About Us

Hello!

We are Communicourt. We help children, young people and adults communicate and understand what is happening in courts, hearings, meetings and other important situations.

We know your personal information is important, and we want you to understand what happens to it.

This notice explains:

  • What information we collect
  • Why we need it
  • Who we share it with
  • How we keep it safe
  • Your rights

What Is Personal Information?

Personal information is information about you.

This could include:

  • Your name
  • Your date of birth
  • Your address
  • Your contact details
  • Information about your communication needs

Sometimes we may need information about:

  • Your health
  • Learning disabilities
  • Autism
  • ADHD
  • Speech and language difficulties
  • Mental health
  • Other things that help us understand the best way to communicate with you

Sometimes, if we are supporting someone involved in court proceedings, we may also receive information about legal or court cases.

Where Do We Get Information From?

We may get information:

  • From you
  • From your parents, carers or guardians
  • From solicitors and barristers
  • From courts
  • From healthcare professionals
  • From schools or support services
  • From organisations that ask us to help you

We only collect information that we need to do our job.

Why Do We Need Your Information?

We use your information to:

  • Understand how you communicate
  • Provide communication support
  • Write assessment reports
  • Help courts or professionals understand your communication needs
  • Keep people safe
  • Meet our legal responsibilities
  • Improve our services

Do We Always Need Your Permission?

Not always.

Sometimes the law allows or requires us to use information without asking for permission first.

For example, we may need to:

  • Follow court instructions
  • Protect someone from serious harm
  • Meet legal requirements
  • Support the administration of justice

Where we do ask for your permission, you can change your mind later unless the law says we still need to keep using the information.

Who Might We Share Your Information With?

We only share information when it is necessary.

This could include:

  • Courts and judges
  • Solicitors and barristers
  • Healthcare professionals
  • Organisations that have asked us to help
  • Regulators
  • People responsible for safeguarding children or vulnerable adults

We never sell your information.

How Do We Keep Your Information Safe?

We take information security seriously.

We use things like:

  • Secure computer systems
  • Password protection
  • Staff training
  • Confidentiality agreements
  • Restricted access to information

Only people who need the information to do their job can see it.

How Long Do We Keep Information?

We do not keep information forever.

We keep it only for as long as we need it for legal, professional or business reasons.

Different types of information may be kept for different amounts of time.

If you would like to know more, you can ask us.

What Are Your Rights?

You have rights over your information.

These include the right to:

  • Know what information we have about you
  • Ask us to correct information that is wrong
  • Ask questions about how we use your information
  • Ask us to delete information in some situations
  • Ask us to stop using information in some situations
  • Complain if you are unhappy

Sometimes there are legal reasons why we may not be able to do exactly what you ask, but we will always explain why.

What If I Am Worried?

If you have any questions, you can contact us.

You can ask:

  • A parent
  • A carer
  • A social worker
  • A solicitor
  • A member of the Communicourt team

to help you understand this notice.

Making a Complaint

If you are unhappy about how we use your information, please tell us.

You can also contact the UK’s information rights regulator:

Information Commission (IC)
Website: Visit the ICO website
Telephone: 0303 123 1113

They help make sure organisations use personal information properly.

A Simple Summary

We collect information about you so we can help you communicate and understand important situations.

We only use information when we have a good reason.

We keep it safe.

We only share it when necessary.

You have rights and can ask questions at any time.