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 UK data protection law. It 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 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 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 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 wellbeing
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.
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 supervision, 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.
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 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 timeframes.
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: busycornerbooks@gmail.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 & Safeguarding | ICO Registered Data Controller