Privacy policy for campaigners
Privacy policy for campaigners
How we use your personal information and keep it safe
If you would like to support our campaigns, we will need some personal information from you.
This might include your name, email address, phone number and where you live.
We might also ask personal questions such as:
- Do you have a learning disability A learning disability is to do with the way someone's brain works. It makes it harder for someone to learn, understand or do things. ?
- What is your ethnicity?
- What is your
gender
Your gender is how you think of yourself. Most people think of themselves as a man or woman. Some people think of themselves as non-binary.
?
It's okay if you don't want to answer these questions.
You can share your information with us in different ways.
- by phoning us
- by emailing us
- by completing an online campaign action on our
website
A website is a page you can go to on the internet like Google or YouTube.
, like a petition - by filling in a form on our website
- by filling in a form at an event.
It is your right to choose which information you are happy to share with us.
We will only record and keep your information if you say we can. This is called '
consent
Consent is when you say yes to something, like an operation, or Mencap using your photo for a story. You may have to sign something to say yes. If you can't make your own decisions, someone else can say yes or no for you. They must think about what is right for you.
'.
There is a
law
Laws are the rules that everyone in the country has to follow. If you don't follow the rules you can get in trouble with the police.
called the Data Protection Act.
It says we must only record and keep your personal information with your consent.
You can change your mind at any time about:
- what personal information you want us to keep about you
- how you want to hear from us.
This is called 'withdrawing consent'.
If you want to withdraw your consent, let us know by emailing: [email protected]
We keep all personal information safe and confidential Confidential means something is private. on our computer database.
The database tells us who our supporters are and how we can get in touch with them.
You can choose how you want to hear from us
If you want us to delete all or some personal information about you from our database, you have the right to tell us.
For example, if you are happy for us to keep your email address, but don't want us to have your phone number anymore.
If you change your mind about getting emails from us, you can click 'unsubscribe' at the bottom of the email you have received, or you can email us at [email protected]
If you don't want us to contact you anymore, you have the right to tell us to stop.
Other ways we might use your information
We also use our database to tell us how our supporters are getting involved Involved is being included in something or taking part in something. in our campaigns.
We might use your personal information on our database to look at how you have supported our campaigns.
For example, if you have read our emails and taken part in our campaign actions on our website.
This helps us to understand who our campaigners are and what they are interested in.
We look at this information to see what impact our campaigns are having and if we should be doing things in a better way.
What are cookies?
If you visit the Mencap website, you might see a message pop up asking you to accept 'cookies'.
A cookie is a small file that is put on your computer when you visit a website.
It helps the website to remember you and your preferences.
Preferences are the things you like better than other things.
It is safe to have a cookie file put on your computer.
You can choose if you do or don't want to accept the cookies. It is your choice.
You can find out more about our cookie policy on our website.
If you have questions about how we use your information
If you have any questions about how Mencap uses your personal information, please contact our data protection officer who will do their best to help you.
Their email address is [email protected]
You can also contact the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO).
The ICO are an independent authority. They are separate to Mencap.
The ICO make sure organisations Organisations are groups like companies and businesses. use people's personal information safely and in the right way.
Their website is https://ico.org.uk
This Easy Read Easy Read is a way of making written information easier to understand. Pictures are usually added next to the writing. was first published November 2025.
Last updated: 21.11.2025.