Effective Date: 10 June 2026

1. Introduction

Viv Dawes Autistic Advocate ("we", "us", "our") is committed to protecting and respecting your privacy.

This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, share and protect your personal information when you visit our website, purchase products, create an account, download digital products, subscribe to our newsletter, contact us, or otherwise interact with our business.

This Privacy Policy also explains your rights regarding your personal information, including your right to make a complaint about how we handle your data.

We process personal data in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR), the Data Protection Act 2018, the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR), and the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025.

2. Data Controller

The data controller responsible for your personal information is:

Viv Dawes Autistic Advocate

Email: dawesautismadvocate121@gmail.com 

Website: https://www.autisticadvocate.co.uk/

For any questions regarding this Privacy Policy, your personal information, your rights under data protection law, or to make a data protection complaint, please contact us using the details above.

3. Our Data Protection Principles

When processing personal information, we are guided by the following principles:

• We only collect personal information for specific and legitimate purposes.

• We only collect information that is necessary to provide our products and services.

• We will not use personal information for purposes that are incompatible with those for which it was collected.

• We take reasonable steps to ensure personal information is accurate and up to date.

• We implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect personal information.

• We retain personal information only for as long as necessary or as required by law.

• We respect and facilitate the rights of individuals under applicable data protection legislation.

4. Information We Collect

We may collect and process the following categories of personal information:

• Identity Information – such as your name, username and account details.

• Contact Information – such as your email address, billing address, delivery address and telephone number.

• Transaction Information – such as products purchased, order history, payment confirmations and refund details.

• Technical Information – such as your IP address, browser type, device information and website usage data.

• Marketing Information – such as your communication preferences, newsletter subscription status and engagement with our marketing communications.

5. How We Collect Information

We collect personal information:

• Directly from you when you create an account, place an order, download digital products, subscribe to our newsletter, contact us or complete forms on our website.

• Automatically through cookies, website analytics, device information and website usage data.

• From third parties including payment providers, delivery providers, analytics providers and marketing service providers.

6. How We Use Your Information

We use personal information to:

• Process and fulfil orders

• Deliver products and digital downloads

• Manage customer accounts

• Provide customer support

• Respond to enquiries

• Improve our website and services

• Prevent fraud and maintain security

• Comply with legal obligations

• Send marketing communications where permitted

7. Legal Basis for Processing

We process personal information under one or more of the following lawful bases:

• Contract - To provide products, services and customer accounts.

• Consent - Where you subscribe to marketing communications or consent to non-essential cookies. - 

• Legal Obligation - Where we must comply with legal, regulatory, tax or accounting obligations.

• Legitimate Interests

  • To improve our website and services

  • To protect our business

  • To prevent fraud

  • To maintain website security

  • To understand customer behaviour

We always balance our legitimate interests against your rights and freedoms.

8. Marketing Communications

We use Wix to manage our email marketing communications.

If you choose to receive marketing communications, we may send newsletters, promotions, product updates and special offers.

You may unsubscribe at any time by:

• Clicking the unsubscribe link in any email; or

• Contacting us directly.

Unsubscribing from marketing communications will not affect service-related emails concerning orders or accounts.

9. Cookies and Website Analytics

Our website uses cookies and similar technologies to:

• Operate the website

• Remember user preferences

• Enable shopping basket functionality

• Analyse website traffic

• Improve user experience

We use website analytics to provide the best user experience and service to you and to evaluate and improve our site. We utilise third party data analytics service providers Google Analytics to improve our visibility and to monitor website browser behaviour and navigation across our site.

These third-party data analytics service providers collect this information on our behalf in accordance with our instructions and in line with their own privacy policies. Our service providers may collect the following data about the way you use our site, which will almost always be anonymised and aggregated before reporting back to us:

• Number of visitors to our site

• Pages visited whilst using the site and time spent per page

• Page interaction information, such as scrolling, clicks and browsing methods

• Source location and details about where users go when they leave the site

• Page response times and any download errors

• Other technical information relating to end user device, such as IP address or browser plug-in

From time to time we may use the information collected about you to present you with targeted advertisements using platforms such as Facebook, Pinterest, YouTube, Twitter, Google and/or Instagram.

