Privacy policy

Last updated: 28 August 2025

Portsmouth Freelancers Meet (“PFMeet”) is run by Starboard Media Ltd. This privacy policy explains how we collect, use, store, and protect your personal data when you use our website or attend our events.

1. Who we are

Portsmouth Freelancers Meet is a community initiative run by Starboard Media Ltd (Company No. 08412601), based in the UK. We are committed to protecting your privacy and being transparent about how we handle your data.

2. What personal data we collect

We may collect the following personal information:

  • First name
  • Surname
  • Email address
  • Billing address (if you purchase tickets or services)

We do not collect or store payment information directly on our website.

3. Why we collect your data

We collect and use your data to:

  • Keep you informed about upcoming events, articles, competitions, and news
  • Promote our sponsors and partners
  • Process event registrations or ticket sales

4. Legal basis for processing

Under UK GDPR, we rely on the following lawful bases to process your data:

  • Consent – when you sign up to receive newsletters or marketing emails.
  • Contract – when processing ticket sales or event registrations.
  • Legitimate interests – for improving our website, ensuring event security, and preventing fraud or spam.

5. How we collect your data

You may provide your data to us through the following methods:

  • Signing up to our mailing list (currently managed via Luma)
  • Registering on our website (e.g. to post a job)
  • Purchasing or signing up for event tickets via Eventbrite
  • Submitting comments or uploading content on the website

Note: As of 25 June 2025, we no longer collect new email signups via Campaign Monitor, although historical data is still securely stored there.

6. How your data is stored

We do not store personal data or payment information on our own servers. Instead, we use secure third-party services:

  • Luma – for email signup and event ticketing
  • Eventbrite – for some ticketed events
  • Campaign Monitor – for legacy mailing list data
  • WordPress – for managing any user registrations and comments

Some of these providers may process or store data outside the UK/EEA (for example, in the United States). Where this is the case, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place, such as standard contractual clauses, to protect your data..

7. Who has access to your data

Only authorised individuals working with PFMeet or Starboard Media Ltd can access your data.

We do not share, sell, or rent your personal data to third parties or sponsors under any circumstances.

8. Cookies and analytics

Our website uses cookies to improve your experience and help us understand how visitors use the site. These may include:

  • Essential cookies – required for site functionality (e.g. WordPress login sessions).
  • Analytics cookies – Google Analytics (set to collect data anonymously).
  • Functional cookies – to remember preferences (e.g. comment convenience).

You can control or disable cookies via your browser settings. Please note that disabling cookies may affect how the site functions.

Comments and Gravatar

If you leave a comment, we collect the data you provide, along with your IP address and browser details, to help detect spam. If you use Gravatar, an anonymised hash of your email may be shared with Gravatar to display your profile image. See Gravatar’s privacy policy.

Embedded content

Pages may include embedded content (e.g. YouTube videos), which behaves as if you visited the source site. These third-party sites may collect data, use cookies, and track your interaction

9. How long we retain your data

  • Comments and metadata: retained indefinitely
  • User registrations: stored until the account is deleted
  • Mailing list data (Luma or Campaign Monitor): held until you unsubscribe or request removal

10. Your rights

You have the right to:

  • Request a copy of the data we hold about you
  • Ask us to update or delete your data
  • Withdraw consent for marketing communications
  • Lodge a complaint with the UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) if you believe your data is being mishandled

To exercise these rights, please email hello@pfmeet.co.uk

11. Contact details

For any privacy-related queries or data requests:

12. Children’s data

Our website and events are not intended for individuals under the age of 16. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children. If we become aware that we have collected such data, we will delete it promptly.

13. Contact details

For any privacy-related queries or data requests, please contact:

Portsmouth Freelancers Meet
Run by Starboard Media Ltd
📧 hello@pfmeet.co.uk
📧 contact@starboardmedia.co.uk