Privacy Policy

Last Updated: October 2026

St John of Jerusalem Eye Hospital Group (SJEHG) is committed to protecting and respecting your privacy. For the purposes of the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018, the Data Controller is SJEHG.

This Policy sets out why we collect personal information about individuals and how we use that information. It explains the legal basis for this and the rights you have over the way your information is used.

This Policy covers SJEHG in relation to the collection and use of the information you give us. We may change this Policy from time to time. If we make any significant changes, we will advertise this on the website or contact you directly with the information. Please check this page occasionally to make sure you are happy with any changes.

If you have any questions about this Notice or concerning your personal information, please contact the Executive Director, UK at [email protected] or by post to St John of Jerusalem Eye Hospital Group, 4 Charterhouse Mews, London EC1M 6BB.

What type of personal information we collect

The type and amount of information we collect depends on why you are providing it.

The information we collect when you make an enquiry, subscribe to our newsletter, fundraise or attend an event may include your name, date of birth, email address, postal address, phone number, preferred themes and methods of communication and reasons for supporting our work if you are willing to provide this information.

When you donate, or make a payment, in addition to the information listed above we will also ask whether you are a UK taxpayer for the purposes of collecting Gift Aid. For credit and debit card transactions, no card information is retained after processing, in line with Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) compliance requirements. For auditing purposes, for cheque transactions we take a photocopy of the cheque. For direct debit transactions we keep a copy of the authorisation that includes bank account details.

If you are a job applicant, the information you are asked to provide is as set out in the application and necessary for the purposes of our considering the application.

Special category (i.e. sensitive) personal information

Certain categories of personal information are regarded by data protection law as more sensitive than others. Known as ‘special category personal data’, this relates to information about your health, racial or ethnic origin, sex life, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, political opinions, trade union membership or any genetic or biometric data that is used to identify you. This information, and any information about criminal offences / convictions, warrants a higher level of protection under data protection law. We therefore apply additional safeguards and information security measures when using these types of your personal information.

Given the nature of our work, SJEHG may collect and use the following types of special category personal data: health, racial or ethnic origin, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, political opinions, and information about criminal offences.

How we collect information

We may collect information from you whenever you contact us or have any involvement with us for example when you:

visit our website (see our Cookies policy)
donate to us or fundraise for us
enquire about our activities or services
sign up to receive news about our activities
post content onto our website/social media sites
volunteer for us
attend a meeting with us and provide us with information
take part in our events
contact us in any way including online email, phone, SMS, social media or post

Where we collect information from

We collect information:

From you when you give it to us directly: You may provide your details when you ask us for information or donate, volunteer, attend our events or contact us for any other reason.
When you give it to us indirectly: Your information may be shared with us by other organisations such as fundraising sites like JustGiving if you are fundraising for They should only do so in the way they have set out in their own Privacy Policy which you should check when you give your details.
When you have given other organisations permission to share it: Your information may be provided to us by other organisations if you have given them your permission. This might for example be a charity working with us or might be when you buy a product or service from a third-party organisation. The information we receive from other organisations depends on your settings or the option responses you have given them.
When you use our website: When you use our website information about you is recorded and stored. See the information about the use of Cookies under that heading below.
When it is in available on social media: Depending on your settings or the privacy policies applying for social media and messaging services you use, like Facebook, Instagram or X (formerly Twitter), you might give us permission to access information from those accounts or services.

How we use your information

We will use your personal information in several ways which reflect the legal basis applying to processing of your data. These may include:

providing you with the information or services you have asked for
processing donations you make, including processing for Gift Aid purposes
organising volunteering activity you have told us you want to be involved in and in relation to the fundraising for us you are involved in
sending you communications that may be of interest including marketing information about our services and activities, events, campaigns and appeals asking for donations and other fundraising activities and promotions for which we seek support, in accordance with your communication preferences and applicable legislation
when necessary for carrying out your obligations under any contract between us
seeking your views on the services or activities we carry out so that we can make improvements
maintaining our organisational records and ensuring we know how you prefer to be contacted
analysing the operation of our website and analysing your website behaviour to improve the website and its usefulness
processing job applications

