1. What cookies are
Cookies are small text files that a website can save on your device. UK law (the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations, or PECR) treats some similar technologies the same way, including local storage in your browser.
Strictly necessary cookies can be used without asking you first, because the service would not work without them. Anything used for advertising, analytics that is not strictly necessary, or extra tracking needs your consent.
2. What we use today
We do not currently set advertising or analytics cookies of our own. There is no advertising on this site, no social-media tracking pixels, and no analytics product that follows you from page to page.
You will see a cookie banner on your first visit. Click Accept to confirm you are happy with this. We remember that choice on this device so the banner does not keep appearing.
If we later add something that needs extra consent - for example a privacy-friendly analytics tool - we will update this policy and ask you first.
3. Similar storage we do use
The support application can save your progress so you can leave and come back. The resource survey remembers whether you closed or finished the invite, so it does not keep appearing. Your survey ticks are kept in this tab only, so we can show a results page. These use your browser’s local storage or session storage, not a cookie.
| Name | What it does | How long |
|---|---|---|
| oss_cookie_consent_v1 | Remembers that you clicked Accept on the cookie banner, so it does not keep appearing. It does not store any other information. | Until you clear site data |
| oss_apply_draft_v1 | Stores a draft of the support application on this device so you can save and return. It stays on your device until you submit or clear it. We cannot see it until you send the form. | Until you submit, clear site data, or it is overwritten by a newer draft |
| oss_quick_exit_hidden_v1 | Remembers that you chose to hide the “need to leave this page quickly” box. It does not store any other information. | Until you clear site data |
| oss_pathways_v1 | Remembers whether you closed or finished the resource survey invite, so it does not keep appearing. It does not store your answers. | Until you clear site data |
| oss_pathways_answers_v1 | Keeps the ticks from the resource survey in this browser tab so we can show your results page. Your answers are not sent to us. Closing the tab clears them. | Until you close the tab |
This is strictly necessary for the “save your progress” feature you chose to use. If you are on a shared computer, a saved draft could be visible to the next person who uses that browser. Use Save and exit only if that feels safe, and use the Exit now button if you need to leave quickly.
4. Third parties
Some pages load resources from other organisations so the site can run:
- Netlify - this website is hosted by Netlify. They may set strictly necessary cookies so the site loads securely and so contact and application forms can be sent. Those cookies are for hosting and form delivery, not advertising.
- Google Fonts - so the typefaces display consistently. Your browser requests those files from Google. Google’s privacy policy applies to that request.
- The application form - when it is connected, submissions are sent to our hosting provider so we can read them. That is a form submission, not a cookie.
- Stripe - if you donate, you are taken to Stripe’s payment page (buy.stripe.com). Stripe may set its own cookies on that page to process the payment securely. Those cookies are Stripe’s, not ours. Stripe’s privacy policy and cookie policy apply there. We do not load Stripe’s payment form on our own pages, so we do not set Stripe cookies on this website.
- Links you choose to follow - including the Exit now button, which takes you to Google, and Amazon links on the reading list. Those sites may set their own cookies. We do not control that.
We do not allow other organisations to drop advertising cookies through this site.
5. How to control cookies and storage
You can delete cookies and site data, or block them, in your browser settings. How you do that depends on the browser:
Clearing site data for this website will also remove any saved application draft on that device.
Most browsers also have a private or incognito mode, which does not keep local storage after you close the window. That can be a safer option on a shared computer, with the trade-off that a draft will not be there when you come back.
You can also use the ICO’s cookie guidance at ico.org.uk.
6. Changes
If we start using cookies that need extra consent, we will update this policy, change the banner if needed, and record the date at the top of this page.
Questions about cookies or privacy can be sent through our contact form. Our Privacy Policy explains how we handle personal information more broadly.