PRIVACY POLICY

 

Privacy Policy

Effective Date: 29 June 2026

1. Introduction

Welcome to The North Star Path.

The North Star Path is operated by Charles Whitaker and is committed to protecting your privacy and handling your personal information responsibly, securely and transparently.

This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store and protect your personal information when you visit northstarpath.co.uk, contact us, download resources, subscribe to updates or engage with our coaching services.

We process personal information in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR), the Data Protection Act 2018 and the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR).

Please read this Privacy Policy carefully.

2. Who We Are

The North Star Path is operated by Charles Whitaker, who is the Data Controller responsible for the personal information collected through this website.

If you have any questions regarding this Privacy Policy or how your information is processed, please contact us.

Website: northstarpath.co.uk

Email: charles@charleswhitaker.co.uk

3. The Information We Collect

The information we collect depends upon how you interact with us.

Personal Information

We may collect:

  • Full name
  • Email address
  • Telephone number
  • Postal address where appropriate
  • Date of birth where relevant
  • Information submitted through contact forms
  • Records of correspondence
  • Appointment history
  • Coaching notes
  • Customer relationship information
  • Feedback you choose to provide

Special Category Data

As part of providing personalised coaching, we may collect information classified as Special Category Personal Data under Article 9 of UK GDPR.

This information is only collected where necessary and where you choose to provide it.

This may include:

  • Your marital status
  • Current living arrangements
  • Information relating to your partner, family or children
  • Occupation, employment history or education
  • Religious or spiritual beliefs where relevant to coaching
  • Physical health information
  • Medical conditions
  • Medications
  • GP details
  • Height and weight where relevant
  • Lifestyle information including:
    • exercise
    • diet
    • sleep
    • smoking
    • alcohol consumption
    • recreational drug use
  • Information relating to stress, anxiety, burnout or emotional wellbeing
  • Recreation and social activities where relevant
  • Information voluntarily shared during coaching sessions

We only collect the information required to provide safe, appropriate and effective coaching.

Website Usage Information

When you visit our website we may automatically collect:

  • IP address
  • Browser type
  • Device type
  • Operating system
  • Pages visited
  • Time spent on pages
  • Referral source
  • General location information
  • Website performance data

This information helps us improve the website and keep it secure.

4. How We Collect Your Information

We may collect information when you:

  • Complete a contact form
  • Email or telephone us
  • Book a discovery call
  • Download the North Star Path Journal or other free resources
  • Subscribe to our newsletter
  • Register for workshops or events
  • Complete coaching questionnaires
  • Become a coaching client
  • Participate in coaching sessions
  • Visit our website

5. Why We Process Your Information

We process personal information to:

  • Respond to enquiries
  • Arrange discovery calls
  • Assess whether coaching is appropriate
  • Deliver coaching services
  • Create personalised coaching programmes
  • Maintain coaching records
  • Send requested resources
  • Deliver the North Star Path Journal and other downloads
  • Send newsletters and coaching insights where you have consented
  • Manage appointments
  • Improve our services
  • Develop educational resources
  • Meet legal and regulatory obligations
  • Protect our legal rights
  • Safeguard clients where necessary

6. Lawful Basis for Processing

Depending upon the purpose of processing, we rely on one or more of the following lawful bases:

Consent

Where you choose to subscribe to newsletters, download resources or consent to receiving marketing communications.

Contract

Where processing is necessary to provide coaching services or fulfil our agreement with you.

Legitimate Interests

For responding to enquiries, managing relationships with prospective and existing clients, improving our services and operating our business effectively.

Legal Obligation

Where we are required to retain records or disclose information under applicable law.

Special Category Data

Where Special Category Data is processed, we rely upon one or more of the following conditions:

  • Your explicit consent
  • The provision of health-related support where permitted by law
  • Safeguarding of vital interests
  • Establishment, exercise or defence of legal claims
  • Other lawful conditions permitted under Article 9 UK GDPR and Schedule 1 of the Data Protection Act 2018 where applicable

7. Free Resources and Downloads

If you download the North Star Path Journal or any other free resource, we will collect the personal information you provide in order to:

  • Deliver the requested resource
  • Contact you regarding your enquiry
  • Send coaching insights and updates where you have provided your consent
  • Improve our resources and services

You can unsubscribe from marketing communications at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link contained within our emails or by contacting us directly.

