Who We Are

Reasons to Stay is a UK-based suicide prevention and wellbeing project that shares anonymous letters written by volunteers and provides signposting to support services.

For the purposes of data protection law, Reasons to Stay is the data controller for information collected through this website.

What Information We Collect

We collect as little personal data as possible.

Information you provide directly

This may include:

  • Your name or email address if you contact us
  • Any information you choose to include in a message or form
  • Feedback you submit about the website or letters

Automatically collected information

When you visit the site, we may automatically collect:

  • IP address (anonymised where possible)
  • Browser type and device information
  • Pages visited and time spent on the site

We do not knowingly collect data from children under 13.

Anonymous Letters

Letters displayed on Reasons to Stay are submitted anonymously.

We do not publish:

  • Names
  • Email addresses
  • Identifying personal details

Any identifying information submitted accidentally is removed before publication.

How We Use Your Information

We only use personal data where we have a lawful reason to do so.

We may use your information to:

  • Respond to messages or enquiries
  • Improve the website and user experience
  • Monitor site performance and security
  • Understand how the site is used so we can improve support

We do not use your data for advertising or marketing.

Lawful Basis for Processing

Under UK GDPR, we rely on the following lawful bases:

  • Consent - when you choose to contact us
  • Legitimate interests - to keep the site safe, functional, and effective
  • Legal obligation - where required by law

Cookies

Reasons to Stay uses essential cookies only.

These cookies:

  • Help the site function correctly
  • Support basic analytics and performance monitoring

We do not use advertising or tracking cookies.

You can control cookies through your browser settings.

Analytics

We may use privacy-focused analytics tools to understand how the site is used.

These tools:

  • Do not track individuals
  • Do not create user profiles
  • Use anonymised or aggregated data

Third-Party Links

The site includes links to external support organisations and resources. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of third-party websites.

We recommend reviewing their privacy policies separately.

How We Store and Protect Data

We take data protection seriously.

Your information is:

  • Stored securely
  • Only accessed by authorised people
  • Protected using appropriate technical and organisational measures

We do not keep personal data longer than necessary.

Sharing Your Data

We do not sell, rent, or trade personal data.

We may share limited information only if:

  • Required by law
  • Necessary to protect the safety of users or others
  • Needed to maintain the security of the site

Your Rights

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

  • Access your personal data
  • Ask for incorrect data to be corrected
  • Request deletion of your data
  • Withdraw consent at any time
  • Object to or restrict how your data is used

To exercise your rights, contact us using the details above.

Complaints

If you are unhappy with how your data is handled, you have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO):

https://www.ico.org.uk

We encourage you to contact us first so we can try to resolve any concerns.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time.

Any changes will be posted on this page with an updated date.