Cookies notice

Cookies

Our website uses cookies to distinguish you from other users of the website. This helps us to provide you with a good experience when you browse our website and allows us to improve our site. At Arthritis UK, we’re committed to supporting those affected by arthritis while respecting their privacy. This cookie policy outlines how we use cookies and similar technologies to enhance your experience on our website and ensure transparency in our practices.

What are cookies

A cookie is a small data file of letters and numbers that with your permission we store on your browser or the hard drive of your device. When you use our website, it asks your browser to store the data on your device to remember information about you, such as your language preference or login information. These ‘first-party’ cookies are set by us. We also use third-party cookies (see below).

When we mention ‘cookies’, we refer to both traditional cookies and other similar technologies. These include:

  • Session cookies: Temporary data that vanishes when you close your browser.
  • Persistent cookies: Data that has a longer lifespan as separately indicated in the Cookie List below, enhancing your experience across visits.
  • Third-party cookies: These come from our partners (like social media platform providers, research institutions or support networks) and help us understand your interactions beyond our website.
  • Pixels (similar technology): A tracking pixel is a tiny, invisible piece of code embedded on our website. It is used to track certain user activities for analytics, performance and remarketing. For example, it allows third party partners e.g. Facebook to track user interactions with the site, such as page views, clicks, and conversions. This data helps us measure the effectiveness of our advertisements and optimise our campaigns to make sure we are reaching as many people who want to support arthritis sufferers as possible. We do not place pixels on pages targeted at under 18’s, arthritis specific or other health related pages. Use is limited to generic information and fundraising related pages. Sometimes these pixels are referred to as web beacons or pixel tags.

Why cookies matter

Cookies play a vital role in tailoring your online journey. They allow us to:

  • Personalise content: We use cookies to serve you relevant information related to arthritis management, treatments, fundraising, and support.
  • Optimise digital advertising: Cookies help us display targeted messages that resonate with your arthritis journey.
  • Enable social connection: Share your stories, connect with fellow sufferers, and find strength in our community.
  • Analyse traffic: By understanding how you navigate our site, we can improve its functionality for everyone.

Your choices

By continuing to browse the site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. We respect your autonomy. Here’s how you can manage cookies:

Accept all cookies: Click the friendly “Accept cookies” button on our cookie banner.

Manage consent preferences: If you prefer to refine your cookies, visit our “Privacy Preference Centre’’ There, you can adjust your preferences to switch off targeting, performance, and functional cookies. If you do block or turn off these settings, you may not be able to access all or parts of our site. For more information about cookies in general, we suggest you visit the About Cookies website.

Consent and privacy

When you use our website or services, you consent to the use of cookies as outlined in this policy. Be assured that our cookies undergo regular review, and we exclusively employ cookies essential for enhancing the experience of users interested in arthritis information. Your data remains safeguarded throughout this process.

Consent mechanisms

Before using the Arthritis UK website, users must consent to the use of cookies. The first time that a user tries to access our website they will encounter our cookie message ‘by clicking accept all cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyse site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts’. 

How it works

A user can choose to ‘reject all cookies’, ‘accept all cookies’ or ‘access cookie settings’.

By clicking cookie settings, the user will access the privacy preference centre where they can ‘allow all’, ‘reject all’ or manage consent preferences for targeting, performance and functional cookies.  Strictly necessary cookies are marked ‘always active’, without these cookies the website will not work.

If the user selects reject all they will not be able to use the website. 

The portal is powered by CookieYes, a leading provider of privacy management software and solutions. Their cookie consent product helps organisations simplify cookie compliance and consent management.

Record keeping

We employ the CookieYes consent portal to manage user preferences and consent related to cookies. Through this portal, users can express their choices regarding cookie usage, including opting in or out of specific types of cookies.

CookieYes portal

Our system maintains a detailed record of each user’s preferences and consent, ensuring transparency and compliance with data privacy regulations.

Users can access and modify their preferences at any time through the CookieYes interface.

We provide clear instructions on how users can access the portal and manage their cookie preferences. We commit to transparency and empower users to easily manage their preferences. We believe these are key principles in building trust and compliance with data protection laws.

Types of cookies

Our website uses several different types of cookies which are explained here:

Strictly necessary cookies

Strictly necessary cookies are essential for enabling basic website functionality. They allow users to navigate the site and perform essential functions including enabling you to log into secure areas of our website, use a shopping cart or make use of online donation services. These cookies are crucial for the proper functioning of the website. Specific examples include:

  • Session cookies: These cookies remember user activities during a session, such as keeping users logged in or tracking items in an online shopping cart.
  • User-input cookies (Session ID): Used to store user inputs, such as form answers or shopping cart items.
  • Authentication cookies: Confirm a user’s identity by tracking login credentials.
  • User-centric security cookies: Detect authentication errors and incorrect login details.

Performance cookies

Performance / analytical cookies allow us to recognise and count the number of visitors to our digital sites and how the visitors move around our website when they are using it. This helps us to improve the way our website works, for example, by ensuring that users are finding what they are looking for easily. They collect anonymous data about website usage to improve performance. They help us understand how visitors interact with our site, identify areas for enhancement, and optimise loading times. Examples include:

  • Load-balancing cookies: These basic cookies connect information between a user’s web server and our web server.

Functionality cookies

Functionality cookies enhance user experience by remembering preferences and providing personalised features. They allow us to offer a more tailored browsing experience. They are used to recognise you when you return to our website. This is what enables us to personalise our content for you, greet you by name and remember your preferences (for example, your choice of language or region). Examples include:

  • User preferences cookies: Remember user settings, such as language preferences or font size choices.
  • Customisation cookies: Personalise content based on user behaviour.

Targeting cookies

Targeting / remarketing cookies record your visit to our website, the pages you have visited and the links you have followed. We will use this information to make our website and the advertising displayed on it more relevant to your interests. We may also share this information with third parties for this purpose, so they can show content and advertisements that you have shown interest in on our website, about us when you visit their website or digital platform. Targeting or advertising cookies track user behaviour across websites to deliver personalised advertisements. While these cookies are not strictly necessary, they help us tailor content and promotions. Examples include:

  • Behavioural advertising cookies: Collect data on user interests and preferences to display relevant advertisements.
  • Social media cookies: Integrate social media features and track interactions with social media platforms.

Tracking cookies

Tracking cookies are used to collect data on user behaviour across our website and other websites. This information helps us understand how users interact with our site and allows us to deliver personalised content and advertisements. While these cookies are not strictly necessary, they enhance your browsing experience by making it more relevant to your interests. Examples include:

  • Analytics cookies: These cookies track user interactions with our website, such as page views, clicks, and conversions. This data helps us measure the effectiveness of our advertisements and optimise our campaigns.

Tracking cookies play a vital role in helping us understand our audience and improve our services. By analysing the data collected, we can enhance your experience on our website and ensure that our content and advertisements are relevant to you.

Third-party cookies

Third-party cookies, managed and established by external partners or suppliers acting on our behalf, serve the purpose of recognising your device when you explore other websites. These cookies find frequent application in website analytics or advertising endeavours. 

Cookie list

The cookies used on our website are listed here:

Contact us

If you have any queries or comments about this cookie policy, please contact us via dpo@arthritis-uk.org

Updates

This cookie policy may be updated, please check it regularly if you need to have an up-to date understanding of the use of cookies used on our website.

Additional information about cookies

Further information about cookies and how to control their use is available from All About Cookies and Your Online Choices.