8. Safeguarding

Your wellbeing is important to us.

In exceptional circumstances, we may disclose information without your consent where we believe:

  • There is a serious risk of harm to you or another person
  • Safeguarding obligations require disclosure
  • Disclosure is required by law
  • A court order requires disclosure

Where appropriate, we will discuss this with you before sharing information unless doing so would increase the risk of harm or is prohibited by law.

9. GP Contact

Where appropriate, we may request your GP details.

These details are collected solely for safeguarding purposes or where communication with your GP may support your wellbeing.

Except in an emergency or where required by law, we will discuss any proposed contact with your GP before doing so.

10. How Long We Keep Your Information

We only retain personal information for as long as necessary.

Website Enquiries

Where you contact us but do not become a client, we will normally retain your enquiry and correspondence for up to 12 months after our last meaningful communication.

Coaching Clients

Client records, including coaching notes and Special Category Data, will normally be retained for seven years following the end of our professional relationship.

This retention period is required to satisfy our professional insurance requirements and to protect both our clients and our business should legal claims arise.

Following this period, information will be securely deleted or anonymised unless we are legally required to retain it for longer.

11. Marketing Communications

Where you have consented, we may occasionally send information about:

  • Coaching programmes
  • Workshops
  • Articles
  • Resources
  • The North Star Path Journal
  • Newsletters
  • Relevant updates

You can withdraw your consent at any time.

12. How We Protect Your Information

We take appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your personal information.

These include:

  • Password-protected devices
  • Secure cloud storage
  • Encryption where appropriate
  • Access controls
  • Secure communication systems
  • Regular software updates
  • Confidential handling of coaching records
  • Secure deletion of information when no longer required

While no online system can ever be completely secure, we take reasonable steps to minimise risks.

13. Sharing Your Information

We never sell your personal information.

Where necessary, we may share information with:

  • Professional advisers
  • Secure cloud storage providers
  • CRM providers
  • Website hosting providers
  • Email marketing providers
  • IT support providers
  • Professional insurers
  • Legal advisers
  • Regulatory authorities
  • Emergency services
  • Your GP where appropriate and lawful

All third parties are required to protect your information appropriately.

14. International Transfers

Some of our trusted service providers may process information outside the United Kingdom.

Where this occurs, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place, including approved international transfer mechanisms where required under UK GDPR.

15. Your Rights

You have the right to:

  • Request access to your personal information
  • Request correction of inaccurate information
  • Request deletion of your information where applicable
  • Request restriction of processing
  • Object to processing
  • Request data portability where applicable
  • Withdraw consent at any time where processing relies upon consent
  • Lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO)

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us.

16. Automated Decision Making

We do not use automated decision-making or profiling that produces legal or similarly significant effects.

17. Third-Party Websites

Our website may contain links to third-party websites.

We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of external websites and encourage you to read their privacy policies before providing personal information.

18. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in legislation, technology or our coaching services.

The latest version will always be available on this page.

19. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or how we process your personal information, please contact:

The North Star Path

Operated by Charles Whitaker

Website: northstarpath.co.uk

Email: charles@charleswhitaker.co.uk

20. Complaints

If you have concerns about how we handle your information, please contact us first so we can try to resolve the issue.

You can raise a data protection complaint by emailing: charles@charleswhitaker.co.uk, please include the details of your complaint so we can investigate. You will receive a response within 30-days.

When we receive a data protection complaint, we will:

  • Acknowledge your complaint within 30 days
  • Take appropriate steps to investigate the matter without undue delay
  • Keep you informed where appropriate
  • Tell you the outcome of your complaint

If you are not satisfied with our response, you have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).

Information Commissioner’s Office

Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF

ICO website: www.ico.org.uk

Telephone: 0303 123 1113