TagLink was created to provide a simple way for lost items to be returned without displaying personal contact information on bags or belongings.

The same privacy-first principle underpins TagLink Connect, our person-support service designed to provide an additional way for someone to help a child, young person or adult reconnect with a family member, carer or other trusted contact.

This page explains the principles behind how TagLink handles data, protects personal information and supports responsible use.

No personal details displayed

Traditional labels often display someone’s name, phone number, email address or home address directly on an item.

TagLink avoids this.

Each TagLink carries a unique QR code linked to a secure message form. The person scanning can send a message without being shown the owner’s or trusted contact’s personal contact details.

The TagLink itself does not display an email address, phone number or home address.

For TagLink Connect, the Band and Wallet Card do not display the wearer’s name, diagnosis, disability, support need or other personal information.

Minimal personal data

TagLink is intentionally designed to minimise the personal information required to operate the service.

The information required to activate a TagLink is:

• an email address

• the TagLink activation code

A trusted contact’s name may also be provided, but this is optional and is used only to personalise notifications.

Where TagLink Connect is activated for another person, the email address should belong to the adult trusted contact who should receive TagLink messages.

Where the wearer is under 18, the email address should belong to their parent, legal guardian or another responsible adult authorised by their parent or legal guardian. The child’s email address should not be used as the trusted contact.

TagLink does not require the wearer’s name, date of birth, school, diagnosis, SEND information, phone number, home address or live location to activate or operate TagLink Connect.

TagLink does not routinely require medical information, medication information, a care plan or a capacity assessment.

Full details about the information we collect, how it is used and how long it is retained are available in our Privacy Policy.

How secure messaging works

When someone scans a TagLink, they are taken to a secure message form.

They can provide information about where the item or person was encountered and explain how the owner or trusted contact can respond.

The person scanning does not need to download an app or create an account.

Their name and contact details are optional. If they choose to provide them, those details are included in the message sent to the owner or trusted contact.

TagLink notifications are sent to the email address registered during activation.

The owner’s or trusted contact’s email address and other personal contact details are not shown to the person scanning.

People using the message form should avoid including a child’s full name, school, home address, diagnosis, medical information, SEND information or other sensitive details unless genuinely necessary to explain the immediate situation.

TagLink does not verify the identity or intentions of the person scanning. Owners and trusted contacts should use reasonable care when deciding how to respond to a message.

No tracking

TagLink does not use GPS, Bluetooth or other technology to track the live location of an item or person.

The service only sends a notification when somebody scans the QR code and voluntarily submits a message.

Any location information included in that message is entered by the person scanning. TagLink does not automatically collect the wearer’s or owner’s live location.

No marketing use of activation data

Email addresses and any optional names associated with TagLink activations are used to operate and support the TagLink service.

We do not currently use this information for marketing mailing lists, newsletters, advertising profiles or promotional email campaigns.

We do not sell personal information.

Children and young people

TagLink is designed so that personal contact information does not need to be displayed publicly on a child’s bag, sports kit, equipment or other belongings.

Where TagLinks are used on children’s belongings through families, schools, clubs or youth organisations, they should be activated and managed using the contact information of a parent, legal guardian or other responsible adult.

TagLink Connect may also be worn or carried by children and young people, including those with SEND or other support needs.

Where the wearer is under 18, TagLink Connect must be activated and managed by their parent or legal guardian, or another responsible adult authorised by their parent or legal guardian.

TagLink does not intentionally require children or young people to provide their own email address, phone number, home address or other contact details.

The purpose of TagLink Connect should be explained in a way appropriate to the child or young person’s age, communication needs and understanding.

They should be involved in the decision wherever reasonably possible. Their views, comfort and willingness to wear or carry the TagLink should be considered, and its use should be reviewed if it causes distress or is repeatedly removed.

The Band and Wallet Card are deliberately neutral. They do not identify the wearer as having SEND, dementia, a disability, diagnosis or other support need.

