Privacy

Privacy notice for Connected Communities Grant Scheme

This privacy notice concerns the processing of personal data that takes place by Economy, Enterprise and Skills for the ‘Connected Communities Grant Scheme’.

In September 2025, Devon County Council, submitted a bid to the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) under the Digital Inclusion Innovation Fund. The outcome of this bid is expected in late October 2025, with delivery activity anticipated to begin on 3 November 2025. To ensure readiness for delivery in the event of a successful bid, Devon County Council is launching the Connected Communities Grant Scheme at risk.

Subject to funding, Connected Communities a revenue grant scheme which will support voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations, community groups, charities, and other not-for-profit entities to deliver digital inclusion sessions across Devon and Torbay.

DCC is collecting and or processing your personal data as a Data Controller under the United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulations (UK GDPR) and our ICO registration number is Z6475582. 

This notice explains what information we collect, why we collect it and how we keep it secure. It also explains your rights and our legal obligation. Should you wish to find out more about Devon County Council’s data protection policies please contact our Data Protection Officer.

We will notify you of any changes to this privacy notice

This privacy notice was last updated 8 October 2025. If we use your personal data for any new purposes, updates will be made to the policy information and changes communicated, where necessary in accordance with current data protection legislation.  Any queries relating to this privacy notice please contact the Data Protection Officer.

What information are we processing?

We may collect, store and process information about you which may include your:

  • name
  • company name
  • company address including postcode
  • contact telephone number
  • contact email address
  • VAT Number
  • registration number – this will be the number provided to you by the appropriate governing body, regulator, or official registry, for example, Companies House or the Charity Commission

Purpose of collecting or processing your personal data

DCC may need to collect and process your personal data so that we can:

  • process your application – we use your information to assess your eligibility, evaluate your proposal, and contact you about your application
  • manage and administer grants – if your application is successful, we use your data to issue funding agreements, make payments, and monitor the progress of your delivery
  • meet legal and regulatory obligations – we are required to keep records for auditing, financial reporting, and compliance with laws such as the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR)
  • evaluate the impact of our funding – we may use your information to understand how our funding is being used and to improve future programmes
  • ensure transparency and accountability – we may publish basic details of funded projects (such as organisation name, project title, and amount awarded) to demonstrate how public funds are used
  • prevent fraud and misuse of funds – we may share your information with government departments or fraud prevention agencies to carry out checks

The legal basis for us collecting your personal data

Where we are collecting personal data about you for the provision of one of the purposes outlined in this privacy notice, we rely upon:

  • Article 6(1)(a) – consent –

Where we are collecting personal data about you for the provision of one of the purposes outlined in this privacy notice, we rely upon your consent as the lawful basis for processing this personal data.

You may withdraw consent to the processing of your personal data at any time, by writing to: Debra Steele, Senior Economic Development Officer, Devon County Council Room L78, County Hall, Topsham Road, Exeter EX2 4QD or by writing to our Data Protection Officer .

Please note that if you withdraw consent to the processing of your personal data, we will be unable to provide you with the services listed in this notice.

Personal data that is collected for any of the purposes outlined in this notice is never used for direct marketing purposes and is not sold on to any other third parties.

Recipients or categories of recipients that we may share your personal data with

When processing your personal data, it may be necessary for us to share personal data with third-party organisations such as:

  • The UK Government –The Department for Science and Technology

If we feel that it is necessary to share your personal data with professionals to ensure you or someone you work with is safeguarded from harm, we rely upon the provisions of the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 and Children Act 1989 & 2004.

Where it is necessary to share medical or social care information for these purposes, we rely upon article 9(2)(h) of the General Data Protection Regulation (information necessary for medical diagnosis, the provision of health or social care or treatment or the management of health or social care systems).

We may also need to share some personal data about you, so that we can support third party organisations to discharge their regulatory requirements. This includes organisations such as:

  • The Data Protection Regulator (the Information Commissioner’s Office)

We may also share information to enable us to comply with court orders and other legal obligations.  If this is necessary, we will only share the minimum amount of personal data needed for this purpose.

How long will we hold your personal data?

Devon County Council will retain your personal data for seven years.

Your data protection rights

Under Data Protection Legislation, you have the right to obtain a copy of their personal records held by us, this is called a Subject Access Request (SAR).

Details of how to make a request can be found here.

Further details on your rights under data protection legislation and how to exercise them.

Complaints

If you have any comments, queries or complaints about this privacy notice or the processing of your personal data please contact our Data Protection Officer.

Alternatively, if you are not happy with the way that DCC is handling your personal data, you are entitled to appeal to the Information Commissioners Office (ICO). The Information Commissioners Office enforces and oversees the Data Protection Regulations. Contact details are below:

Information Commissioner’s Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF

Email: casework@ico.org.uk

Automated decisions

None of the information you provide will be used to make automatic decisions about you.