Guidance

Species Recovery Programme grant scheme invitation to apply privacy notice

Updated 15 January 2026

Applies to England

© Crown copyright 2026

This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gov.uk.

Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.

This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/natural-england-privacy-notices/species-recovery-programme-grant-scheme-invitation-to-apply-privacy-notice

The Species Recovery Programme delivers targeted action for threatened species with bespoke needs. This invitation to apply is the second stage following the initial call for ideas in October to November 2025. Application is by invitation only.

Who collects your personal data

The data controller is Natural England at:

Foss House, Kings Pool, 1-2 Peasholme Green, York, Y01 7PX

Send questions about how Natural England uses your personal data and your associated rights to the Natural England Data Protection Manager at foi@naturalengland.org.uk or:

Foss House, Kings Pool, 1-2 Peasholme Green, York, Y01 7PX

The Data Protection Officer for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) group is responsible for checking that Natural England complies with legislation. You can contact them at DefraGroupDataProtectionOfficer@defra.gov.uk or:

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, SW Quarter, 2nd floor, Seacole Block, 2 Marsham Street, London SW1P 4DF

What personal data’s collected and how it’s used

The personal data we collect about you at application stage includes:

  • names
  • contact details
  • email addresses
  • phone numbers
  • job roles

The information will be used to assess, complete due diligence, and award funding to applicants who will deliver activity to improve the prospects of threatened species. 

If a grant is awarded, the personal data we will collect about you for grant claim processing includes:

  • names
  • contact details
  • email addresses
  • phone numbers
  • job roles
  • bank account details (so that grant payments can be made)
  • staff payslips
  • evidence of financial expenditure (such as bank statements and credit card statements)
  • photographs (as supporting evidence of activities delivered)

In order to do this we will need to collect limited personal data:

  • contact name and contact details for the lead representative of the grant recipient
  • expenditure details by the grant recipient (with evidence of all expenditure over £500)
  • the recipient’s bank account details so that grant payments can be made

We will ask for evidence of outputs completed which will include number of beneficiaries or volunteers involved, dates involved, type of activity completed, photographic evidence (not necessarily showing people).

Processing is necessary for the performance of a task carried out in the public interest, which is laid down by law, such as Sections 1 and 2 of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 which sets out Natural England’s general purposes. Natural England has the power under section 6 of the NERC Act 2006 to give financial assistance, including by way of grants.

You can withdraw your consent prior to any funding being issued.

Once the funding has been awarded, the processing of your data is no longer based on consent. You cannot withdraw it.

Who Natural England shares your personal data with

Natural England may share your information with specific Defra and Environment Agency individuals during the grant application evaluation stage.

Your contact details will be shared with an approved third party in order to undertake the due diligence checks.

Natural England respects your personal privacy when responding to access to information requests. We only share information when necessary to meet the statutory requirements of the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 and the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

How long Natural England holds personal data

Natural England will keep your personal data for 7 years after the end of your grant agreement.

What happens if you do not provide the data requested

If you do not provide the data, you will be unable to apply for the scheme.

Use of automated decision-making or profiling

The information you provide is not used for:

  • automated decision making (making a decision by automated means without any human involvement)
  • profiling (automated processing of personal data to evaluate certain things about an individual)

Transfer of data outside the UK

Natural England will only transfer your data to another country that is deemed adequate for data protection purposes.

Your rights

Find out about your individual rights under the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA 2018).

Complaints

You have the right to make a complaint to the Information Commissioner’s Office at any time.

Natural England’s personal information charter

Natural England’s personal information charter explains more about your rights over your personal data.

Back to top