​Autism North East (“ANE”, “we”, “us” or “our”) respects your privacy and is committed to protecting your personal information.

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This Privacy Policy explains what personal information we collect, how and why we use it, who we may share it with, how we keep it secure, how long we keep it, and your rights under the UK General Data Protection Regulation (“UK GDPR”) and the Data Protection Act 2018.

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Who we are?

Autism North East is the organisation responsible for your personal information.

 

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, how we use your personal information, or wish to exercise one of your data protection rights, please contact us:

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Autism North East

Email: info@autismnortheast.org.uk
Website: http://www.autismnortheast.org.uk
Postal address: Clara Vale Village Hall, South View, Clara Vale, Tyne & Wear, NE40 3SY

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For the purposes of data protection law, Autism North East is the data controller for the personal information we collect and use in connection with our services, unless we tell you otherwise.

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What is personal information?

Personal information (also called personal data) means information that identifies you or could reasonably be used to identify you.

This may include information such as your name, email address, telephone number, postal address, IP address, information about your education or employment, and information you provide to us through our website or referral forms.

Some information is considered special category data under the UK GDPR. This includes information concerning a person's physical or mental health. Because ANE provides assessment and related services, we may process health information as part of providing those services. 

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How does ANE collect my personal information?

We will only ever collect your personal information with your knowledge and permission; the majority of information we collect is provided by you for one of the following reasons:

 

• You have made an enquiry to us. 

• You have completed a self-referral form. 

• You have completed questionnaires as part of our assessment process. •

• We have taken notes about you during an appointment or observation. We may also receive your personal information indirectly if you are: • related to one of our clients; 

• involved in one of our client’s education; 

• work with one of our clients. 

• referred to us by a professional person/organisation.

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What personal information does ANE collect about me?

We only collect the information necessary to provide our services to you.  In the majority of cases, we only collect the following information: 

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• Your contact details (such as email, home address, and telephone number).

• Health data (such as school or work observations, health questionnaires, notes from appointments, or interviews with family or carers).

• Your place of work or education. 

• Your immediate family or carers. 

• Your General Practitioner (GP).

 

Under the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR), we lawfully process (collect) your personal information based on: 

Your consent: you have expressed permission for us to collect and use your personal information as part of our services. For example, when you complete a referral form. 

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A contractual obligation: we need to process your personal information for us to complete our services effectively. For example, we must collect certain information if you ask us to provide services to you.

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​Does ANE keep my personal information safe?

Yes – all digital files containing your personal information are held on a secure server and are only accessible by ANE’s small team. If any of your personal information is held physically, it is stored securely in locked premises also only accessible by ANE.

 

Please note: we ask that you DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES send us photographs or videos of yourself or your child in the post or via email. Photos or videos we receive will not be opened and will be deleted/destroyed immediately.

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How long will ANE keep my personal information?

We will only store your personal information as long as necessary. We generally store final reports indefinitely in case they are lost and need referring back to.

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What are my rights?

Under the GDPR, you are guaranteed certain rights related to your personal information:

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• Right of access: you have the right to ask us for copies of your personal information. 

• Right to rectification: you have the right to ask us to correct inaccurate personal information you think is inaccurate. You also have the right to ask us to complete information you think is incomplete. 

• Right to erasure: you have the right to ask us to erase your personal information in certain circumstances. As we process important information related to your mental and physical health, we are legally obliged to maintain certain records.

• Right to restriction of processing: you have the right to ask us to not to process your personal information in certain circumstances.

• Right to object to processing: you have the right to object to the processing of your personal information in certain circumstances.

• Right to data portability: you have the right to ask that we transfer the personal information you gave us to another organisation, such as your school or GP.

 

If you contact us to exercise one of your rights detailed above, we will respond to you within one month.

Please contact ANE at info@autismnortheast.org.uk if you wish to make a request.

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Last updated:  25/09/2026