Cookies are small text files that are placed on your computer by websites that you visit. They are transferred to your computer, tablet or mobile phone (all referred to here as a ‘device’) through your web browser. They are stored on your device’s hard drive and contain a unique number, but no personal data. Cookies are widely used in order to make websites work, or work more efficiently, as well as to provide information to the owners of the site and a more tailored site experience to you.
Each website can send its own cookie to your web browser if your browser’s preferences allow it. Many websites do this whenever a user visits their website in order to track online traffic flows. Similar technologies are also often used within emails to understand whether the email has been read or if any links have been clicked. Most browsers allow you to choose whether cookies are used or not. The ‘help’ portion of your browser’s toolbar will usually tell you how to configure your browser to refuse cookies, to delete cookies or to notify you when you receive a new cookie. However, by turning off cookies you may make the website less efficient and some services may not function properly.
| Name | Cookie type | Purpose |
| Google Analytics | Functional cookies | This collects information about how visitors use the website, to be able to compile reports and make improvements to better meet our users’ needs. The cookies collect information in an anonymous form, including the number of visitors to the site, where visitors have come to the site from and the pages they visited. Google Analytics data and privacy information. Opt out add-on for Google Analytics. |
| Google Analytics | Targeting cookies | We use Google Analytics Audience Demographics and Interest Reporting within Google Analytics to further our audience understanding so we can improve our content and user experience accordingly. Opt out of Google’s personalised advertising. |