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Privacy Policy

Website Privacy Policy

Version 1.0 | Last updated: 23rd January 2026

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This project has been submitted for ethical approval to the Education, Culture and Society Research Ethics Panel, University of Worcester (Ref: ECS25260029)

 

Oracle of Place: Creative Tools for Keeping Community Knowledge Alive

 

This website supports a PhD research project exploring how people’s stories about local places are shared, remembered, and kept alive within the community.

 

This privacy notice explains what personal information is collected through this website, how it is used, how it is stored, and your rights under UK data protection law.

 

Who is responsible for your data?

The research is led by Rebecca Burns, PhD researcher.

 

The Data Controller for this research is the University of Worcester, which is responsible for ensuring that personal data is handled in line with UK data protection law.

 

If you have questions about this privacy notice or how your data is used, you can contact:

Rebecca Burns

Email: burr1_25@uni.worc.ac.uk

 

The University's Data Protection Officer can be contacted at:

Email: infoassurance@worc.ac.uk

 

For more information about data protection at the University, visit:

https://informationassurance.wp.worc.ac.uk/

 

What information is collected through this website?

Depending on how you use the website, the following information may be collected:

 

  • Your name and email address (if you choose to provide them)

  • A written story you submit about a place via the website submission form

  • Your consent choices (for example, whether you wish to be contacted, remain anonymous, or allow future use)

  • Any emails or messages you send to the researcher

 

Basic technical data including IP addresses and browser information may be collected automatically by the website platform from all visitors, regardless of whether they submit anything.

 

You do not have to provide personal details to browse the website.

You only provide personal information if you choose to take part.

 

Why is this information collected?

Your information is collected in order to:

 

  • carry out academic research as part of a PhD

  • understand how people relate to local places

  • contact you (if you choose) to discuss consent and use of your story

  • manage participation ethically and responsibly

  • meet legal and ethical obligations under UK research governance

 

Your data will not be used for marketing purposes.

 

What is the legal basis for using your data?

Under UK GDPR, the legal basis for processing personal data for this project is:

 

  • Task carried out in the public interest, as part of academic research conducted by a UK university

 

Where you give additional consent (for example, for public sharing or heritage archiving), this consent will be recorded separately and respected.

 

How is your information stored?

The website is hosted on the Wix platform (Wix.com Ltd), which processes data on behalf of the Researcher in accordance with a data processing agreement. Wix servers are located in the EU/UK, ensuring compliance with UK GDPR. All data submitted through the website is promptly transferred to University's secure systems.

 

Your submitted information is stored securely in line with the University of Worcester policies.

Specifically:

  • Digital data (including written submissions, consent records, and contact details) is stored on University-approved secure systems (University OneDrive and SharePoint)

  • Access is restricted to the researcher and, where necessary, the supervisory team

  • Personal identifiers are stored separately from research materials wherever possible

  • No data is stored on unencrypted personal devices or shared via insecure platforms

 

 

How long is your information kept?

  • Research data is normally retained for up to 10 years after the end of the project, in line with University policy

  • Personal contact details are deleted once they are no longer needed, unless you have given explicit consent for longer retention

  • If you consent to long-term heritage archiving, your material may be preserved for longer as part of the historical record. This will only happen with your clear agreement

 

Will your information be shared?

Your personal information will not be shared outside the research team, except:

 

  • where required by law, or

  • where there is a serious concern about safety, in which case this would be discussed with you wherever possible

 

Any public use of stories (for example in exhibitions or archives) will only happen with your explicit consent and according to your chosen level of anonymity or attribution.

 

Your rights

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

  • ask what personal information is held about you

  • request a copy of your personal data

  • ask for incorrect information to be corrected

  • request deletion of your data, within the limits explained in the Participant Information Sheet

  • withdraw consent for optional uses (where applicable)

  • raise concerns about how your data is handled

 

No automated decision-making or profiling is used in this research.

Please note that once material has been published or archived with consent, complete deletion may not always be possible. This is explained clearly before participation.

 

If you are not satisfied with how your personal data is being handled, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO):

Information Commissioner's Office

Wycliffe House, Water Lane

Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF

Tel: 0303 123 1113

Website: www.ico.org.uk

 

Cookies and analytics

This research website does not use cookies for marketing or profiling.

Basic technical information (such as page visits) may be collected automatically for website functionality, but this data is not used to identify individuals or analyse behaviour for research purposes.

 

Changes to this notice

This privacy notice may be updated if the research project develops or if legal requirements change. The most recent version will always be available on this website.

 

Contact and concerns

If you have questions or concerns about how your data is handled, you can contact:

 

Rebecca Burns

PhD Researcher

Email: burr1_25@uni.worc.ac.uk or on the contact form here

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