Our legal basis for processing your information

The use of your information for the purposes set out above is lawful because one or more of the following applies:

Where you have provided information to us for the purposes of requesting information or requesting that we carry out a service for you, we will process your personal data for that purpose on the basis of our legitimate interests in responding to and fulfilling such You have the right to object to this processing at any time by contacting us at [email protected]. If you do so, we will stop processing your information for this purpose unless we have compelling legitimate grounds to continue.
It is necessary for us to hold and use your information so that we can carry out our obligations under a contract entered with you or to take steps you ask us to prior to entering into a contract.
It is necessary to comply with our legal
Where the purpose of our processing is the provision of information or services to you, we may also rely on the fact that it is necessary for your legitimate interests that we provide the information or service requested, and given that you have made the request, would presume that there is no prejudice to you in our fulfilling your request.
In addition, where you have previously engaged with us, made a donation, attended an event or requested information from us, we may send you information about our activities, services, or events which we believe may be of interest to you. You have the right to opt out of receiving such communications at any time by contacting us at [email protected] or using the unsubscribe link provided in our communications.

If you want to contact us about your marketing preferences, please contact [email protected] or call on 020 7253 2582. All the legal bases for processing your data are outlined in the Charity’s Records of Processing Activity (ROPA).

Special category personal data

Where we need to collect and use special category personal data, for example information concerning religious or philosophical beliefs, political opinions, racial or ethnic origin, or health etc, in addition to a lawful basis we also need to satisfy an appropriate legal “condition”. In essence, this is an additional lawful basis (i.e. recognised and permitted justification for using your special category personal data).

Depending on the relevant use of your special category personal data, we rely on the following conditions:

You have provided your explicit consent in advance
We need to use your special category personal data to protect your or another person’s vital interests where that person is physically or legally incapable of giving consent (for example, providing your details to a medical professional in a medical emergency during an event)
You have knowingly and willingly made the information generally available to the public
Use of personal information is necessary for the establishment, exercise or defence of legal claims (for example, providing information to a court where a claim has been made)

Profiling and screening

We use some profiling and screening techniques for donors and potential donors, performed by our own staff, to ensure communications are relevant and timely, and to provide an improved experience for our supporters. Profiling also allows us to target our resources effectively, which donors consistently tell us is a key priority for them.

We rely on this processing as part of our legitimate interests in understanding the background of the people who support us and helps us to make appropriate requests to supporters who may be able and willing to give more than they already do. Importantly, it enables us to raise more funds, sooner, and more cost-effectively, than we otherwise would.

When building a profile, we may analyse geographic, demographic and other information relating to you to better understand your interests and preferences to contact you with the most relevant communications. In doing this, we may use additional information from third party sources when it is available. Such information is compiled using publicly available data about you, for example addresses, listed Directorships or typical earnings in a given area.

If you have any question, concerns or if you wish to object to this, please contact us at [email protected] or on 020 7253 2582 or at 4 Charterhouse Mews, London EC1M 6BB.

Automated decision making

Automated decision-making is when a computer or similar electronic system uses personal information to make decisions about people without any human involvement. Profiling involves collecting various pieces of information about a person to analyse or evaluate certain aspects relating to that person or to make predictions about them (for example, how that person may behave or what their preferences are). Automated decision-making does not have to involve profiling, though it often will.

We do not make decisions about individuals based solely on automated processing. While we may use profiling to help us understand our supporters and tailor our communications, all significant decisions involve human review.

How we keep your information safe

We understand the importance of security of your personal information and take appropriate steps to safeguard it.

SJEHG has an internal Information Security Policy, which governs how sensitive personal data is used and stored in line with PCI DSS compliance requirements.

We always ensure only authorised persons have access to your information, which means only our staff, volunteers and contractors, and that everyone who has access is appropriately trained to manage your information.

No data transmission over the internet can however be guaranteed to be 100% secure. So, while we strive to safeguard your information, we cannot guarantee the security of any information you provide online, and you do this at your own risk.

Who could have access to your information?

