Privacy Policy

Youth Compass Privacy Policy

Last Updated: January 5, 2025

At Youth Compass, protecting your privacy is a priority. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and protect your personal data when you interact with our website and services.

This policy applies whenever you:

  • Visit our website at Youth Compass
  • Contact us via forms or email
  • Subscribe to newsletters or updates
  • Purchase products or services

We regularly review and update this Privacy Policy to ensure transparency and compliance with applicable data protection laws, including the GDPR and Swiss Federal Act on Data Protection (revDSG).

1. Who We Are (Data Controller)

Youth Compass is the data controller responsible for processing your personal data under applicable data protection laws.

Website: https://youthcompass.ch
Email: s.bonadurer@youthcompass.ch

Throughout this policy, “we,” “us,” and “our” refer to Youth Compass.

2. What Information We Collect

We collect personal data only when it is necessary and when you voluntarily provide it or when it is required to operate our website and services.

2.1 Information You Provide Directly

Contact Forms
When you contact us, we collect:

  • Name
  • Email address
  • Message content

Email Subscriptions
When you subscribe to our newsletter, we collect:

  • Email address
  • Any optional information you choose to share

You may unsubscribe at any time using the link included in our emails.

Orders and Purchases
When you purchase a product or service, we collect:

  • Name
  • Email address
  • Home and billing/shipping address
  • Order details
  • Payment status

Payments are processed securely through Stripe or PayPal. We do not store or have access to your full payment card details.

3. Automatically Collected Technical Data

When you visit our website, certain technical information is collected automatically for security, hosting, and operational purposes. This may include:

  • IP address (anonymised where possible)
  • Browser type and version
  • Device type and operating system
  • Referring URLs
  • Date and time of access

This data does not directly identify you and is used to ensure website stability, prevent misuse, and maintain security.

4. Website Analytics (Google Analytics)

We use Google Analytics to understand how visitors use our website and to improve its performance.

Google Analytics may collect anonymised information such as:

  • IP address (anonymised)
  • Browser and device type
  • Country and approximate location
  • Pages visited and interactions with content

This data is used exclusively for analytics, reporting, and website optimisation.

5. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Youth Compass uses only essential cookies necessary for the website to function properly. We do not use tracking, analytics, or marketing cookies. If we introduce cookies in the future, we will update this policy and notify you accordingly.
Any personal information you share with us through our contact form is used solely to respond to your inquiry and is not shared with third parties.

Essential Cookies

Required for core website functionality (e.g. security and navigation). These cookies cannot be disabled.

May be set by:

  • Embedded content such as YouTube videos or Google Maps

You can manage or disable cookies through your browser settings or via our cookie banner (if enabled).

6. Sensitive Personal Data

Some personal data is considered “sensitive” under certain laws (e.g. information about race, religion, or sexual orientation).

We do not knowingly collect or process sensitive personal data.

7. Information From Third-Party Sources

We do not collect personal data from third-party sources such as social media platforms, public databases, or marketing partners.

8. How We Use Your Information

We use your personal data to:

  • Respond to enquiries and contact requests
  • Send newsletters and communications (with your consent)
  • Analyse website usage and improve our services
  • Maintain website security and prevent misuse

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal data.

9. Legal Basis for Processing

We process personal data based on one or more of the following legal grounds:

  • Consent (e.g. newsletters, quizzes)
  • Legitimate interest (e.g. responding to enquiries, improving website performance, preventing fraud)

10. Data Storage, Security, and Transfers

We implement technical and organizational measures to protect your data from loss, misuse, or unauthorized access. Our employees and service providers are obliged to maintain confidentiality.

Within our website, we use the SSL procedure (Secure Socket Layer) in conjunction with the highest level of encryption supported by your browser.

Your data is stored securely and accessed only by authorised personnel. We apply appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your personal data.

Some of our service providers (e.g. Google, Stripe, PayPal) may process data outside Switzerland or the European Economic Area. Where this occurs, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place, such as GDPR-compliant contractual protections.

While we take reasonable steps to protect your information, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is completely secure. Absolute security cannot be guaranteed.

11. Data Retention

We retain personal data only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes outlined in this policy or as required by law (e.g. accounting and tax obligations).

12. Your Data Protection Rights

Under the GDPR and Swiss data protection laws, you have the right to:

  • Access your personal data
  • Request correction or deletion
  • Withdraw consent at any time
  • Request restriction of or object to certain processing activities
  • Request data portability, where applicable
  • Lodge a complaint with a competent data protection authority

13. Children’s Privacy

Our website and services are not intended for individuals under the age of 15.
We do not knowingly collect personal data from children.

14. Withdrawal of Consent

Where we rely on your consent to process personal data, you may withdraw it at any time by contacting us or by using the unsubscribe link in our emails.
Withdrawal does not affect the lawfulness of processing carried out before consent was withdrawn.

15. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect legal or operational changes.
Any updates will be indicated by a revised “Last Updated” date at the top of this page.

16. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or how we handle your personal data, please contact us:

Email: s.bonadurer@youthcompass.ch