Privacy Policy

Association of Protecting Exotic Species CIC (APES CIC) (referred to as “we”, “us”, or “our”) is committed to protecting your privacy. We are a UK-registered Community Interest Company (Company No. 16253848) and we process personal data in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect through our website (www.apesdonor.social), how we use it, and your rights.

Last Updated: September 17, 2025

Data We Collect

We may collect the following personal data:

Identity and Contact Information: Name and email address.
Payment Details: Donation/payment information (via Stripe). We do not store full card details.
Technical Information: IP address, browser type, and general location.
Children’s Data: For users under 18, we may collect name, IP address, and location.

How We Use Your Data

We use your data to:

Manage donations and process payments.
Provide platform services and respond to enquiries.
Send newsletters and updates (with your consent).
Improve our website and ensure security.
Comply with legal obligations (e.g. financial reporting).

Cookies

Our website uses cookies and similar technologies for:

Essential functions (site operation).
Analytics (improving user experience).
Preferences (remembering choices).

You can control cookies through your browser settings. Some features may not function without them.

Sharing Your Data

We will never sell your data. We may share limited data with:

Payment Processor: Stripe (for secure donation processing).
Service Providers: Hosting, email, and analytics providers.
Legal Authorities: Where required by law.

Data Retention

Personal data is retained for one (1) year.
Newsletter data is retained until you unsubscribe.
Legal requirements may oblige us to keep certain data longer.

Your Rights

Under UK GDPR, you have rights to:

Access your personal data.
Correct inaccurate data.
Request deletion (right to be forgotten).
Restrict processing.
Data portability.
Object to processing (e.g., direct marketing).
Withdraw consent at any time.

You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) (www.ico.org.uk).

Children’s Privacy

Users under 18: We collect only limited data (name, IP, location).
Under 13: Parental consent is required for providing personal data.
We do not use children’s data for marketing.

Parents/guardians can request access or deletion of a child’s data.

Data Security

We use appropriate technical and organisational measures including:

HTTPS encryption.
Access controls.
Secure servers and monitoring.

No system is 100% secure, but we take all reasonable steps to protect your data.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated “last updated” date.

Contact Us

Association of Protecting Exotic Species CIC

CIC No: 16253848

Unit 7, Cross House, Sutton Road, St Helens, WA9 3YH, United Kingdom

Email: info@apes.org.uk

Phone: +44 (0)300 302 0998

Disclaimer: Information only—consult qualified counsel for legal advice.