Privacy Policy

Updated: July 18, 2026

This Privacy Policy applies to the Balance website, the Balance: Plant-Based Fitness app, and related online coaching services operated by Shannon Rhys Birch (ABN 90 855 738 343) under the Balance brand. It explains how we collect, use, store and protect personal information.

1. Information We Collect

We collect information you provide directly and information created when you use Balance, including:

Account and contact details: name, email address, phone number, login details, profile information and communication preferences.
Fitness, health and wellbeing information: goals, weight, measurements, progress photos, workouts, steps, meal logs, check-ins, mood, energy, stress, injuries, limitations and other information you choose to share.
Coaching and support messages: messages, check-in replies, form-check requests, photos, videos, notes and feedback exchanged with Shannon or through the app.
Payment and subscription records: plan selected, payment status, renewal status and billing history. Full card details are handled by payment providers and are not stored by Balance.
App and device information: app usage, feature activity, device type, browser information, crash logs, IP address and permissions such as location or health-data access if you choose to enable them.

2. Health Information and Consent

Some information collected by Balance may be sensitive health information. By creating an account, joining coaching, completing a challenge, submitting check-ins or using health and fitness tracking features, you consent to Balance collecting and using that information to provide the service. You can choose not to provide certain information, but some features or coaching support may not work properly without it.

If you choose to connect Health Connect on Android, Balance requests read-only access to your steps, active calories and sleep sessions. Balance uses steps and active calories to show your daily activity progress, and uses steps and sleep sessions to update relevant Balance challenges and insights. Balance does not write health data back to Health Connect.

Connected Health Connect data is sent securely to Balance only to provide these features. It is not sold or used for advertising. You can disconnect Health Connect in Balance or revoke access in your device's Health Connect settings at any time. This stops future syncing, and you can request deletion of synced data through the Data Deletion page.

3. How We Use Information

To provide the app, online coaching, challenges, check-ins, progress tracking and customer support.
To personalise workouts, nutrition guidance, reminders, accountability and app experience.
To manage subscriptions, billing, cancellations, refunds and account access.
To keep the service safe, troubleshoot issues, prevent misuse and improve app reliability.
To meet legal, insurance, tax, consumer law, safety and record-keeping obligations.

4. Storage, Security and Retention

Balance uses reputable service providers for hosting, authentication, database storage, payments, app distribution and communication. We use access controls and reasonable technical safeguards to protect personal information from misuse, loss and unauthorised access.

We keep personal information only for as long as needed for the service, legal obligations, safety, dispute handling, insurance, accounting or legitimate business records. When information is no longer needed, we will take reasonable steps to delete or de-identify it.

5. Third-Party Services

Balance may use service providers such as Supabase, Netlify, Stripe, Apple, Google, Meta, email providers and analytics or support tools. These providers may process information on our behalf so the service can operate. If you connect external health or device services, data is shared only according to the permissions you grant in that service or on your device.

6. When We Share Information

We do not sell your personal information. We may share information with service providers, professional advisers, insurers, payment providers, app-store providers, regulators or law enforcement where reasonably necessary. We may also disclose information if required to protect someone from a serious safety risk.

7. Your Choices and Rights

You may request access to, correction of, or deletion of your personal information by contacting us. You may also use the Data Deletion page for deletion requests. You may unsubscribe from marketing messages, revoke app permissions on your device, or disconnect external health and fitness services.

8. Children and Young People

Balance is not directed to children under 13. Paid coaching for anyone under 18 requires parent or guardian consent and may require extra screening.

9. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy as the app, coaching service or legal requirements change. The latest version will be posted on this page with the updated date.

10. Contact

Questions or privacy requests can be sent to shannon@plantbased-balance.org.