Privacy policy

CoachConnection is operated by the Institute of Coaching Studies ("we", "us"), a company registered in the Republic of Ireland with company number 627519. This policy explains what personal data we collect, why we collect it, how we use and protect it, and the rights you have over it. We are the data controller for the personal data described here. If you have any questions, contact us at contact@coachingstudies.org.

What we collect

• Account details you give us: your name, email address, and password (stored only as a secure hash).
• Profile details you choose to add: pronouns, headline, biography, photo, location, languages, timezone, and the credential level you hold or are working toward.
• Verification information: the credential body and level you declare and any supporting document you upload so we can verify your qualification.
• Activity on the platform: the peer connections you make and the private messages you exchange with a connected coach.
• Technical data needed to run the service, such as a session cookie that keeps you signed in.

Why we use it and our lawful basis

We use your data to create and secure your account, to verify that you are a genuine coach, to show your profile to other verified members in the directory, to let connected coaches message each other, and to send you service emails such as connection requests and account notices. Our lawful bases are the performance of our agreement with you (providing the platform), your consent (which you give at sign up and can withdraw), and our legitimate interest in running a safe, verified community.

Who can see your data

Once you are verified and choose to appear in the directory, other verified members can see your profile. Private messages are visible only to you and the coach you are connected with. We do not sell your data. We share it only with the service providers that host and run the platform on our behalf (for example our hosting, database, file storage, and email providers), who process it under our instructions.

How long we keep it

We keep your account data for as long as your account is active. Verification documents are an exception: we only use them to confirm your credentials during review, so we automatically delete them about a week after your account is approved. If you delete your account, we remove your personal data, including any documents you uploaded, except where we must keep limited records to meet a legal obligation.

Your rights

Under the General Data Protection Regulation you have the right to access the personal data we hold about you, to have it corrected, to have it erased, to restrict or object to how we use it, to receive it in a portable format, and to withdraw any consent you gave. You can exercise most of these directly in your account settings, or by emailing contact@coachingstudies.org. We will respond within one month. You also have the right to complain to your local data protection authority if you believe we have not handled your data properly.

Cookies

We use only the cookies needed to keep you signed in and secure. See our cookie policy for details.