Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

M4Youth ("we," "our," or "us") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and safeguard your personal information when you use our youth mentoring platform.

2. Information We Collect

Personal Information

• Name, email address, and phone number
• Date of birth (to verify eligibility)
• Parent/guardian contact details (for users under 16)
• Profile information and preferences
• Payment information (processed securely by our payment provider)

Usage Information

• Session history and booking details
• Messages and communications on the platform
• Device and browser information
• IP address and location data

3. How We Use Your Information

We use your information to:

• Provide and improve our mentoring services
• Match you with suitable mentors
• Process payments and bookings
• Send service updates and communications
• Ensure platform safety and security
• Comply with legal obligations

4. Information Sharing

We may share your information with:

• Mentors: Relevant information needed for sessions
• Service Providers: Payment processors, hosting services
• Parents/Guardians: Progress reports for users under 16
• Legal Authorities: When required by law or for safeguarding

We never sell your personal information to third parties.

5. Data Security

We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your data, including encryption, secure servers, and regular security audits. All mentors are DBS-checked and trained in data protection.

6. Your Rights (GDPR)

Under GDPR, you have the right to:

• Access: Request a copy of your personal data
• Rectification: Correct inaccurate information
• Erasure: Request deletion of your data
• Portability: Receive your data in a portable format
• Object: Object to certain processing activities
• Restrict: Limit how we use your data

7. Children's Privacy

We take extra care with data from users under 16. We require parental consent and limit the data we collect. Parents can access, modify, or delete their child's information at any time.

8. Cookies

We use cookies to improve your experience. For more details, see our Cookie Policy.

9. Data Retention

We retain your data for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide services. After account deletion, we may retain certain data for legal compliance for up to 7 years.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this policy periodically. We will notify you of significant changes via email or through our platform.

11. Contact Us

For privacy-related questions or to exercise your rights, contact our Data Protection Officer at privacy@m4youth.org or through our contact page.