Club Policies

All members of Arsenal Thames Valley Supporters Club (ATVSC) are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that reflects positively on the club and on Arsenal Football Club.

• Treat all fellow members, officials, and opposition supporters with respect.
• Abusive language, harassment, discrimination, or threatening behaviour will not be tolerated.
• Members are responsible for their behaviour at all ATVSC events, including watch parties and away travel.
• Members must not bring the club into disrepute on social media or in any public forum.
• Members must comply with the rules of any venue or stadium being visited.
• Any breach of this code may result in suspension or permanent removal of membership.

To report a concern, email us at arsenalthamesvalley@gmail.co.uk.

Who we are

Arsenal Thames Valley Supporters Club (ATVSC) is an unincorporated association of Arsenal supporters based in the Thames Valley area. Our contact email is arsenalthamesvalley@gmail.co.uk.

This policy explains how we collect, use, and protect the personal information you provide when joining the club, RSVPing to events, or contacting us. We are committed to complying with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.

What personal data we collect

• Membership registration: full name, email address, mobile number, town/city, membership type.
• Event RSVPs: name and email address used to register attendance.
• Contact messages: name, email, and the content of your message.
• Travel requests: name, contact details, and trip preferences where provided.
• Technical data: we do not use tracking cookies or analytics. Session cookies are used solely to keep you logged in during your visit.

Why we collect it and our lawful basis

• Membership administration — processing and managing your membership application (legitimate interest / contract).
• Club communications — sending you information about events, fixtures, travel, and club news (legitimate interest; you may opt out at any time).
• Event management — organising watch parties, away days, and travel (legitimate interest).
• GDPR consent — where you have explicitly ticked the consent box on the join form, we rely on your consent for direct marketing communications.

How long we keep your data

We retain membership data for the duration of your membership and for up to two years following lapse or resignation, in case of any subsequent enquiry. Contact messages are held for up to one year. You may request deletion at any time (see Your Rights below).

Who we share your data with

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal data. We do not share it with third parties except where required by law or with your explicit consent. If we use a third-party payment processor (Stripe) for membership fees, only the data necessary to complete the transaction is passed to them; Stripe's own privacy policy applies to that processing.

Your rights under UK GDPR

You have the right to:

• Access — request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
• Rectification — ask us to correct inaccurate data.
• Erasure — ask us to delete your data ("right to be forgotten").
• Restriction — ask us to stop processing your data in certain circumstances.
• Portability — receive your data in a machine-readable format.
• Object — object to processing based on legitimate interests.
• Withdraw consent — where processing is based on consent, withdraw it at any time without affecting prior lawful processing.

To exercise any of these rights, email arsenalthamesvalley@gmail.co.uk. We will respond within one calendar month. If you are unhappy with how we handle your data, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO).

Data security

We take reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect your personal data against unauthorised access, loss, or misuse. Our website uses HTTPS encryption for all data in transit. Access to membership data is restricted to authorised club administrators only.

Changes to this policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. The current version will always be published on this page with the date it was last updated.

Our commitment

Arsenal Thames Valley Supporters Club is committed to creating a welcoming, inclusive, and safe environment for all supporters regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation — the protected characteristics defined under the Equality Act 2010.

We believe that the strength of our supporters club comes from its diversity. Everyone who loves Arsenal is welcome here.

Scope

This policy applies to all ATVSC members, committee members, volunteers, and anyone attending or participating in club activities, including events, travel, and online communications.

Our commitments

• We will not discriminate against any person in membership, event access, or any other club activity on the basis of any protected characteristic.
• We will challenge and not tolerate racist, sexist, homophobic, transphobic, ableist, or any other discriminatory language or behaviour at club events or in club communications.
• We will strive to organise events and travel that are accessible to members with disabilities. Where this is not possible we will communicate clearly and work to find alternatives.
• We will listen to and act on feedback from members about inclusivity and accessibility.
• We will ensure that club leadership reflects the diversity of our membership over time.
• We will review this policy annually and update it as needed.

Reporting discrimination or harassment

If you experience or witness discrimination, harassment, or any behaviour that is inconsistent with this policy, please contact us at arsenalthamesvalley@gmail.co.uk. All reports will be treated confidentially and taken seriously.

Where an allegation is upheld, the club may take action including a formal warning, suspension, or permanent removal of membership, depending on the severity of the conduct.

Responsibilities

Every member shares responsibility for upholding an inclusive environment. Committee members and event organisers have a heightened duty to model inclusive behaviour and to act promptly when concerns are raised.

Alignment with Arsenal FC

As a supporters club, we align ourselves with Arsenal Football Club's own diversity and inclusion values. We are proud to support a club that stands for equality in football and wider society.

Review

This policy will be reviewed annually by the club committee. The next review is due June 2027.