Last updated: October 2026

1. About Afiwe

Afiwe is a community-led print and online media and storytelling publication celebrating African, Caribbean and Black British voices, culture, heritage, creativity and lived experience.

Afiwe (Print): ISSN 2979-6261
Afiwe (Online): ISSN 2979-627X

Afiwe is operated and published by Skills Within Developments CIC, a Community Interest Company registered in England and Wales.

For the purposes of UK data protection law, Skills Within Developments CIC is responsible for the personal information collected and used through the Afiwe website and associated Afiwe activities.

Throughout this policy, references to “Afiwe”, “we”, “us” or “our” mean Afiwe and Skills Within Developments CIC as appropriate.

You can contact us about privacy or data protection at:

Email: office@afiwe.org
Website: afiwe.org

2. Purpose of This Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy explains:

• what personal information we may collect;
• why we collect it;
• how we use it;
• who we may share it with;
• how long we may keep it;
• the choices and rights available to you; and
• how you can contact us if you have a question or concern.

We are committed to handling personal information fairly, responsibly and transparently.

3. What Personal Information We May Collect

The information we collect depends on how you interact with Afiwe.

It may include:

Contact information

Such as:

• your name;
• email address;
• telephone number;
• organisation;
• job title or role;
• social media details.

Newsletter information

If you subscribe to Afiwe updates, we may collect:

• your name;
• email address;
• subscription preferences;
• information about when and how you subscribed;
• information relating to your interaction with our communications.

Enquiries and correspondence

If you contact us, we may keep:

• your contact details;
• the contents of your message;
• correspondence between you and Afiwe;
• information necessary to respond to or manage your enquiry.

Contributors, interviewees and community stories

If you contribute to Afiwe or take part in an interview, article, feature, photograph, video or other content, we may collect information such as:

• your name;
• biography;
• contact details;
• photographs;
• video or audio recordings;
• interview recordings;
• written contributions;
• quotations;
• information about your work, organisation or community activity;
• social media or website links;
• other information you choose to share with us.

Some stories may involve more personal or sensitive information. We will take additional care when handling this type of information.

Event and press information

If you attend, contribute to or communicate with us about an event, press opportunity, interview or media activity, we may collect information including:

• your name;
• organisation;
• contact details;
• accreditation details;
• attendance information;
• interview requests;
• correspondence.

Advertising and partnership enquiries

If you enquire about advertising, sponsorship, partnerships or collaboration, we may collect:

• your name;
• organisation or business;
• professional contact details;
• correspondence;
• information about the proposed relationship.

Website usage information

When you visit our website, certain technical information may be collected automatically, depending on the technologies and cookies in use.

This could include:

• IP address;
• browser type;
• device type;
• pages visited;
• approximate location;
• date and time of visits;
• how you arrived at our website;
• interactions with the website.

Where required, non-essential cookies or similar technologies will only be used in accordance with your cookie choices.

4. How We Collect Information

We may receive personal information:

• directly from you;
• when you complete a website form;
• when you subscribe to our newsletter;
• when you email or message us;
• when you submit an article, story or event;
• when you take part in an interview;
• when you attend an Afiwe event or activity;
• when you communicate with us through social media;
• through organisations working with us;
• from publicly available sources where appropriate;
• through website and analytics technologies.

If another person or organisation provides information about you, we will consider whether it is appropriate and lawful for us to use that information.

5. Why We Use Personal Information

We may use personal information to:

• operate the Afiwe website;
• respond to enquiries;
• manage newsletter subscriptions;
• send Afiwe news and updates where permitted;
• receive and assess story ideas and submissions;
• conduct interviews;
• prepare articles, features and other editorial content;
• publish appropriate contributor information;
• produce print and digital editions of Afiwe;
• create photography, audio, video and social media content;
• manage events and community activities;
• manage media and press relationships;
• communicate with partners and community organisations;
• respond to advertising or sponsorship enquiries;
• administer partnerships and collaborations;
• improve our website and communications;
• maintain appropriate records;
• protect the security of our website and systems;
• deal with complaints and editorial concerns;
• meet our legal, regulatory and safeguarding responsibilities.

We will not use personal information for purposes that are incompatible with the reason it was originally collected unless there is a lawful basis for doing so.

6. Our Lawful Bases for Using Personal Information

UK data protection law requires us to have a lawful reason for processing personal information.

Depending on the circumstances, we may rely on one or more of the following.

Consent

We may rely on your consent where you have actively agreed to a particular use of your information.

Examples may include:

• subscribing to marketing or newsletter communications;
• agreeing to particular uses of photographs or recordings;
• sharing certain personal stories or information.

