1. Introduction
Gliders Swimming ("we", "us", or "our") is committed to protecting and respecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and protect your personal data when you visit our website www.glidersswimming.com and use our services, in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.
By using our website or submitting your personal information to us, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Privacy Policy.
2. Data Controller
The data controller responsible for your personal data is:
3. What Personal Data We Collect
We may collect and process the following personal data:
3.1 Information you provide directly
- Contact form enquiries: your name, email address, phone number, preferred location, and the content of your message.
- WhatsApp and email correspondence: any personal information you share when contacting us via WhatsApp or email.
- Booking requests: information provided when you request to book lessons through our booking system (operated by Soak.ly).
3.2 Information collected automatically
- Website analytics: we use privacy-focused analytics to understand how visitors use our website. This may include pages visited, time spent on the site, and general geographic location (country/city level). We do not use cookies for tracking purposes.
- Technical data: your IP address, browser type and version, device type, and operating system.
4. How We Use Your Personal Data
We use your personal data for the following purposes:
| Purpose | Lawful Basis |
|---|---|
| Responding to your enquiries and booking requests | Legitimate interest / Performance of a contract |
| Providing swimming lesson services | Performance of a contract |
| Sending you information about your lessons or account | Performance of a contract / Legitimate interest |
| Improving our website and services | Legitimate interest |
| Complying with legal obligations | Legal obligation |
We will never sell, rent, or share your personal data with third parties for marketing purposes.
5. Third-Party Services
We use the following third-party services that may process your data:
- Soak.ly: our online booking system. When you use the "Book Now" feature, your data is processed by Soak.ly in accordance with their own privacy policy.
- WhatsApp (via Chatfuel): when you contact us via WhatsApp, your messages are processed through Chatfuel's platform. Please refer to WhatsApp's and Chatfuel's privacy policies for details.
- Google Maps: we display our locations using Google Maps. Google may collect data when you interact with the map. Please refer to Google's privacy policy.
We encourage you to review the privacy policies of these third-party services before using them.
6. How Long We Keep Your Data
We retain your personal data only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes for which it was collected, or as required by law. Specifically:
- Enquiry data: retained for up to 12 months after your last communication with us, unless you become a customer.
- Customer data: retained for the duration of your relationship with us and for up to 6 years afterwards for legal and accounting purposes.
- Analytics data: aggregated and anonymised; no personally identifiable information is retained.
7. Data Security
We take appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your personal data against unauthorised access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. Our website uses SSL/TLS encryption to secure data transmitted between your browser and our servers.
However, no method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your personal data, we cannot guarantee its absolute security.
8. Your Rights Under UK GDPR
Under the UK GDPR, you have the following rights regarding your personal data:
- Right of access: you can request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
- Right to rectification: you can ask us to correct any inaccurate or incomplete data.
- Right to erasure: you can request that we delete your personal data (subject to certain legal exceptions).
- Right to restrict processing: you can ask us to limit how we use your data.
- Right to data portability: you can request your data in a structured, commonly used format.
- Right to object: you can object to our processing of your data based on legitimate interests.
- Right to withdraw consent: where processing is based on consent, you can withdraw it at any time.
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at [email protected]. We will respond to your request within one month.
9. Children's Data
As a swimming school, we provide services to children. We collect children's data (such as name, age, and swimming ability) only with the consent of a parent or legal guardian. This data is used solely for the purpose of providing swimming lessons and ensuring the safety and wellbeing of the child during sessions.
Parents and guardians can request access to, correction of, or deletion of their child's data at any time by contacting us.
10. Cookies
Our website uses minimal, privacy-focused analytics that do not rely on cookies for tracking purposes. We do not use advertising cookies or third-party tracking cookies.
Essential cookies may be used to ensure the proper functioning of the website. These are strictly necessary and do not require your consent under UK law.
11. Complaints
If you are unhappy with how we have handled your personal data, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO):
12. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. Any updates will be posted on this page with a revised "Last updated" date. We encourage you to review this page periodically.
13. Contact Us
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or how we handle your personal data, please contact us: