Privacy and Confidentiality Policy

for Busy Corner Books
(inclusive of Writing Well and Arclight™)

Busy Corner Books is committed to protecting your privacy and handling personal information with transparency, care, and integrity.

This policy explains what information is collected, how it is used, and your rights under UK data protection law.

Busy Corner Books operates in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.

1. Data Controller

Busy Corner Books is an independent creative writing and consultancy service based in the United Kingdom.

For the purposes of UK data protection law, Paula Anne Thwaite is the Data Controller of the personal information you provide.

Contact:
paulaanne@busycornerbooks.com
busycornerbooks@gmail.com

2. Information We Collect

We may collect and process the following personal data:

• Name

• Email address

• Telephone number (if voluntarily provided)

• Information submitted via contact forms

• Booking and service enquiry information

• Payment details (processed via third-party providers; card details are not stored by Busy Corner Books)

• Website usage data (e.g., IP address, browser type, pages visited)

We collect only information necessary for the legitimate operation of our services.

3. How Your Information Is Used

Personal data may be used to:

• Respond to enquiries

• Provide agreed services

• Process bookings and payments

• Maintain appropriate administrative records

• Improve website functionality

• Comply with legal and regulatory obligations

Personal information is never sold, rented, or traded.

4. Lawful Basis for Processing

Under UK GDPR, processing is based on:

• Contractual necessity – to deliver services requested

• Legitimate interests – to operate and improve services responsibly

• Legal obligation – for tax and regulatory compliance

• Consent – where explicit permission has been provided (e.g., communications)

Consent may be withdrawn at any time by contacting the email addresses, paulaanne@buscornerboosk.com or busycornerbooks@gmail.com.

5. Payment Processing

Payments are processed securely via trusted third-party providers (e.g., Stripe or equivalent services). Bank transfer and cash payments may also be accepted.

Busy Corner Books does not store or have access to full debit or credit card details.

Invoices or receipts are issued for all payments.

6. Data Storage and Retention

Reasonable administrative and technical measures are taken to protect personal data from loss, misuse, or unauthorised access.

Data retention periods:

• Client records are retained as required for legal and accounting purposes

• General enquiries are deleted when no longer necessary

• Client works and email exchanges are deleted from the system after three months unless otherwise agreed

Participants are responsible for retaining copies of their own work. After the stated retention period, materials may no longer be retrievable.

7. Sharing of Information

Personal data is not shared with third parties except:

• Where required by law

• Where necessary for payment processing

• Where professional advisers (e.g., accountants) require limited access for compliance purposes

• Within confidential professional supervision for ethical accountability

When supervision is undertaken, identifying personal details (such as name or address) are not disclosed unless safeguarding concerns require it.

Where there is a risk of serious harm to the individual or others, confidentiality may be limited in accordance with safeguarding obligations and legal duties.

All third-party providers are expected to comply with UK data protection standards.

8. Cookies

Cookies are used to improve website performance and user experience.

Cookies may collect anonymous usage data such as pages visited and time spent on the site.

Cookie preferences can be managed through browser settings.

9. Your Rights

Under UK GDPR, you have the right to:

• Request access to your personal data

• Request correction of inaccurate data

• Request erasure (where applicable)

• Restrict or object to processing

• Withdraw consent

• Lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO)

To exercise these rights, contact:
paulaanne@busycornerbooks.com
busycornerbooks@gmail.com

10. Policy Updates

This Privacy and Confidentiality Policy may be updated to reflect legal or operational changes. The most recent version will always be available on this website.

© February 2026
Paula Anne Thwaite
Busy Corner Books