What personal data do we use?

Personal information is anything that identifies and relates to a living person. This can include information that when put together with other information can identify a person. For example, this could be your name and contact details. The Information Commissioner has produced guidance as to what is personal data.

Your personal data that we collect, use and share can include:

• Name and contact details;
• Personal and family details;
• Identifiers, such as National Insurance Numbers or NHS numbers;
• Lifestyle and social circumstances;
• Financial information;
• Employment and educational details;
• Housing or social care needs;
• Visual images, such as photographs or CCTV recordings;
• Licenses or permits held;
• Student and pupil records; and,
• Business activities.

We also collect what is known as sensitive personal information (or special categories of data). This is often information you would not want widely known and is very personal to you, types of sensitive data can include:

• Criminal conviction data
• Racial or ethnic origin
• Political opinions
• Religious or philosophical beliefs
• Trade union membership
• Genetic and biometric data
• Mental or physical health details
• Sex life
• Sexual orientation
• Equalities data

Please see our Special Category Data Policy and Criminal Convictions Data Policy on our Data Protection Policies page for more details.