Where required by law, non-essential cookies and analytics technologies will only be activated after obtaining your consent.

You can manage your cookie preferences at any time through our cookie settings or browser settings.

Please also refer to our Cookie Policy for further information.

10. E-commerce and Payments

Our online store is powered by Wix.

Payments are processed securely by trusted third-party payment providers including:

• Square

• PayPal

We do not store complete payment card information on our servers.

Payment providers may process:

• Name

• Billing address

• Transaction details

• Payment information

• Fraud prevention data

Please review the privacy policies of Square and PayPal for further information about how they process personal data.

11. Sharing Your Information

We may share personal information with trusted service providers where necessary to operate our business and provide our services, including:

• Wix

• Square

• PayPal

• Google Analytics

• Website hosting providers

• Delivery companies

• Professional advisers

• Regulatory authorities where required by law

We will never sell your personal information.

We require all third-party providers to process personal information securely and in accordance with applicable data protection laws.

12. International Transfers

Some of our service providers may process personal data outside the United Kingdom.

Where international transfers occur, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place, including:

• UK adequacy regulations;

• International Data Transfer Agreements (IDTAs);

• Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs); or

• Other legally approved transfer mechanisms.

13. Use of Artificial Intelligence

We do not use customer personal information to train artificial intelligence systems.

Where we use software tools that incorporate artificial intelligence features, such tools are used solely to support business operations and remain subject to appropriate privacy and security safeguards.

We do not knowingly permit third parties to use customer personal information for the training or development of artificial intelligence models.

14. Data Retention

We retain personal information only for as long as necessary for the purposes for which it was collected.

Order, transaction and accounting records are generally retained for up to six years following the end of the relevant financial year to comply with tax, accounting and legal obligations.

Marketing information is retained until you withdraw consent or unsubscribe from communications.

Where information is no longer required, it will be securely deleted or anonymised.

15. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organisational measures designed to protect personal information against:

• Unauthorised access;

• Disclosure;

• Loss;

• Misuse;

• Alteration;

• Destruction.

Although we take reasonable steps to protect your information, no method of internet transmission or electronic storage can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

16. Children's Privacy

Our website and services are not directed at children under the age of 13.

We do not knowingly collect personal information from children.

If we become aware that personal information has been collected from a child without appropriate consent, we will take steps to delete it promptly.

17. Your Rights

Under UK data protection legislation, you have the right to:

• Access your personal information;

• Correct inaccurate information;

• Request deletion of your information;

• Restrict processing;

• Object to processing;

• Request transfer of your information;

• Withdraw consent;

• Object to direct marketing;

• Make a complaint about our use of your personal information.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the details provided in this Privacy Policy.

18. Data Protection Complaints

If you believe that we have not handled your personal information in accordance with applicable data protection legislation, you have the right to submit a complaint directly to us.

Complaints should be sent to:

Email: dawesautismadvocate121@gmail.com

Subject Line: FAO: Data Complaint Notice

Please include:

• Your full name;

• Your contact details;

• Details of your complaint;

• Any supporting information.

We will:

• Acknowledge receipt of your complaint within 30 days;

• Investigate your concerns fairly and appropriately;

• Contact you if further information is required;

• Keep you informed of progress where appropriate;

• Inform you of the outcome of our investigation without undue delay;

• Explain any actions taken as a result of the complaint.

If you are dissatisfied with the outcome, you may request further clarification.

You also have the right to complain directly to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) at any time.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding our data protection or privacy policies, please contact us dawesautismadvocate121@gmail.com 

19. Third-Party Websites

Our website may contain links to third-party websites or services.

We are not responsible for the privacy practices of third-party websites and recommend reviewing their privacy policies before providing personal information.

20. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our business practices, services or legal obligations.

The most current version will always be available on our website and the effective date will be updated accordingly.

21. Contact Us

If you have any questions regarding this Privacy Policy or your personal information, please contact:
Viv Dawes Autistic Advocate

Email: dawesautismadvocate121@gmail.com 

Website: https://www.autisticadvocate.co.uk/