Third party processers such as our CRM/donor management software providers, email marketing platforms, payment processors and fundraising platforms etc.
Professional advisers and consultants such as fundraising consultants, legal advisors, auditors, printing houses, event management companies/venues, IT service providers etc.
Analytics and search engine providers that help us to improve our website and its
Third parties in connection with restructuring or reorganisation of our operations, for example if we merge with another charity. In such event we will take steps to ensure your privacy rights will be protected by the third party.

Owing to matters such as financial or technical considerations the information you provide to us may be transferred to countries outside the European Economic Area (EEA), which are not subject to the same data protection regulations as apply in the UK. This will only be with SJEHG and its subsidiaries and with other affiliates of The Order of St John (The Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem). We meet our obligations under GDPR by ensuring that the information has equivalent protection as if it were being held within the EEA. We do this by ensuring that any third parties processing your data outside the EEA either benefit from an adequacy determination for GDPR purposes and/or, where appropriate, we have entered into an International Data Transfer Agreement and carried out a Transfer Risk Assessment.

We may also disclose your personal information if we are required to do so under any legal obligation and may use external data for the purposes of fraud prevention and credit risk reduction, or where doing so would not infringe your rights, but is necessary and in the public interest.

Other than this, we will not share your information with other organisations without your consent.

Keeping your information up to date

We really appreciate it if you let us know if your contact details change. You can do so by contacting us at [email protected] or on 020 7253 2582.

Our use of “cookies”

The SJEHG website uses cookies. “Cookies” are small pieces of information sent by a web server to a web browser, which enable the server to collect information from the browser relating to the relevant user’s internet use and computer or mobile device.

Cookies serve a variety of functions – in the main they are used to improve your experience of a website (for example, to allow our website to recognise you when you visit, or to remember information you have previously input).

Please read our cookies policy here for more information about how and why the SJEHG website uses cookies. We will not serve cookies on your device without your consent in advance, unless they are strictly necessary to the functioning of our website.

Children’s Personal Information

We sometimes work with or receive information about children (under 16s) in relation to patient stories, fundraising activities, or event participation. Where we collect and use children’s personal information, we apply enhanced information security measures and access controls and apply greater scrutiny than usual to our usage.

We will always:

Seek written consent from a parent or guardian before collecting or using any child’s personal information.
Collect only the minimum information necessary for the stated
Store all personal information securely, with restricted access.
Never publish a child’s name, image, or medical information without explicit parental/guardian consent.
Ensure any sensitive medical information is handled in line with data protection laws and our internal safeguarding policy

How long we keep your information for

We will hold your personal information for as long as it is necessary for the relevant activity. By way of example, we hold records of donations you make for at least six years so we can fulfil our statutory obligations for tax purposes. Please see our Records Retention Policy. You can withdraw your consent at any time by contacting us at [email protected] or using the unsubscribe link in our communications.

If you ask us to stop contacting you with marketing or fundraising materials, we will keep a record of your contact details and limited information needed to ensure we comply with your request.

Your rights

You have the right to request details of the processing activities that we carry out with your personal information through making a Subject Access Request. Such requests may be made verbally as well as in writing. To make a request contact us at [email protected] or on 020 7253 2582 or at 4 Charterhouse Mews, London EC1M 6BB

You also have the following rights:

the right to request rectification of information that is inaccurate or out of date;
the right to erasure of your information (known as the “right to be forgotten”);
the right to restrict the way in which we are dealing with and using your information; and
the right to request that your information be provided to you in a format that is secure and suitable for re-use (known as the “right to portability”);
rights in relation to automated decision making and profiling including profiling for marketing

All of these rights are subject to certain safeguards and limits or exemptions, further details of which can be found in our Data Protection Policy. To exercise any of these rights, you should contact the Executive Director, UK at [email protected] or on 020 7253 2582 or at 4 Charterhouse Mews, London EC1M 6BB.

If you are not happy with the way in which we have processed or dealt with your information, you can complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office. Further details about how to complain can be found here.

Changes to this Privacy Notice

This Notice may be changed from time to time. If we make any significant changes, we will advertise this on our website or contact you directly with the information.

Do please check this Notice each time you consider giving your personal information to us.