Privacy Policy

Version: 1.0

Last updated: 03/06/2026

This notice explains how Socialist Federation (previously known as Members’ Charter) collects and uses your personal data when you sign up for updates, contact us, attend Socialist Federation events or interact with us.

1. Who we are

Data controller: Socialist Federation (an unincorporated association), previously known as Members’ Charter.

Contact: memberscharter@gmail.com

2. The data we collect

Depending on how you interact with us, we may collect:

2.1 Contact details: name, email address, phone number.

2.2 About you (optional): postcode, age bracket, employment status (if you choose to provide it). This is used to understand support and organise campaigning in aggregate.

2.3 Trade union / political group membership (optional): This information is treated as especially sensitive, so we will process it only with your explicit consent, and you can withdraw that consent at any time, after which we will stop using it and delete it.

2.4 Support and interaction data: your sign-up preferences (email/text/WhatsApp/phone), messages you send us, canvass notes you choose to share, event attendance, responses to Socialist Federation surveys/forms.

2.5 Technical data (website): basic logs (such as IP address, device/browser details) and cookie data where used.

Please note: we do not collect or process how you voted in any secret ballot.

3. How we use your data

We use your data to:

3.1 send you Socialist Federation communications you asked for;

3.2 invite you to events (online or in person);

3.3 organise volunteering/phonebanking where you opt in;

3.4 manage enquiries and admin (such as handling requests or keeping suppression lists for opt-outs);

3.5 improve our communications and understand aggregate engagement and performance (open/click rates, event sign-ups).

4. Our lawful bases (UK GDPR)

We rely on different bases depending on what we’re doing:

4.1 Electronic campaign messages (email/SMS/WhatsApp/DM):

Consent (UK GDPR Article 6(1)(a)) and, where the information reveals political opinions, explicit consent (Article 9(2)(a)).

You choose channels separately (for example “Email me”, “Text me”, “WhatsApp me”, “Phone me”).

4.2 Phone calls:

Consent: we will only call you if you have asked us to or clearly opted in to calls for this campaign. We keep a “do not contact” list and will stop if you tell us to.

4.3 Admin and security:

Legitimate interests (Article 6(1)(f)) for basic administration, record-keeping of opt-outs, preventing misuse of our systems and campaign operations that don’t require consent.

5. Marketing preferences and opt-outs

5.1 Email: every email will include an unsubscribe link (or equivalent).

5.2 Text/WhatsApp: we will tell you how to stop messages, and if you ask us to stop, we will stop.

5.3 Calls: if you tell us not to call, we record that and stop.

Please note: opting out of one channel does not affect others unless you ask us to stop all contact.

6. Who we share data with

We share data only where necessary, for example with website hosting, form tools, email/SMS providers, video meeting platforms (e.g., Zoom), and analytics tools used by Socialist Federation, or with authorised Socialist Federation staff and volunteers who need access for campaign tasks and are required to keep data confidential.

Please note: we do not and will never sell your data.

7. International transfers

Some service providers may store or process data outside the UK. Where this happens, we use appropriate safeguards required by UK GDPR (such as contractual protections).

8. How long we keep your data

We keep data only as long as we need it:

8.1 Mailing list data: Retained until you unsubscribe or request deletion.

8.2 Event registrations: Kept only as long as needed to facilitate the event and provide follow-up.

8.3 Donations and financial records: Retained for up to 6 years to comply with accounting and legal requirements.

9. Your rights

You have rights under UK GDPR, including to:

access your data

correct inaccurate data

request deletion

restrict processing

object to processing based on legitimate interests

withdraw consent at any time (this won’t affect what we did before withdrawal).

To exercise your rights, contact:

10. Complaints

If you are unhappy with how we use your data, contact us first. You can also complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office

11. Data security

We use reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect your data including access controls, restricted permissions and secure tools. While no system is risk-free, we aim to minimise risk and respond quickly to incidents.

12. Changes to this notice

We may update this notice. The latest version will be posted on our website.