We respect the privacy of our users.

This Privacy Policy describes the information that we may collect on our website and how we may use such information. By using the site, you are agreeing to the collection and use of certain information as outlined below. 

Who we are 

Population Matters 
The Chandlery, 50 Westminster Bridge Rd 
London SE1 7QY, UK 
Tel: +44 (0)20 8123 9116 
Email: enquiries@populationmatters.org 
 
To raise a concern, you can also contact the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO): Website: www.ico.org.uk | Tel: 0303 123 1113 

Information we may collect

We may collect certain non-personally identifiable information whenever a user visits the site, including the user’s Internet Protocol (IP) address, referring  Uniform Resource Locator (URL), browser type and the date and time of the visit. We may also merge such information collected about a user with that collected from other users in order to identify and analyse trends to improve the site. 

We may collect personal information, including but not limited to name, street address, e-mail address and telephone number, in order to engage you with our work, process donations and gifts, and to secure your support – financial or otherwise – for our activities.  

We conform to the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UKGDPR) law which came into effect on 25 May 2018. Under this legislation we will send you communications about our news, activities and appeals by post or phone unless you have previously told us that you do not want to be contacted in this way. We rely on legitimate interest for this processing as we believe Population Matters has a legitimate interest in promoting the charity. 

Cookies and Tracking Technologies 

Our website uses cookies, including those set by Google Analytics, to understand how users interact with our site and improve your experience. These cookies are non-essential and are only activated with your consent via our cookie banner. Find out more about Google Analytics and how to opt out.  

Social Media and Third-Party Tools 

With your consent, we use conversion Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) from platforms like Facebook to measure user interactions across our platforms. This allows us to evaluate our reach and improve our communications. This is done based on your cookie consent preferences and we do not share your personal data with these platforms for their own purposes without your explicit agreement. 

How we use your data 

We will never sell your personal data. We may share your data with trusted service providers under strict confidentiality agreements. This includes to: 

• fulfil your requests – such as applications for membership, participation in campaigns and research, and provision of information 

• process donations, or other payments and verify financial transactions 

• comply with charity law and other regulations 

• handle orders, deliver products and communicate with you about orders 

• record any contact we have with you 

• provide tailored stewardship 

• prevent or detect fraud or abuses of our websites and enable third parties to carry out technical functions on our behalf 

• communicate with our supporters and customers, including marketing and promotion 

• carry out research and analysis on the demographics, interests, behaviour, responses and feedback of our users and supporters. This helps us gain a better understanding of them and to enable us to improve our service. This research may be carried out internally by our employees or we may ask another company to do this work for us where appropriate contracts are in place 

• We may use a data screening agency to help us obtain funding by identifying people with a particular interest in our work, or ability to provide us support at a higher level. As a small charity this is essential for us to improve our impact, but if you would prefer for your data to not be used in this way please contact us on 020 8123 9116 or email enquiries@populationmatters.org. 

• provide a personalised service to you when you visit our websites – this could include customising the content and/or layout of our pages for individual users along with email personalised to an individual’s interests or location, where appropriate 

• maintain a historical record of Population Matters’ activities 

• organise and administer events and plan fundraising activities 

• manage employees and volunteers including training and competencies 

If we ever need to transfer your personal data outside the European Economic Area (EEA), we will use appropriate safeguards to ensure your data stays safe and secure, in line with GDPR requirements. 

Storing your data 

We keep personal data only for as long as is necessary for the purpose it was collected. Typically, this means: 

• Up to six years after your last interaction, for financial and audit compliance (e.g., Gift Aid, His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) etc). 

• For other data, we retain it for a period relevant to the purpose for which it was collected, or until you request its deletion. 

• Data may be anonymised for statistical purposes beyond this timeframe. 

If you wish to enact your ‘right to be forgotten’ sooner, please contact us on 020 8123 9116 or email enquiries@populationmatters.org. 

Population Matters will take commercially reasonable efforts to prevent the loss or unauthorised disclosure of information. However, the security of data transmitted over the Internet cannot be completely guaranteed, and Population Matters shall not be responsible for any harm that users or any third party may suffer as a result of a breach of security with respect to use of the site or any information transmitted to the site. 

Information from underage users

The site is intended for adults and Population Matters will not knowingly collect any personal information from children 13 years of age or younger. If we discover or are notified that we have collected any personally identifying information from a child under the age of 13, we will remove that information from our records as soon as reasonably possible. 

Confidentiality and disclosure

We understand that some information collected may be sensitive or confidential in nature, and we will take reasonable measures to keep this information private. In the event that Population Matters is required by law or court order to disclose the information submitted by a user, we will provide the user with notice (unless such notice is prohibited) so that the user may object to or seek to limit the disclosure. 

Third-party websites

The site may contain links to third-party websites that are not owned or controlled by Population Matters. We are not responsible for the actions or privacy practices of any third-party websites accessed from the site. 

Events

We may take photographs or videos at our events for promotional use on our website, social media, and publications. By registering or attending, you will be informed and given the opportunity to opt out. No one will be named in photos unless they give explicit consent. If you do not wish to appear in images, please notify a staff member or photographer on the day, or email supporters@populationmatters.org in advance. 

Your Rights 

The UK General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) gives you certain rights over your data and how we use it. These include the right to access, rectify, erase, restrict, port, object, or complain regarding your data. If you make a request relating to any of the rights listed above, we will consider each request in accordance with all applicable data protection laws and regulations. 

If you would like to opt out of fundraising and marketing emails, please contact supporters@populationmatters.org or you can update your Communications Preferences here  

If you have any questions about how we use your data you can speak our team on 020 8123 9116 or email supporters@populationmatters.org. Alternatively, you can write to: Population Matters, The Chandlery, 50 Westminster Bridge Rd, London SE1 7QY, UK. 

Changes to privacy policy

This policy came into effect on 03 March 2021 and was last reviewed on 06 August 2025. It will be reviewed periodically. If we make material changes to this policy, we will notify users by posting a notice on this site.