Where we rely on consent, you can withdraw that consent at any time.

Legitimate interests

We may use information where it is reasonably necessary for the legitimate interests of Afiwe or Skills Within Developments CIC and where those interests do not override your rights and freedoms.

Examples may include:

• responding to professional or community enquiries;
• managing relationships with contributors and partners;
• maintaining records;
• improving our services;
• protecting our website and systems;
• undertaking appropriate outreach and communications.

We will consider the impact on individuals before relying on legitimate interests.

Contract

We may process information where this is necessary to enter into or fulfil an agreement with you.

For example, this may apply to commissioned contributors, advertisers, suppliers or other contractual relationships.

Legal obligation

We may process information where we are required to do so by law.

Other lawful bases

There may be limited circumstances where another lawful basis under UK data protection law is appropriate.

7. Sensitive Personal Information

Some Afiwe stories and community activities may involve information that requires additional protection.

This could include information relating to:

• racial or ethnic origin;
• health;
• disability;
• religion or belief;
• political opinions;
• sexual orientation;
• other sensitive aspects of someone’s life.

Afiwe does not ask people to provide sensitive information unless it is relevant and appropriate.

Where we process particularly sensitive personal information, we will ensure that there is an appropriate lawful basis and any additional legal condition required for that processing.

We will also consider whether publication of such information is necessary, proportionate and consistent with our Editorial Policy.

8. Children and Young People

Afiwe may feature or work with children and young people through community stories, events, creative projects and youth activities.

We take additional care when handling children’s personal information.

Depending on the circumstances, we may seek consent or permission from a parent, guardian, school, community organisation or other responsible adult.

Where appropriate, children and young people should also understand how their information, photographs or contributions will be used.

We will seek to avoid publishing information that could unnecessarily identify, locate or place a child or young person at risk.

Safeguarding considerations take priority over editorial or promotional interests.

9. Newsletter and Email Communications

You may choose to subscribe to Afiwe newsletters, updates or other communications.

Where consent is required, we will ask you to actively opt in.

You can unsubscribe from marketing communications at any time by:

• using the unsubscribe link contained in an email; or
• contacting office@afiwe.org.

We may use a specialist email service provider, such as MailerLite, to manage subscriptions and distribute communications.

We may retain limited information about people who have unsubscribed where necessary to make sure we respect their preference not to receive further marketing.

Unsubscribing from marketing does not prevent us contacting you about an existing enquiry, agreement, contribution or other non-marketing matter.

10. Contributors and Published Content

Where someone knowingly contributes to an Afiwe article, interview, photograph, video, podcast or other publication, some personal information may become publicly available.

This could include:

• their name;
• image;
• biography;
• quotations;
• professional or community role;
• information intentionally included within their story.

Once information has been published publicly, particularly online or through printed material, it may be copied, shared or archived by others outside Afiwe’s control.

We therefore take care when deciding what personal information should be published.

Requests relating to published content will be considered individually and in accordance with our Editorial Policy, legal responsibilities, freedom of expression considerations and the circumstances of the individual concerned.

11. Photographs, Video and Audio

Afiwe may use photographs, video and audio in connection with:

• interviews;
• editorial features;
• events;
• community activities;
• social media;
• promotional material;
• our website;
• printed publications.

Where appropriate, we will explain how recordings or photographs are intended to be used and seek consent or other appropriate permission.

Different considerations may apply to photographs of public events, crowds or journalistic activity.

12. Cookies

Cookies are small files placed on your device when you visit a website.

Afiwe may use cookies and similar technologies to:

• make the website function correctly;
• remember choices;
• maintain security;
• understand website usage;
• improve website performance;
• support embedded services or media.

Some cookies are necessary for the operation of the website.

Other cookies, including certain analytics, advertising or third-party cookies, may require your consent before being used.

Where required, you will be given the opportunity to accept or reject non-essential cookies.

Further information should be available through our Cookie Policy and cookie preference settings.

13. Analytics

We may use website analytics to understand how people use Afiwe.org.

This may help us understand matters such as:

• which pages are most visited;
• how people find our website;
• how long visitors spend on parts of the site;
• what devices are being used;
• how the website could be improved.

Where analytics involve non-essential cookies or similar tracking technologies, they will be managed through our cookie consent system where required.

14. Social Media and Embedded Content

Our website may contain links to or embedded content from third-party services, including social media and video platforms.

For example, this may include services such as:

• Instagram;
• YouTube;
• Facebook;
• other media or social platforms.

These services may collect information about visitors in accordance with their own privacy and cookie policies.

