Forum Topic

The Old Library bid and your data

Dear everyoneRemember us? We're posting this message because you may have signed up to support our bid to develop Acton's Old Library into an exciting new Arts Centre and community hub. As you may know, Ealing Council's agreement with Curzon Cinemas (who were previously appointed to develop the site back in 2014) was terminated at the end of last year, and the council is once more inviting bids to develop the Old Library space. As a team of local residents, we are now working on a new bid to Ealing Council, proposing that the site be transformed into a vibrant, locally-run venue, which would include a cinema, cafe-bar and other multi-purpose community spaces. That's great news! So what do I need to do? Imminent GDPR legislation requires any organisation which holds a database of contacts, to ask them to opt-in to receive further communications after May 25th 2018. We'd love to be able to keep you up-to-date with the latest news on our bid, and also invite you to forthcoming events where you can give your feedback on current ideas and help shape the vision for this much-needed Arts Centre for Acton.Yes please, I still want to be involved!That's brilliant!  If you haven't replied to an e mail from us in the last few days All you need to do is write to me at mairelowe@gmail.com saying 'YES', and we will keep you on our e-mail list. We'll be in touch again soon to let you know the latest news. Maire Lowe on behalf ofDoug CarnegieFaisal YousifSue Buchan

Maire Lowe ● 2895d7 Comments

Terrific Lorna. Thank you. Could you pm me your e mail address? The bid will have to show the level of community support, so if any of you would like to add your name to the database, please just let me know. All welcome. Good work going on, but we have a way to go.

Maire Lowe ● 2881d

Yes - please do add me to your newsletter list as I'm keen to hear updates on this and help however I canThanks

Laura Tovell ● 2881d

Thanks very much for this useful insight. Part of the reason for writing to everyone is that the Council will want to see some evidence that the bid has local support.We aren't yet ready to ask peoples views but its nice to know who is willing to listen.Thanks again.

Maire Lowe ● 2891d

GDPR does not require anyone holding a contacts list to get everyone on it to opt back in. It is painful to see so many charities, voluntary groups and smaller businesses operating under this misconception and degrading valuable data which will mean they operate less effectively.The core principle for email lists is 'informed consent'. This is not precisely defined but a larger company sending out marketing emails cannot claim that they have this if they opted in someone's person email address automatically. For a campaign like the one for the Arts Centre it can quite safely be argued that anyone expressing support for the campaign would effectively be giving consent to receive updates about how the campaign is progressing.Even in the unlikely event of some vexatious troublemaker complaining about receiving emails the ICO is unlikely to be bothered following up. Even if it did, the sanctions they have are based on percentage of turnover. The whole point of the legislation is to wind back the massive accumulation of our data by large companies. In no way is its intention to restrict the workings of civil society organisation.You can't ignore the legislation altogether and you should be considering how to better protect the data that you hold. Even there the legislation states that the level of security you need should be appropriate to the level of risk. In your case this problem means password protecting your laptop on the off chance you leave it on the bus.I would strongly suggest you keep your contacts database as is and not require people to opt back in. Where people have done this elsewhere I am hearing that response rates can be as low as 5%. This is probably because people have been bombarded with similar emails due to the GDPR deadline and are deleting them unread.

Mark Evans ● 2891d

Thanks James. We are due at the Lexi next week and the Lyric immediately following. So far we have been to the Bush, the Kiln (formerly the Tricycle) the JW3 in Finchley and Olympic Studios in Barnes. For various reasons, we have also been sent business plans from Deptford and Dalkey near Dublin and would welcome introductions from anyone with connections to any kind of Arts centre. Everyone has been gracious in sharing costs and funding issues and happy to discuss pros and cons. They are all slightly different business models but all offer good advice which we listen to carefully. It will never been easy to run an Arts centre, but Acton deserves something. There is a long list of advisers too but always welcome others. What about you?

Maire Lowe ● 2894d

I would suggest looking at The Lexi cinema in Kensal Green as a model. I won’t be holding my breath though.

James Moore ● 2894d

Thanks all who have sent yes e mails to mairelowe@gmail.com. Your support is essential. Please keep the e mails coming.

Maire Lowe ● 2894d