At the Children’s Respite Trust, your data and privacy are a priority for us. We are therefore writing this to let you know about a data security incident involving Beacon CRM, the database system that we use to manage information about our supporters.
What happened
On Monday 3rd August, Beacon notified us that it had experienced a cyber security incident involving unauthorised access to its systems. Beacon has confirmed that copies of its database backups were likely accessed by an unauthorised third party. The investigation is ongoing, and while there is currently no evidence that the information has been misused, we believe it is important to keep you informed.
What information may have been affected?
Depending on the information you have shared with us, the data held within Beacon could include: name, contact details (including organisation, if applicable) and records of your interaction with us (including donations, fundraising and event attendance).
Importantly, we do not use Beacon to store payment card or bank account details, as these are processed securely through separate payment providers.
What are we doing?
Protecting your personal information is extremely important to us. Since being notified of the incident, we have:
- Worked to understand the nature and scope of the incident.
- Reviewed the information we hold within Beacon.
- Assessed the potential impact of the incident.
- Taken appropriate steps in line with our data protection obligations including reporting and liaising with the Information Commissioner's Office.
Beacon has also confirmed that it has secured its systems, engaged specialist cyber security experts and continued to investigate the incident.
What should you do?
Although there is currently no evidence that your information has been used improperly, we recommend that you remain vigilant and take the following actions:
- Be cautious of unexpected emails, text messages or phone calls
- Never share passwords, security codes or financial information in response to unsolicited requests.
- Avoid clicking on links or opening attachments in suspicious emails.
- Contact us directly via trusted methods if you receive any communication that seems unusual.
We sincerely apologise for any concern this news may cause. We value the trust you place in Children's Respite Trust and we are committed to keeping your information as safe as possible. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and will update you if we receive any significant new information from Beacon.
If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact by emailing info@crtcharity.org.
Thank you for your continued support and understanding.
