Cookie Policy

Last updated: 14/11/2025

This Cookie Policy explains how Someone2TalkTo (“we”, “us”, “our”) uses cookies and similar technologies on https://www.someone2talkto.co.uk (“our website”).

It sits alongside our Privacy Policy, which explains how we handle personal data more generally.

By clicking “Accept” on our cookie banner or adjusting your cookie settings, you are choosing which non-essential cookies we may use in your browser. You can change your mind at any time.

Important: This website is based in the UK. We follow the rules set out in the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations 2003 (PECR) and the UK GDPR for cookies and similar technologies.

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1. What are cookies?

Cookies are small text files that are downloaded to your device when you visit a website. They can:

• help a website work properly
• remember your preferences
• measure how people use the site
• support features such as video embeds or maps

Cookies can be:

• Session cookies – deleted when you close your browser
• Persistent cookies – stay on your device until they expire or you delete them
• First-party cookies – set by this website
• Third-party cookies – set by other services we use (for example, analytics or embedded content)

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2. How we use cookies on this website

We use cookies so that:

• the site can function securely and as expected (for example, remembering your cookie choices)
• we can understand how visitors use the site in order to improve content and usability (if analytics are enabled)
• practitioners and directory users (in future) can securely log in and manage their profiles

We do not use cookies to make automated decisions about you or to profile you in a way that has legal or similarly significant effects.

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3. Types of cookies we use

Under UK law, cookies are grouped into essential (strictly necessary) and non-essential categories.

We use:

3.1 Strictly necessary cookies (no consent required)

These cookies are needed for our website to function and to keep it secure. They:

• allow basic site functions to work
• keep you logged in to secure areas (for example, a future practitioner dashboard)
• remember your cookie preferences so we don’t keep asking you the same question

Because they are essential for providing the service you have requested, these cookies are set automatically and do not require consent, but we still explain them for transparency.

Examples include (names may vary depending on the plugins used):

• cookie-preference – remembers your cookie settings (accept / reject)
• WordPress core cookies used for logged-in sessions and security for admin/practitioner areas

3.2 Analytics / performance cookies (consent required)

If enabled, we use analytics cookies to understand how visitors use our site (for example, which pages are visited most often, how people found us, and if any pages are difficult to use). This helps us improve the content and experience.

These cookies:

• are not essential for using the site
• require your consent before they are set
• are only activated if you choose to accept them in the cookie banner

Examples may include (if we use Google Analytics or similar):

• _ga, _gid, _gat – used to collect information about how visitors use the site (for example, number of visitors, where they came from, pages visited). The data is aggregated and does not identify you directly.

If we add or change our analytics provider, we will update this policy and/or our cookie consent tool so you can see the current list.

3.3 Functional cookies (consent required)

From time to time we may use functional cookies to support:

• embedded content (such as videos, podcast players or maps)
• optional features that remember your preferences (for example, saving a filter or viewing option)

These cookies are non-essential and require your consent. If you choose to block them:

• the core website will still work
• some enhanced features or embedded content may not display correctly

3.4 Advertising / marketing cookies (only if introduced in future)

At the time of writing, we do not actively use advertising or retargeting cookies (for example, Meta Pixel) on this site.

If we decide to use marketing cookies in future – for example, to measure the performance of social media campaigns – we will:

• update this policy
• classify them as non-essential
• only set them with your explicit consent
• give you the ability to turn them off at any time

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4. Cookies set by third parties

Some cookies are set by third-party services that we use on our site. These may include, for example:

• website analytics tools
• embedded video or audio players
• social media sharing tools

These third parties may use their cookies independently to:

• understand how their service is used
• improve their own products
• comply with their own legal obligations

Where possible, we will provide links to their privacy or cookie information in our cookie banner or in this policy.

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5. Your choices: accepting, rejecting and changing cookies

5.1 Using our cookie banner

When you first visit our site, you will see a cookie banner. This gives you options to:

• Accept all non-essential cookies
• Reject non-essential cookies, or
• Manage settings and choose which categories you allow

We will not set non-essential cookies (such as analytics) until you have made a clear, positive choice to allow them.

You can change your preferences at any time by:

• returning to this site and clicking “Cookie settings” / “Manage cookies” (link or icon in the footer or banner), or
• clearing cookies in your browser and re-visiting the site to set your choices again

5.2 Using your browser settings

You can also control cookies at browser level. Most browsers allow you to:

• see which cookies are stored
• block some or all cookies
• delete cookies when you close the browser

How you do this depends on your browser (for example, Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge). Check the Help or Settings section of your browser for more details.

Please be aware that blocking all cookies may affect how some websites function.

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6. How cookies relate to personal data

Some cookies only collect anonymous, aggregated statistics. Others may collect information that could identify you (for example, an IP address combined with other data).

Where cookies involve personal data, our use of that data is also covered by the UK GDPR and our Privacy Policy.

In those cases:

• our lawful basis for using non-essential cookies is consent, which you can withdraw at any time
• our lawful basis for strictly necessary cookies is our legitimate interest in operating a secure, usable website and providing the services requested by visitors

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7. How long cookies last

Different cookies last for different periods:

• Session cookies are deleted when you close your browser
• Persistent cookies stay on your device for a set time or until you delete them

Analytics and preference cookies may last from a few minutes up to around 24 months. We review our use of cookies regularly and will update this policy and/or our cookie consent tool to reflect the current expiry periods in use.

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8. Changes to this Cookie Policy

We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time, for example:

• if we add new features or integrations that use cookies
• if we start or stop using certain analytics or marketing tools
• to reflect changes in law or regulatory guidance

When we make significant changes, we will:

• update the “Last updated” date at the top, and
• where appropriate, show a notice on the site or through the cookie banner

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9. Contact us

If you have any questions about this Cookie Policy or how we use cookies on this website, you can contact us at:

Someone2TalkTo
Website: https://www.someone2talkto.co.uk
Email: support@someone2talkto.co.uk

For more information about your rights under data protection law, please also see our Privacy Policy and the Information Commissioner’s Office website at ico.org.uk.