On Tuesday 4th August, we were informed of a data security incident affecting Beacon, the third-party system we use to manage information relating to our Den Service, Blackpool Advocacy Hub and Healthwatch services.
This incident may have affected information relating to people who have used these services.
We understand that this news may be concerning, and we are sincerely sorry for the worry it may cause. Protecting the personal information of the people we support is a priority for us and we take incidents of this nature extremely seriously.
At this stage we do not yet have a complete picture of the extent of the incident. We are working closely with Beacon to find out the facts as quickly as possible and will provide updates as soon as more information becomes available.
If you have any immediate questions or concerns, please contact us at data-enquiry@empowermentcharity.org.uk
What happened?
On Wednesday 29 July 2026, Beacon identified a suspected cyber security incident affecting its systems. They immediately worked with external cyber security specialists to investigate and secure their systems.
Based on Beacon’s current findings, an unauthorised party gained access to parts of their system and copies of database backups may have been taken. Their investigation remains ongoing.
What information may be involved?
We are continuing to work with Beacon to find out exactly what information may have been accessed and whether anyone is at increased risk as a result.
At present we are unable to confirm precisely what data has been affected, but we will take appropriate action to communicate directly if it is identified that anyone is at particular risk.
What are we doing?
Since being notified of the incident, we have taken the following steps:
- Worked closely with Beacon to understand the nature and scope of the incident.
- Reviewed the potential impact with our Data Protection Officer.
- Assessed the risks and taken appropriate steps to protect the information we hold.
- Considered our legal obligations under data protection legislation, including notifying the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) and the Charity Commission.
- Continued to monitor Beacon’s investigation and will take any further action required as more information becomes available.
What should you do?
We are not aware of any evidence that personal information has been misused as a result of this incident at the moment.
However, as a precaution, we recommend that you;
- Be cautious of unexpected emails, text messages, telephone calls or letters claiming to be from Empowerment Charity or other organisations.
- Avoid clicking links or opening attachments in unsolicited communications.
- Never share passwords, one-time verification codes or financial information in response to unexpected requests.
What happens next?
We are committed to being open and transparent throughout this process.
As Beacon’s investigation progresses, we will continue to review the findings and will provide further updates if there is any new information that may affect the people who have used our Den Service, Blackpool Advocacy Hub or Healthwatch. If necessary, we will contact individuals directly.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us at data-enquiry@empowermentcharity.org.uk
We would like to sincerely apologise for any concern or inconvenience that this incident may cause and thank you for your patience and understanding while we work to establish the full facts.
For further information, take a look at this report published by fundraising.co.uk
Published | August 2026