Cookies
How we use cookies
We are using cookies to improve your experience. You can change this setting at any time.
Please note, if you have used the site cookies will be on your computer – but by disabling them in your settings we will no longer access them.
Cookies will be currently enabled, to find out more about how to disable them see: how to manage cookies.
To help improve this site we place small files, known as cookies, onto your computer. Some are essential for the site to work properly, others are to improve the experience you have.
You can decide to stop this or any site from using any cookies. To learn more about cookies and how to manage them visit AboutCookies.org.
We use cookies on this website – we’ve listed each of them below with more details about why we use them and how long they’ll last.
Cookies to improve your experience
Measuring website usage (Google Analytics)
We use Google Analytics to collect information about how people use our site, and rough demographics as to what groups of people are using our site. We do this to make sure it’s meeting your needs and to understand how we could improve it. As well as controlling this above – you can opt out of Google Analytics tracking directly.
Google Analytics stores information about:
- the pages you visit
- how long you spend on each page
- how you got to the site
- what you click on while you’re here
The following cookies are set by Google Analytics:
| Name | Purpose | Expires |
|---|---|---|
| _ga | This helps us count how many people visit the site by tracking if you’ve visited before | 2 years |
| _gid | This helps us count how many people visit the page | 1 day |
| _ga | This helps us count how many people visit the site by tracking if you’ve visited before | 2 years |
| _utmb | This works with _utmc to calculate the average length of time you spend on the site | 30 minutes |
| _utmc | This works with _utmb to calculate when you close your browser | when you close your browser |
| _utmz | This tells us how you reached the site (like from another website or a search engine) | 6 months |
| _gat_UA-376728-1 | This is used by Google Analytics to ensure its work doesn’t have a big impact on the site’s performance | 1 day |
Essential cookies
Website operation
The system that runs our website sets cookies to allow it to run smoothly.
| Name | Purpose | Expires |
|---|---|---|
| wordpress_test_cookie | The cookie is used to check whether your web browser is set to allow, or reject cookies. | when you close your browser |
| wp-settings- | The cookie for WordPress admin account settings and preferences | 6 weeks |
Logged in access
Our system uses cookies to allow you to log into the site, and access restricted content and services.
| Name | Purpose | Expires |
|---|---|---|
| shib_idp_session_ss | Allow the page to provide you with restricted content | when you close your browser |
| _shibsession_<number> | Allow the page to provide you with restricted content | when you close your browser |
| _saml_idp | Allow identity providers to identify you to authorise access | six months after last visiting the site |
| JSESSIONID | Allow identity providers keep track of you authorised access | when you close your browser |
NB: Cookie guidance wording adapted from gov.uk, shared under the Open Government License.