Donate

Privacy policy

How we look after your information

We respect your privacy and are committed to protecting your personal data. This policy explains what we collect, why, and the choices you have under UK data protection law (UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018).

At a glance

Last updated: 27 October 2026

Children in Need Fund
Registered Charity No. 287866 (England & Wales)

info@childreninneed.org.uk

Children in Need Fund (Registered Charity No. 287866) is the data controller for personal information collected through this website. You can contact us about data protection at info@childreninneed.org.uk.

We collect information you give us when you donate, buy from our shop, sign up to our newsletter, send a case referral or contact us. This may include your name, email address, postal address, phone number, Gift Aid declaration and order details.

Card and PayPal payments are processed securely by Stripe and PayPal. We never see or store your full card details.

  • To process donations and shop orders and send receipts
  • To claim Gift Aid from HMRC where you have agreed
  • To assess and respond to case referrals
  • To send our newsletter, if you have opted in
  • To reply to your enquiries
  • To meet our legal and regulatory obligations

We rely on your consent (for example, newsletters), on performing a contract with you (shop orders), on legal obligations (Gift Aid and financial records) and on our legitimate interests in running the charity, which we always balance against your rights.

Referrals may include sensitive information about a child’s health or circumstances. We use this only to assess and deliver support, keep it secure, share it only with those who need it, and keep it no longer than necessary.

We never sell or swap your data. We share it only with trusted service providers who help us run the charity, such as our payment processors (Stripe and PayPal), website host, and email newsletter service, and with HMRC for Gift Aid claims.

We keep donation and Gift Aid records for at least six years after the end of the financial year, as required by HMRC. Other information is kept only for as long as we need it.

You have the right to access, correct or delete your personal data, to object to or restrict how we use it, to data portability and to withdraw consent at any time. To make a request, email info@childreninneed.org.uk. You can also complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ico.org.uk).

We use a small number of cookies to make this website work. See our cookie policy for details.