Where TagLink Connect is introduced through a school, community group, parent-carer forum, charity or other organisation, that organisation remains responsible for applying its own parental-agreement, suitability, supervision and safeguarding procedures.

TagLink Connect

TagLink Connect is TagLink’s person-support service.

It may be supplied as a wearable Band, Wallet Card or a Support Pack containing both. Each format provides a QR-based way for somebody to send a message to the wearer’s trusted contact.

The wearer does not need to press a button, charge a device or operate any technology.

The trusted contact may be the adult wearer, a parent, legal guardian, family member, carer or another appropriate adult. Their email address is used to activate TagLink Connect and receive messages.

Use of TagLink Connect should be voluntary, clearly explained and centred on the individual’s needs, comfort and wishes wherever reasonably possible.

A person should not be assumed to lack capacity because of their age, appearance, diagnosis, disability or because they make a decision that others consider unwise.

For a person aged 16 or over, where there is a reasonable question about their capacity to make the particular decision, the family member, carer or participating organisation should follow the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and its own applicable procedures.

For a child under 16, the parent, legal guardian or organisation responsible for supporting them should follow the appropriate parental-responsibility, decision-making and safeguarding arrangements, while involving the child as far as reasonably possible.

Any decision made on behalf of somebody who lacks capacity must be made in their best interests, involve them as far as reasonably possible and use the least restrictive appropriate option.

TagLink does not assess capacity or make decisions about a person’s care, support or eligibility for services.

Families, carers and organisations remain responsible for deciding whether TagLink Connect is suitable for an individual.

Organisations distributing or recommending TagLink Connect retain their existing duty of care and safeguarding responsibilities. They remain responsible for applying their own:

• parental-agreement or consent arrangements

• capacity and best-interests procedures where applicable

• suitability considerations

• supervision arrangements

• incident-reporting processes

• safeguarding procedures

Providing, distributing or recommending a TagLink does not transfer those responsibilities to TagLink.

Where TagLink Connect is supplied through a specific community programme or pilot, additional guidance may be provided for that programme.

Important limitations

TagLink is an additional communication and reconnection tool.

It is not:

• a GPS or live-location tracker

• a medical device

• a personal alarm

• an emergency-response service

• a monitoring service

• a care provider

• a replacement for appropriate care or supervision

• a replacement for an organisation’s safeguarding procedures

TagLink cannot guarantee that a Band will always be worn, a Wallet Card will always be carried, somebody will notice or scan the QR code, or a trusted contact will see and respond to an email immediately.

These limitations should be understood when deciding whether TagLink is appropriate for a particular person or situation.

If somebody is in immediate danger or experiencing a life-threatening medical emergency, call 999.

For urgent medical help where the situation does not appear life-threatening, contact NHS 111.

Sending a TagLink message should never delay emergency assistance.

Reporting a safeguarding or service concern

TagLink is not a safeguarding authority and does not monitor messages as an emergency service.

Families, carers and participating organisations should follow their existing safeguarding procedures if they become concerned about abuse, neglect, exploitation or another risk to an individual.

If somebody is at immediate risk of harm, contact the emergency services.

Please contact TagLink if:

• a QR code does not work

• a message appears to have been sent to the wrong person

• personal information appears to have been exposed

• a TagLink appears to have been deliberately misused

• an inappropriate or concerning message is received

• you wish to deactivate a TagLink

• you have another concern about the operation of the service

Contact:

hello@taglink.co.uk

Please do not rely on an email to TagLink when urgent action is required.

Secure processing

Messages sent through TagLink are processed using trusted technology services that route notifications to the appropriate owner or trusted contact.

We take reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect personal information from unauthorised access, misuse, loss or disclosure.

We also aim to minimise the amount of information required to operate the service.

No internet-based service can guarantee absolute security, but privacy and data minimisation form part of the way TagLink has been designed.