Afiwe does not control how independent third-party platforms process personal information.

We encourage you to review the privacy information provided by those services.

15. Links to Other Websites

Our website may contain links to websites operated by other organisations.

This Privacy Policy applies to Afiwe and does not govern independent external websites.

We are not responsible for the privacy practices of third-party websites.

16. Who We May Share Information With

We do not sell personal information.

We may share personal information where necessary with trusted organisations or service providers that help us operate Afiwe.

These may include:

• website hosting and technology providers;
• website developers;
• email and newsletter providers;
• cloud storage providers;
• IT support providers;
• designers, printers and production partners;
• photographers, videographers or editors;
• event and project partners;
• professional advisers;
• accountants;
• insurers;
• legal advisers;
• regulators, public authorities or law enforcement where legally required.

We will seek to share only the information reasonably necessary for the relevant purpose.

Where third parties process information on our behalf, appropriate data protection arrangements should be in place.

17. Partners and Community Organisations

Afiwe works collaboratively with community organisations, cultural institutions, public bodies and other partners.

Working with Afiwe does not automatically give a partner access to personal information held by Afiwe.

Where information needs to be shared for a joint project or activity, we will consider:

• what information needs to be shared;
• why it is necessary;
• the appropriate lawful basis;
• who is responsible for the information;
• whether additional information or consent needs to be provided to individuals.

18. International Data Transfers

Some organisations that provide digital services to Afiwe may process or store information outside the United Kingdom.

Where personal information is transferred internationally, we will take reasonable steps to ensure appropriate safeguards are in place as required by UK data protection law.

19. How Long We Keep Personal Information

We do not aim to keep personal information for longer than reasonably necessary.

Different information may need to be retained for different periods depending on:

• why it was collected;
• whether an ongoing relationship exists;
• contractual requirements;
• financial and accounting requirements;
• legal obligations;
• safeguarding requirements;
• complaint or dispute handling;
• editorial and archive considerations.

For example, an unanswered general enquiry may not need to be retained for as long as information relating to a published article, contractual relationship or financial transaction.

We will periodically review the information we hold and delete or anonymise information where it is no longer required.

20. Editorial and Historical Archives

Afiwe exists partly to document community experience, heritage and culture.

Certain published material may therefore form part of Afiwe’s historical and editorial archive.

This may include:

• articles;
• interviews;
• photographs;
• magazines;
• event coverage;
• recordings;
• other published material.

We may retain appropriate editorial records for longer periods where there is a legitimate journalistic, historical or archival reason to do so.

Requests relating to archived or published material will be considered individually.

21. How We Protect Personal Information

We take reasonable organisational and technical measures to protect personal information from:

• unauthorised access;
• inappropriate disclosure;
• accidental loss;
• alteration;
• destruction;
• misuse.

Access to personal information should be limited to people who reasonably need it for their work or role.

However, no internet or electronic storage system can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

22. Your Data Protection Rights

Depending on the circumstances, UK data protection law gives you rights relating to your personal information.

These may include the right to:

• ask us what information we hold about you;
• receive a copy of your personal information;
• ask us to correct inaccurate or incomplete information;
• ask us to delete personal information in certain circumstances;
• ask us to restrict how information is used;
• object to certain uses of your information;
• withdraw consent where we rely on consent;
• receive certain information in a portable format;
• raise concerns about how your information has been used.

Not every right applies in every situation.

There may also be particular legal considerations where a request concerns journalistic, editorial, freedom of expression or archived material.

If you would like to exercise a data protection right, please contact:

office@afiwe.org

We may need to confirm your identity before responding to a request.

23. Your Right to Object to Direct Marketing

You have the right to object to the use of your personal information for direct marketing.

If you ask us to stop sending direct marketing, we will stop using your information for that purpose.

We may retain limited information on a suppression or “do not contact” list so that we can make sure your preference continues to be respected.

24. Complaints

If you have concerns about how Afiwe has handled your personal information, we would welcome the opportunity to address them.

Please contact:

office@afiwe.org

You also have the right to raise a complaint with the UK’s data protection regulator:

Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO)
Website: ico.org.uk

You do not have to contact us before making a complaint to the ICO.

25. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect:

• changes to the Afiwe website;
• new services or activities;
• changes to the technologies we use;
• changes in data protection law or regulatory guidance.

The latest version will be published on afiwe.org with the date it was last updated.

26. Contact Us

For questions about this Privacy Policy, your personal information or your data protection rights, please contact:

Afiwe / Skills Within Developments CIC
Email: office@afiwe.org
Website: afiwe.org

Last updated: October 2026