your Rights

You have the following rights under data protection laws:

  • Right of Access: Request confirmation of whether we process your data and access to that data.
  • Right to Rectification: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data.
  • Right to Portability: Obtain and reuse your personal data for your own purposes.
  • Right to Erasure: Request deletion of your data, subject to legal or public interest obligations.
  • Right to Restriction: Request limited processing of your data in specific circumstances.
  • Right to Object: Prevent processing of your data for marketing purposes.

To exercise your rights, please contact us using the details in the How to Get in Touch section. You can also report concerns to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) at https://ico.org.uk/ or by calling 0303 123 1113.

Our Website

Use of Cookies

We use cookies to track website usage and improve functionality. Cookies do not contain personal or identifiable information. You can manage cookies by following instructions at http://www.allaboutcookies.org/manage-cookies, but this may affect website functionality.

Links to Other Sites

Our website may contain links to external sites. These sites have their own privacy policies, and we are not responsible for their content or policies.

Future Changes to This Policy

We may update this policy to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. Updates will be posted on our website, and the “Last Updated” date will be revised. Material changes will be communicated to you, and your continued use of the website will indicate acceptance of the updates.

How to Get in Touch

If you have questions about this policy or your data, you can contact us:

For more information, visit the ICO website: https://ico.org.uk/.