Charities and Third Sector Data Protection and Cyber Security Support

How Data Protection is Vital for Charities Working with Vulnerable Individuals

Data Protection Support for Charities and the Third Sector

Charities and third-sector organisations must balance compliance obligations with limited resources and public trust. To achieve this, this sector requires practical data protection support that frees up time for what matters most: their charitable causes.

At Data Protection People, we support charities, not-for-profits, and third sector organisations across the UK. We understand the pressures charities face, from managing donor and beneficiary data to complying with GDPR while delivering vital services.

Get in Touch

Why Data Protection Matters in the
Third Sector

Charities routinely process sensitive personal data relating to beneficiaries, donors, volunteers, employees, and supporters. This can include special category data, safeguarding information, and financial details.

Our approach is rooted in Data Protection Made Easy, ensuring charities receive clear, proportionate advice that supports their mission rather than creating unnecessary burden.

We regularly support charities with:

Protecting beneficiary and vulnerable individual data
Managing donor and fundraising data lawfully
Handling Subject Access Requests from supporters or beneficiaries
Applying lawful bases and consent correctly
Data sharing with partners and funders
Safeguarding and special category data compliance
Data breaches where trust and reputation are critical
Demonstrating accountability to trustees, funders, and regulators

Charity and Third Sector Services We Provide

SAR Support for Charities

Subject Access Requests can be challenging for charities, particularly where sensitive beneficiary or safeguarding data is involved.

We provide one of the UK’s leading SAR support services, helping charities manage SARs accurately, lawfully, and within statutory deadlines, while protecting vulnerable individuals.

Outsourced DPO for Charities

Many charities benefit from appointing an independent Data Protection Officer. Our Outsourced DPO service provides experienced, approachable DPOs who understand charity governance, trustee responsibilities, and proportional compliance.

Data Protection Support for Charity Teams

Designed to support charity managers, trustees, and in-house data protection leads, our support service provides access to expert advice when issues arise, whether urgent or non-urgent.

Data Protection Audits for Charities

We deliver practical, risk-based audits aligned to the third sector, providing clear findings and prioritised recommendations that reflect the size, resources, and risk profile of your organisation.

Training for Charities

We deliver charity-specific training covering GDPR awareness, fundraising compliance, SAR handling, breach response, and trustee-level responsibilities.

‘I found the FOI training session to be highly informative and well-structured. It covered all the key areas comprehensively and provided clear, practical guidance throughout. The content was easy to follow, and the delivery by Gary was engaging, making complex topics accessible and understandable’.

‘The training session has really helped me to understand the IG rep role a bit more and what I need to be thinking about when receiving a request for information’.

Charlene Haynes & Team

Tendring District Council

“I have worked with the Data Protection People for some time now. Their expertise has been drawn upon to assist us with our GDPR compliance gap analysis project, ROPA design and production through to conducting objective reviews and surveys. They are always available to help us out and their advice and guidance is excellent and delivered in a timely way. Special mentions to Kathy Midgley, Phil Brining, and David Hendry. A great, reliable and dependable service!”

Judy Barker

Dyslexia Action

“A great service and peace of mind. Data Protection People provides a well-rounded service to ensure customers are fully supported in their approach to GDPR compliance. My interaction has largely been with the following people: Kathy Midgley – another great asset to the organisation. Always approachable, always helpful and consistently supportive to the team and customers.

Julie Ferguson

Veritau

“I cant recommend Data Protection People enough, they have helped me in so many different areas, no matter how complex the challenge or how large the obstacle, DPP always has the answer.

I can call the team at any time and have built an amazing relationship with them, in times of frustration they are here to calm me down and create a plan, they are a pleasure to work with.”

Mark Leete

Eastlight Community Homes

“We have been working with the Data Protection People for many years now, and have found them to be insightful, helpful, and knowledgeable in all areas of Data Protection Compliance. Data Protection People have taken the time to understand our business, the regulatory environment we sit under, and the unique challenges we face in the industry. They have supported us in all areas of Information and Data Security, assisting in assessments of our policies and changes to our processes. They are always willing to go the extra mile and prioritise support where required.”

Nia Roberts

Woodgate & Clarke

“I’ve worked with Data Protection people for over 3 years, they are an excellent experienced team. Able to simplify GDPR down for all stakeholders yet deliver its complex requirements at the same time.”

Tom Benton

Nestlé

Why Charities Choose Data Protection People

Proven experience supporting charities and third sector organisations
Proportionate, practical advice aligned to charitable missions
One of the UK’s most established SAR support teams
Deep understanding of fundraising and beneficiary data risks
Clear, plain-English communication for staff and trustees
Scalable support suitable for small charities and large national organisations
A trusted partner for operational teams and governance boards

Expert support when you need it most