Service Announcement - Beacon CRM

A Message from our Chief Executive Officer

We are aware of the cyber security incident recently announced by Beacon CRM, one of our trusted technology providers, which has affected a number of charities across the UK.

Beacon CRM has confirmed that it identified unauthorised activity within its environment and immediately activated its incident response procedures. The company engaged independent cyber security specialists to investigate the incident, secured its systems, and is working with the relevant authorities while a detailed forensic investigation continues, with Beacon currently fully operational and secure.

As a charity that uses Beacon CRM, we have been working closely with the information provided to understand what, if any, impact this incident may have on When You Wish Upon a Star and the individuals whose information we hold.

While the investigation is ongoing, Beacon has advised that organisations should proceed on the basis that information stored within affected systems may have been accessed or downloaded by the unauthorised third party. At this time, however, there is no evidence that any information has been published, shared or used for fraudulent or other malicious purposes.

We are currently reviewing the information provided by Beacon to understand what this may mean for our charity. If we identify that personal information relating to When You Wish Upon a Star has been affected, we will contact those individuals directly and provide further guidance and support where appropriate.

We understand this news may be concerning for the children and families we support, our donors, volunteers, fundraisers and partners. Protecting the information entrusted to us is something we take extremely seriously, and we sincerely apologise for any concern this incident may cause.

Although there is currently no evidence that any data has been misused, we encourage everyone to remain vigilant. Please be cautious of any unexpected emails, telephone calls, text messages or other communications that ask you to provide personal information, passwords or financial details, or encourage you to click on unfamiliar links or attachments. If you receive any communication that appears suspicious or claims to be from When You Wish Upon a Star but seems unusual, please contact us directly using our published contact details before taking any action.

Our wish-granting activities continue, and our team remains focused on supporting children living with life-threatening illnesses while we continue to monitor the situation.

We are committed to being open and transparent throughout this process. As Beacon CRM's investigation progresses and we receive further verified information, we will continue to assess any implications for our charity and will provide updates through our website and direct communications where appropriate.

Thank you to our families, supporters, volunteers, partners and staff for your patience, understanding and continued support.

Joe Williamson
Chief Executive Officer
When You Wish Upon a Star