Privacy Policy

Business name: The Ark

Contact: info@massageinsouthend.co.uk

Phone: 01702 710531 or 07745 986186

Address: 46 Mayland Ave, Canvey Island SS8 0BU

Last updated: 12/06/2026

This privacy policy explains how I collect, use, store, and protect your personal information when you contact me, book an appointment, or receive massage therapy treatment.

1. Who I am

I am Michael McCandless, a self-employed massage therapist trading as The Ark and providing massage therapy services from 46 Mayland Ave, Canvey Island SS8 0BU.

For data protection purposes, I am the data controller for the personal information I collect and hold about you.

2. What information I collect

I may collect and hold the following information about you:

  • Your name
  • Your phone number
  • Your email address
  • Your address, if relevant
  • Information you give me when you contact me
  • Appointment details and history
  • Health, medical, injury, medication, allergy, pregnancy, or other treatment-relevant information
  • Consultation form details
  • Treatment notes
  • Payment records, where relevant

Some of this information relates to your health. Health information is treated as more sensitive under UK data protection law and is handled with particular care.

3. How I collect your information

I collect information directly from you when you contact me by phone or email, speak to me in person, or complete a paper consultation form at your appointment.

4. Why I use your information

I use your information to:

  • Respond to your enquiry
  • Arrange and manage appointments
  • Assess whether massage therapy is appropriate for you
  • Provide safe and suitable treatment
  • Keep accurate treatment records
  • Contact you about your appointment or treatment
  • Maintain basic financial records
  • Meet legal, insurance, tax, and professional obligations

5. My legal basis for using your information

I use your contact details and appointment information because it is necessary to provide the service you have requested.

Where I use your information to run my practice and keep appropriate client records, I do so on the basis of legitimate interest.

I collect and hold health-related information so I can assess whether massage therapy is suitable for you, adapt treatment where needed, and keep accurate treatment records. This information is treated as special category data under UK data protection law. I process it under Article 9 of the UK GDPR and the relevant health-related condition in Schedule 1 of the Data Protection Act 2018, where this applies.

For financial records, I hold information to meet my legal and tax obligations.

6. How I store your information

Client records, including consultation forms and treatment notes, are stored in a locked filing cabinet at my premises.

Email enquiries are held within my email account. Phone contact details or messages may be held on my phone, depending on how you contact me.

I take reasonable steps to protect your information from loss, misuse, or unauthorised access.

7. How long I keep your information

I keep client consultation forms and treatment notes for as long as is reasonably necessary for treatment, insurance, legal, and professional purposes. As a general guide, I retain client records for up to 7 years after your last appointment.

Financial records are retained for up to six years to meet tax requirements.

After these periods, paper records are securely destroyed.

8. Who I share your information with

I do not sell your personal information.

I only share your information where there is a clear reason to do so. This may include:

  • My accountant or bookkeeper, for financial records
  • My professional insurer, if there is a claim or complaint
  • A legal adviser, if needed
  • A regulator, public authority, or other body where required by law

I share only the minimum information necessary in each case.

9. Cookies and website tracking

This website does not use analytics, advertising, or tracking cookies.

The website may use essential technical cookies only where needed for basic site functionality, such as security, page loading, or remembering technical preferences. These cookies are not used to track visitors, measure traffic, run advertising, or build marketing profiles.

If this changes in future, this privacy policy will be updated.

10. Marketing

I do not use your information for marketing unless you have specifically agreed to receive updates from me. You can ask me to stop at any time.

11. Your rights

You have the following rights in relation to your personal information:

  • The right to be told how I use your information
  • The right to receive a copy of the personal information I hold about you
  • The right to have inaccurate information corrected
  • The right to request deletion of your information, where the law permits
  • The right to restrict how I use your information
  • The right to object to certain uses of your information

To exercise any of these rights, please contact me using the details in Section 11.

12. How to contact me

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

Name: Michael McCandless

Email: info@massageinsouthend.co.uk

Phone: 01702 710531 or 07745 986186

Address: 46 Mayland Ave, Canvey Island SS8 0BU

13. Complaints

If you are unhappy with how I have handled your personal information, please contact me first using the details above. I will look into your concern and respond as soon as reasonably possible.

If you remain dissatisfied after raising the matter with me, you have the right to make a complaint to the Information Commissioner’s Office, the UK supervisory authority for data protection.

ICO website: ico.org.uk

ICO helpline: 0303 123 1113

You also have the right to seek a judicial remedy if you believe your data protection rights have been infringed.

Last updated: 12/06/2026