Using cookies

A cookie is a small text file a web page server places on the hard drive of every computer that links to its website. The cookie carries an identification code, which can only be read by the server that generated it, to enable the server to recognise returning users.

The cookie may also store a record of which information the user has submitted to that website, such as personal details or personalised settings. The server can then reuse this information to prevent users having to re-enter information.

We encourage you to accept the cookies our website uses as they help us to improve the user experience for you and many others.

We use the following cookies on our website.

  • Google Analytics uses cookies (_ga, _gat, _gid) to collect information about how visitors use our site. We use the information to compile reports and to help us improve the site. 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. These cookies use a unique identifier for tracking purposes. Google Analytics cookies do not collect personal data about you – see Google analytics cookies and More about Google cookies.
  • Google reCAPTCHA is used in our forms to prevent robots from submitting spam forms.  These use cookies (PREF, NID, HSID, APISID, SID) to create a unique identifier for tracking purposes.  More about Google cookies.
  • A session cookie which enables the website to keep track of your movement from page to page so you don't get asked for the same information you've already given to the site.
  • We don't have any externally set cookies from third party sites so any cookies we use are just for our website or to improve your browsing session. Any cookies and IP addresses collected from visitors using our site are not disclosed to third parties.

The website will still work and you will be able to get the information you need, but as we develop the site and offer more sophisticated services this will most likely rely on cookies. For example, if we tailor the content to your interests expressed by your browsing behaviour this will depend on cookies. If you decline cookies, this kind of service will not be available to you.

We use Google Analytics to count the number of people who use the site and to analyse how they use it. We do this to make sure that our site is as good as they can be and this is the primary evidence we use when trying to improve what we offer to users. If you decline cookies your site usage won't be counted and measured in this way so we won't be able to take your actions into account when analysing data and seeking to improve our service based on that analysis.

We recommend you allow the cookies we use on this website as they help us improve our website and provide a better service.

If you do not want to receive cookies from this website, select cookie settings under the privacy settings in your browser options, add our domain to the list of websites you do not want accept cookies from.

Under settings you can also delete individual cookies or any cookies that your browser has stored. You can find more information on how to delete and control cookies from the Information Commissioner's Office, as well as All about cookies. If you set your browser to refuse cookies, some functionality on various websites may not work.

If you do leave cookies turned on, make sure you log or sign out, especially when using a shared computer. It is good web practice to close down your browser. 

An IP (Internet Protocol) address is a number unique to each individual computer, which acts as its address and can be used to identify it.