Privacy, Data Protection & Confidentiality

Busy Corner Books (including Writing Well)

At Busy Corner Books, care, respect, and integrity sit at the heart of how I work. This includes how personal information and written material are handled.

This page explains how personal data is collected, used, stored, and protected in line with the UK data protection law. This statement is written to be clear and human rather than legalistic. If anything here feels unclear, you are always welcome to ask.

Who I am

Busy Corner Books is operated by Paula Anne Thwaite.

Busy Corner Books provides writing, mentoring, and reflective services.

Writing Well is the area of this work through which I offer courses, group sessions, and learning opportunities for members of the public, including continuing professional development (CPD) and personal development (PD) purposes.

I am registered as a data controller with the UK Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) and comply with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.

The principles I work by

Personal data is handled in accordance with the core principles of the data protection law. This means information is:

used lawfully, fairly, and transparently

collected only for clear and legitimate purposes

limited to what is necessary

kept accurate and up to date where required

stored securely

retained only for as long as needed

These principles align closely with the ethical framework of Busy Corner Books and Writing Well.

What personal data I collect

I may collect and process the following personal data:

Names

Email addresses

Phone numbers

Messages sent via the Busy Corner Books website or by email

Written work, reflective material, or manuscripts voluntarily shared for feedback, mentoring, courses, or CPD participation

I do not routinely collect special category data (such as health, legal, or criminal records), and I do not carry out automated decision-making or profiling.

How personal data is collected

Personal data is provided directly by you when you:

Make contact through the Busy Corner Books website

Email me

Enrol in or participate in Writing Well courses or sessions

Share writing or reflective material for feedback or encouragement

Take part in online meetings (such as Zoom or Microsoft Teams)

Only information that is relevant and necessary for communication or the service being offered is collected.

Why personal data is collected and used

Personal data is used only for purposes that are appropriate, proportionate, and expected, including:

responding to enquiries

communicating about courses, sessions, or agreed work

providing writing feedback, mentoring, or reflective support

supporting learning, personal development, or CPD/PD participation

maintaining appropriate professional, financial, and administrative records

If newsletters or updates are offered in the future, these will be opt-in only, with clear consent and an easy way to unsubscribe.

Lawful basis for processing

Under UK GDPR, personal data is processed using one or more of the following lawful bases:

Legitimate interest — to respond to enquiries and communicate professionally

Contract — where services, courses, or work are agreed

Consent — where optional participation or communications apply

You are never required to provide more information than is necessary for the purpose involved.

Confidentiality and written material

Care, discretion, and respect are central to how information is handled.

Anything you share — whether spoken in an online session or written in emails or documents — is treated as confidential

Written work and reflective material are used only for the purpose agreed

Material is not shared with third parties

Busy Corner Books and Writing Well offer reflective and learning spaces rather than therapy. Participants are encouraged to share only what feels safe and appropriate for them.

Safeguarding

Confidentiality is deeply respected. However, it is important to be clear about safeguarding responsibilities.

Confidentiality would only be broken if there were a serious concern about safety, such as risk of harm to yourself or another person. In such circumstances:

any action would be proportionate and limited to what is necessary

every effort would be made to discuss concerns with you first, wherever possible

the intention would always be to support safety and well-being

Busy Corner Books and Writing Well are not crisis or emergency services. Where appropriate, individuals may be encouraged to seek additional professional or emergency support.

Online meetings (Zoom / Microsoft Teams)

Some services and courses are delivered online using platforms such as Zoom or Microsoft Teams.

Video and audio meetings are not recorded. I do not record sessions, and participants are asked not to record sessions themselves, in order to protect privacy and confidentiality. The only time I would ever record a session is if both myself and the client give written consent.

Participants are encouraged to take responsibility for sharing only what feels safe and appropriate, particularly in group settings.

Professional supervision

My work is supported by ongoing professional and accountable supervision and spiritual direction, which helps ensure ethical practice, reflection, and accountability.

Supervision focuses on my role, boundaries, and approach to the work. No identifying personal details, written material, or confidential information are shared, and clients or participants are never discussed in a way that could lead to identification. As stated previously, if there was a deemed risk to the client, either to themselves or to others, every effort would be made to discuss this firstly with the client, and also with my supervisor. The client would be part of the process and informed through transparency. Integrity to all parties is paramount.

How personal data is stored and protected

Reasonable and appropriate steps are taken to protect personal data, including:

password-protected devices

secure access to email accounts

limited access to files (used only by me)

These measures are proportionate to the nature and scale of the work.

How long data is kept

Personal data is not retained longer than necessary. As a general guide:

enquiry emails are kept for up to 12 months after last contact

written work and manuscripts are deleted within 3–6 months after feedback is returned, unless ongoing work is agreed

records required for financial or legal purposes are retained in line with statutory requirements

**You may request earlier deletion where appropriate.**

Sharing of personal data

Personal data is not sold, traded, or shared with third parties.

Information will only be shared if there is a legal obligation to do so, or where necessary for safeguarding reasons, as outlined above.

Your rights

Under the data protection law, you have the right to:

request access to your personal data

request correction of inaccurate information

request deletion of your data (where applicable)

object to or restrict processing

withdraw consent (where consent applies)

Requests can be made by email and will be responded to respectfully and within appropriate time frames.

Contact

If you have questions about this policy or how your data is handled, or if you wish to exercise your rights, please contact:

Email: paulaanne@busycornerbooks.com. If concerns cannot be resolved directly, you have the right to contact the Information Commissioner's Office.

Updates to this policy

This policy may be updated occasionally to reflect legal, professional, or practical changes. The most recent version will always be published on this website.

Privacy Data Protection and Safeguarding ICO Registered Data Controller January 2026