Privacy Policy

The British Community Assistance Fund ("BCAF", "we", "our", or "us") is committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring that your personal information is handled responsibly, securely, and transparently.

This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and protect your personal information when you visit BCAF.ae, contact us, apply for assistance, make a donation, volunteer, or otherwise engage with our charity.

By using our website, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Privacy Policy.

1. Who We Are
The British Community Assistance Fund (BCAF) is a charitable organisation based in the United Arab Emirates that provides support to members of the British community facing financial hardship or personal crisis.

For the purposes of applicable data protection laws, BCAF is the data controller responsible for the personal information collected through this website.

For any privacy-related enquiries, please contact:
Email: privacy@bcaf.ae
Website: www.BCAF.ae

2. Information We Collect
Depending on how you interact with us, we may collect:

Personal Information

  • Name
  • Email address
  • Telephone number
  • Postal address
  • Nationality
  • Identification details where required
  • Emergency contact details

Financial Information
Where relevant for assistance applications or donations:

  • Financial circumstances
  • Employment information
  • Banking details
  • Donation history

Sensitive Information
Where necessary to assess requests for support, we may collect limited sensitive personal information such as:

  • Medical information
  • Welfare information
  • Family circumstances
  • Supporting documentation provided by you

Sensitive information is only collected where it is necessary and with your consent or where otherwise permitted by law.

Website Information
When you use our website we may automatically collect:

  • IP address
  • Browser type
  • Device information
  • Operating system
  • Pages visited
  • Time spent on the website
  • Cookies and analytics information

3. How We Use Your Information
We use your personal information to:

  • Process applications for assistance
  • Assess eligibility for charitable support
  • Communicate with applicants, donors and volunteers
  • Respond to enquiries
  • Process donations
  • Manage fundraising activities
  • Recruit and manage volunteers
  • Improve our services
  • Maintain website security
  • Meet legal and regulatory obligations
  • Prevent fraud and misuse of our services

We will only use your information for the purposes for which it was collected or where we have another lawful basis to do so.

4. Legal Basis for Processing
Where applicable, we process personal information based on one or more of the following:

  • Your consent
  • Performance of a contract or requested service
  • Compliance with legal obligations
  • Our legitimate interests as a registered charitable organisation
  • Protection of vital interests where appropriate

5. Sharing Your Information
We will never sell your personal information.

We may share information only where necessary with:

  • Trusted service providers who support our operations
  • Professional advisers
  • Payment processors
  • Government authorities where legally required
  • Law enforcement agencies where required
  • Partner organisations involved in delivering charitable assistance (where appropriate and with suitable safeguards)

All third parties are required to maintain appropriate confidentiality and security standards.

6. International Transfers
As BCAF operates within the United Arab Emirates while supporting members of the British community, your information may occasionally be processed or accessed outside your country of residence.

Where personal information is transferred internationally, we take reasonable steps to ensure appropriate safeguards are in place to protect your information.

7. Data Security
We take appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect personal information against:

  • Unauthorised access
  • Loss
  • Misuse
  • Alteration
  • Disclosure
  • Destruction

These measures include secure systems, restricted access, encryption where appropriate, and regular review of our security practices.

While we strive to protect your information, no internet transmission or electronic storage method can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

8. Data Retention
We retain personal information only for as long as necessary to:

  • Deliver our charitable services
  • Meet legal and regulatory obligations
  • Resolve disputes
  • Maintain financial records
  • Protect our legitimate interests

Once information is no longer required, it will be securely deleted or anonymised.

9. Cookies
Our website may use cookies and similar technologies to:

  • Improve website functionality
  • Analyse website usage
  • Remember user preferences
  • Enhance user experience

You can control cookies through your browser settings. Disabling certain cookies may affect website functionality.

10. Third-Party Links
Our website may contain links to external websites operated by third parties.

We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of those websites and encourage you to review their privacy policies before providing personal information.

11. Your Rights
Depending on applicable law, you may have the right to:

  • Request access to your personal information
  • Request correction of inaccurate information
  • Request deletion of your personal information
  • Restrict or object to certain processing
  • Withdraw consent where processing is based on consent
  • Request a copy of your personal information where applicable

Requests should be sent to:
privacy@bcaf.ae

We will respond within a reasonable timeframe and in accordance with applicable legal requirements.

12. Children's Privacy
Our website is not intended for children under the age of 18 without the involvement of a parent or legal guardian.

Where we receive information relating to minors as part of a request for charitable assistance, it will be processed only where necessary and with appropriate safeguards.

13. Changes to this Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in legislation, our operations, or best practice.

The latest version will always be published on www.BCAF.ae with the revised effective date.

14. Contact Us
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or how your personal information is handled, please contact:

British Community Assistance Fund (BCAF)
Website: www.BCAF.ae
Email: privacy@bcaf.ae

Your Consent
By using this website and submitting your personal information, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Privacy Policy and consent to the collection, use and processing of your personal information as described above.