Privacy Policy
Who we are
The Primitive Initiative is a wilderness expedition programme based in the UK. We are committed to protecting your personal data and complying with UK GDPR.
You can contact us at any time regarding your personal data: theprimitiveinitiative@gmail.com
What personal data we collect
We collect the following categories of personal data:
- Newsletter signups and gear guide downloads: your email address, the date you signed up or downloaded, and how you joined our mailing list (newsletter form or gear guide download). Email addresses collected via the gear guide download are added to The Primitive Initiative mailing list and will receive occasional updates about programmes and content. You can unsubscribe at any time by emailing theprimitiveinitiative@gmail.com or by clicking the unsubscribe link in any email you receive from us.
- Programme applications: your full name, date of birth, home address, postcode, phone number, email address, and emergency contact details.
- Sensitive health data: mental health background and physical health conditions, provided voluntarily in our application form. This data falls under GDPR special category data and is handled with additional safeguards.
Why we collect it and our lawful basis
- Newsletter emails and guide download signups - collected on the basis of legitimate interest. You voluntarily sign up or download a guide. You can withdraw at any time by emailing us at theprimitiveinitiative@gmail.com or clicking the unsubscribe link in any email received.
- Application personal data - collected on the basis of legitimate interest in order to assess your suitability for the programme and arrange your participation.
- Sensitive health data - collected on the basis of explicit consent. You are required to tick a consent checkbox before submitting your application. This data is used solely to ensure the programme is safe and appropriate for you.
Where it is stored
Application data is submitted via a secure form and received by email, stored within a Google Workspace environment (Gmail and Google Sheets) with access restricted to The Primitive Initiative only. Newsletter signups are stored in the same Google Workspace environment.
We do not share your data with any third parties, sell it, or use it for any purpose other than those stated above.
How long we keep it
- Newsletter emails: kept until you unsubscribe or request deletion.
- Application data (including health data): kept for up to 12 months from the relevant programme date, then securely deleted. If you do not join the programme, your data is deleted after 12 months from submission.
Your rights
Under UK GDPR, you have the following rights:
- Access: request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
- Rectification: ask us to correct inaccurate or incomplete data.
- Erasure: ask us to delete your data (the "right to be forgotten").
- Objection: object to us processing your data where we rely on legitimate interest.
- Withdrawal of consent: where processing is based on consent, you can withdraw it at any time without affecting anything done before withdrawal.
How to make a data request
To exercise any of your rights, email us at theprimitiveinitiative@gmail.com with the subject line "Data Request". We will respond within 30 days.
To unsubscribe from our newsletter, email us with the subject line "Unsubscribe".
Cookies
This website may use cookies for basic functionality and, with your consent, for analytics purposes. You can accept or decline cookies when you first visit the site. We do not use advertising or tracking cookies without your explicit consent.
Complaints
If you are unhappy with how we have handled your data, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) at ico.org.uk. We would appreciate the chance to address your concerns first - please contact us at theprimitiveinitiative@gmail.com.