Privacy Policy

Hello, I'm Ghulam Fernandes, and I run Handling Grief. Your privacy matters deeply to me. This policy explains how I collect, use, and protect your personal information when you use my website or services.

I keep things simple and transparent. If you have any questions after reading this, please contact me directly at [email protected].

Who I am

Business name: Handling Grief

Owner: Ghulam Fernandes

Website: handling-grief.com

Email: [email protected]

Location: United Kingdom

I'm a Certified Grief Specialist providing grief recovery coaching services to individuals and groups across the UK.

What information I collect

Information you give me directly

When you use my website or services, you might share:

Contact information:

  • Your name

  • Email address

  • Phone number

  • Postal address (if relevant)

Programme information:

  • Details about your situation and what you're struggling with

  • Information you share during discovery calls or programme sessions

  • Feedback and testimonials (only used with your explicit permission)

Quiz and assessment responses:

  • Answers you provide in the Grief Assessment Quiz

  • Responses from the Hidden Wellbeing Gaps Quiz

  • This helps me send you personalised results and suggestions

Information collected automatically

When you visit my website, some information is collected automatically:

Website usage:

  • Pages you visit and how long you stay

  • Links you click

  • How you found my website

  • Your device type and browser

  • Your approximate location (city/country level, not your exact address)

This is collected through cookies and similar technologies (more on this below).

How I use your information

I use your information to:

Provide my services:

  • Respond to your enquiries

  • Schedule and conduct discovery calls

  • Deliver the grief recovery programme you've signed up for

  • Send you quiz results and personalised reports

  • Process payments for services

  • Provide customer support

Communicate with you:

  • Send you resources you've requested

  • Reply to your questions

  • Share programme updates if you're a client

  • Send occasional emails about new resources or services (only if you've opted in)

Improve my services:

  • Understand how people use my website

  • See which resources are most helpful

  • Make my website better and easier to use

  • Create content that addresses real questions and concerns

Legal and security:

  • Protect against fraud or misuse

  • Comply with legal obligations

  • Enforce my terms and conditions

Legal basis for processing (GDPR)

Under UK GDPR, I need a legal reason to use your information. Here's what applies:

Consent: When you fill in forms, sign up for resources, or book services, you're giving me permission to use your information.

Contract: If you've purchased a programme or service, I need your information to deliver what you've paid for.

Legitimate Interest: I have a legitimate interest in running my business, improving my services, and communicating with people who've shown interest in grief recovery support.

Legal Obligation: Sometimes I need to keep records for tax, accounting, or other legal reasons.

You can withdraw consent at any time by contacting me.

How I protect your information

I take your privacy seriously and use appropriate security measures:

  • Secure website: My website uses SSL encryption (the padlock in your browser)

  • Password protection: Client portals and systems are password protected

  • Limited access: Only I (and essential service providers) have access to your information

  • Secure storage: Information is stored on secure, password-protected systems

  • Regular updates: I keep software and security measures up to date

However, no method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure. While I do my best to protect your information, I can't guarantee absolute security.

Who I share your information with

I respect your confidentiality. I only share your information in these limited circumstances:

Service providers I trust

I use carefully selected services to run my business:

  • Email service (e.g., Mailchimp, ConvertKit) - to send you resources and updates

  • Payment processor (e.g., Stripe, PayPal) - to handle payments securely

  • Website hosting (e.g., your hosting provider) - to keep my website running

  • Scheduling tool (e.g., Calendly, Acuity) - to manage appointments

  • Video platform (e.g., Zoom) - for online sessions

These providers only have access to information needed to perform their services and are obligated to protect your data.

Legal requirements

I may need to share information if:

  • Required by law or court order

  • Necessary to protect someone's safety

  • Needed to prevent fraud or illegal activity

Legal requirements

I may need to share information if:

  • Required by law or court order

  • Necessary to protect someone's safety

  • Needed to prevent fraud or illegal activity

With your permission

If you provide a testimonial or agree to be featured, I'll only share what you've explicitly approved. You can ask me to remove it at any time.

Your rights

Under UK data protection law, you have important rights:

Right to access

You can ask me what information I hold about you. I'll provide a copy free of charge.

Right to correction

If information I hold is wrong or incomplete, you can ask me to correct it.

Right to deletion

You can ask me to delete your information in certain circumstances (e.g., if you withdraw consent and I have no other legal reason to keep it).

Right to restrict processing

You can ask me to limit how I use your information in certain situations.

Right to data portability

You can ask for a copy of your information in a common electronic format.

Right to object

You can object to me using your information for certain purposes, particularly marketing.

Right to withdraw consent

If I'm using your information based on consent, you can withdraw that consent at any time.

To exercise any of these rights, contact me at [email protected]

I'll respond within one month and won't charge a fee unless your request is clearly unfounded or excessive.

How long I keep your information

I only keep your information as long as necessary:

Enquiries and newsletter subscribers: Until you ask me to delete it, or 2 years of inactivity

Quiz results: Until you ask me to delete them, or 2 years from when you took the quiz

Programme clients: 7 years after your programme ends (required for tax and accounting purposes)

Payment records: 7 years (required by law for tax purposes)

Website analytics: Anonymised data kept indefinitely to improve services

When I no longer need your information, I delete it securely.

Cookies and tracking

What are cookies?

Cookies are small text files stored on your device when you visit websites. They help websites work properly and provide useful information to website owners.

Cookies I use

Essential cookies: These are necessary for my website to work. They remember things like items in your shopping cart or whether you're logged in.

Analytics cookies: These help me understand how people use my website so I can improve it. I use [Google Analytics / other analytics tool]. This data is anonymised and I can't identify you personally.

Marketing cookies: These help me show relevant information to people who might benefit from grief recovery support. I use [Facebook Pixel / other marketing tools, if applicable].

Managing cookies

You can control cookies through your browser settings. However, if you block essential cookies, some parts of my website may not work properly.

Most browsers accept cookies automatically, but you can change your settings to:

  • Block all cookies

  • Block third-party cookies only

  • Delete cookies when you close your browser

  • Get a notification before accepting cookies

Learn more at aboutcookies.org

Third-party links

My website may contain links to other websites (like podcast platforms, articles, or resources). I'm not responsible for the privacy practices of these sites. Please read their privacy policies before sharing information.

Children's privacy

My services are not intended for children under 18. I don't knowingly collect information from children. If you're a parent and believe your child has provided information to me, please contact me immediately so I can delete it.

International transfers

Your information is primarily stored within the UK and European Economic Area (EEA). If I need to transfer information outside this area (for example, if a service provider is based elsewhere), I ensure appropriate safeguards are in place.

Changes to this policy

I may update this privacy policy from time to time to reflect changes in my practices or legal requirements. I'll post the updated version on this page with a new "Last updated" date.

If changes are significant, I'll notify you by email or through a prominent notice on my website.

Contact me about privacy

If you have any questions or concerns about this privacy policy or how I handle your information, please contact me:

Email: [email protected]
Phone: +447852370472

I'll do my best to respond within 48 hours.

Complaints

If you're not satisfied with how I've handled your information, you have the right to complain to the UK's data protection authority:

Information Commissioner's Office (ICO)
Website: www.ico.org.uk
Helpline: 0303 123 1113
Address: Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF

Thank you for trusting me with your information. Your privacy and confidentiality are fundamental to the work I do.

Want to collaborate?

Let's talk. I'd love to hear how we can support each other.

Connect with me

Find me on social media or drop me a message. I'd be happy to connect and answer any questions you might have.

© Copyright 2026. Ghulam Fernandes. All rights reserved.