• Introduction
• What information does Aware collect?
• How is this information used?
• Does Aware share this information with others?
• Security
• Changes to this Privacy Policy
• Confidentiality Statement

Last Updated: 24 Oct 2023

Introduction

At Aware, we take your privacy seriously. It is important that you know exactly what we do with personal information that you and others provide to us, why we gather it and what it means to you. We want you to feel safe using this site and we comply fully with our obligations under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Given the nature of the site, we’ve tried to let you choose how open – or confidential – you want to be.

This Privacy Policy explains how we treat the personal data you provide while visiting the Aware.ie site. By using the site, you are accepting the terms of this policy; if you are not happy with these terms, you should not use this website. The policy covers pages on the Aware.ie domain only. While we try our best to only provide links to useful, high-quality sites, Aware is not responsible for the content or the privacy policies of external websites.

What information does Aware collect?

The information we may collect as you use Aware.ie falls into two categories:

Personal Data

This is information that identifies you or can be used to identify or contact you. This may include your name, address, email address, location, age, gender, IP address (where it has not been clipped or anonymised) and telephone number. This information is only collected if you voluntarily submit it to us, e.g. make a donation, register for our online fundraising or support services, an Aware programme or sign up for an Aware event.

Non-Personal Data

Like most websites, we may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. This information might be about you, your preferences or your device and is mostly used to make the site work as you expect it to. The information does not usually directly identify you, but it can give you a more personalised web experience.

How is this information used?

Because we respect your right to privacy, you can choose not to allow some types of cookies.

Strictly Necessary Cookies

These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable information.

Performance Cookies

These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies we will not know when you have visited our site and will not be able to monitor its performance.

Functional Cookies

These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly.

Targeting Cookies

These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.

Personal data you submit on Aware.ie will only be used to contact you where it is necessary, e.g. to reply to a message you submit, to send you any information or notifications you ask for, to acknowledge a donation, etc. Any personal data communicated via our online, email and phone support services is confidential within normal limits.

Your email address, for example, will not be used to send you our email newsletter unless you specifically sign up to receive it.

Does Aware share this information with others?

Aware will never sell any personal data you submit to us to a third party.

Non-personal information may occasionally be used to compile statistics that may be shared with others – e.g. the number of visitors to the site, etc.

Some areas of the site, such as the email newsletter or sections involving online payment, depend on applications or software built by trustworthy, reputable third parties. These third parties are bound by similar privacy and data protection requirements as Aware. For more information, see the Aware.ie Terms of Service.

Personal data will only be released to external sources in order to comply with applicable laws, summonses, search warrants, court or regulatory orders, or other statutory requirements.

Security

Personal data submitted to Aware.ie is held on secure servers hosted by Contabo. While no data transmission over the internet can ever be guaranteed to be 100% secure, we will take all reasonable steps (technically and organisationally) to protect your information. We will also work only with third parties with clear and suitable privacy and data protection policies of their own. See the Terms & Conditions for more information on these third parties. Where you are directed to a third party site, please read their terms of service before submitting your details.

Do I need to do anything?

No. You only need to contact us to:

• access your information and receive copies of your information;
• have inaccurate/incomplete information corrected and updated;
• object to particular use of your personal data for our legitimate business interests or direct marketing purposes;
• in certain circumstances, have your information deleted or our use of your data restricted;
• in certain circumstances, a right not to be subject to solely automated decisions and where we make such automated decisions, a right to have a person review the decision;
• exercise the right to data portability (i.e. obtain a transferable copy of your information we hold to transfer to another provider)*; and
• to withdraw consent at any time where processing is based on consent.

As per your enhanced rights under GDPR, requests of this type will be handled without undue delay. To make a request, please contact us.

Changes to this Privacy Policy

From time to time, this policy may be updated to take account of new services offered on Aware.ie or new procedures, or to amend its wording/spelling. Updates take effect as they are posted here and the date of the most recent changes should at all times be displayed on this page.

Remember too that the Terms & Conditions page contains specific details on the various services offered on the site.

Confidentiality Statement

Throughout the support service pages on our website you will come across the term ‘confidential within normal limits’.

This means that confidentiality is guaranteed except:

• Where a person has immediate plans to self-harm or plans to harm others.
• Where there is information that a child, or vulnerable person, is at risk of, or has in the past been subjected to, harm/abuse/neglect.

Aware’s confidentiality policy is in line with best practice, and ‘Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children’ (Department of Children and Youth Affairs, 2011).

A Vulnerable Person considered to be ‘an adult who may be restricted in capacity to guard himself / herself against harm or exploitation or to report such harm or exploitation. Restriction of capacity may arise as a result of physical or intellectual impairment’, (Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults at Risk of Abuse: National Policy and Procedures. Incorporating Services for Elder Abuse and for Persons with a Disability 2014:3).