Privacy Policy

Who is responsible for your information

Shift-Spark is operated by Chris as a personal, non-commercial website. For privacy questions or requests, email hello@shift-spark.com.

Information collected

If you use the contact form, the site collects the name, email address and message you provide. The website, hosting provider and security services may also process limited technical information such as your IP address, browser type, device information, date and time of access, and security or server-log information.

Please do not include sensitive medical, financial or other confidential information in a contact message.

How and why information is used

• To receive, read and reply to messages.
• To operate, maintain and secure the website.
• To detect spam, abuse and malicious activity.
• To diagnose technical problems and maintain reliable service.
• To comply with a legal obligation or protect legal rights where necessary.

The main lawful basis is legitimate interests: responding to genuine correspondence and operating a secure personal website. Where processing is required by law, the lawful basis is compliance with a legal obligation.

Contact form and email

The contact form is provided using Contact Form 7. Submissions are sent by email to the site administrator. Contact Form 7 is not configured to store copies of messages in the WordPress database.

Messages and replies are kept only for as long as reasonably necessary to deal with the correspondence, maintain an appropriate record of the conversation, resolve disputes or meet legal requirements. They are then deleted when no longer needed.

Spam protection

The contact form uses Cloudflare Turnstile to distinguish genuine visitors from automated abuse. Cloudflare may process technical information about your browser, device and interaction with the site for security purposes. This processing is governed by Cloudflare’s Privacy Policy.

Hosting and service providers

The website and its email services are hosted through Fasthosts/IONOS. Hosting infrastructure may process server logs, network information and email data as necessary to provide and secure the service. Limited information may also be processed by WordPress software providers and Cloudflare where required for the functions described above.

Personal information is not sold. It is only shared with service providers where necessary to operate the site, or where disclosure is required by law. Some providers may process information outside the UK. Where this happens, the provider is responsible for using an appropriate lawful transfer mechanism and safeguards.

Cookies and similar technologies

Shift-Spark does not currently use advertising or marketing cookies. WordPress may set essential cookies for administrators who sign in, and security services may use necessary technologies to protect the site and contact form. These are used for security and core operation rather than advertising.

Embedded content and external links

Posts may link to or embed content from other websites. Embedded content behaves as though you visited the originating website directly and may allow that provider to collect information or use cookies under its own privacy policy. Shift-Spark is not responsible for the privacy practices of external websites.

Security and retention

Reasonable technical and organisational measures are used to protect the website and the information it handles. No internet service or email system can be guaranteed completely secure. Technical logs are retained according to the hosting provider’s operational and security requirements.

Your rights

Depending on the circumstances, UK data-protection law may give you rights to request access to your personal information, correct inaccurate information, request deletion or restriction, object to processing, and receive certain information in a portable form.

You have the right to object to processing based on legitimate interests. To exercise a right or ask a question, email hello@shift-spark.com. Identity may need to be verified before a request is completed.

You may also complain to the UK Information Commissioner’s Office. Information about your rights and how to raise a concern is available at ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint.

Changes to this policy

This notice may be updated when the website, its services or applicable requirements change. The latest version and update date will always appear on this page.