Clacton.org
Cookie Policy
This policy explains how Clacton.org uses cookies and similar technologies, what they do and how you can control them.
Essential cookies keep the website working and secure. Optional analytics or tracking technologies should only be used when permitted by your choice.
1. What cookies are
Cookies are small text files stored on a computer, telephone, tablet or other device when a website is visited. They can help a website remember information about a visit or recognise a browser during a later visit.
Similar technologies include local storage, pixels, tags, device identifiers and scripts that store or access information on a device.
Some cookies remain only for the browsing session. Others stay on the device for a defined period or until they are deleted.
2. How Clacton.org uses cookies
Cookies and similar technologies may be used to:
- Load and operate the website correctly.
- Keep forms, accounts and administrator areas secure.
- Remember login sessions and website preferences.
- Remember cookie choices.
- Protect forms against spam, bots and automated abuse.
- Process donations and other payments securely.
- Understand website use and performance.
- Display embedded maps, videos or social content.
- Measure delivery, opens and link activity in marketing emails.
3. Cookie categories
Strictly necessary
Required for security, forms, logins, payments, basic website functions and remembering privacy choices. The site may not work correctly without them.
Analytics
Help us understand page visits, website performance and how visitors use the site. These are not required for the core website to work.
Functional or media
Used by optional services such as videos, maps, social feeds or other embedded content.
Marketing and measurement
Used to measure communications or campaign activity. Clacton.org does not sell information for advertising.
4. Cookies and technologies that may be used
The exact cookies visible on a device can vary according to the pages visited, whether the visitor is logged in, whether a payment form is used and which privacy choices have been selected.
| Cookie or technology | Provider | Purpose | Category | Typical duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cookie preference record | Clacton.org or the consent service | Remembers whether optional cookies were accepted or rejected. | Essential | Normally several months, then consent may be requested again. |
| wordpress_test_cookie | WordPress | Checks whether the browser accepts cookies. | Essential | Session |
| wordpress_logged_in_* | WordPress | Recognises a logged-in user and maintains the account session. | Essential | Session or login period |
| wordpress_sec_* | WordPress | Provides security and authentication for logged-in areas. | Essential | Session or login period |
| wp-settings-* and wp-settings-time-* | WordPress | Remembers account or administrator display preferences. | Essential or functional | Normally up to one year |
| PHPSESSID or equivalent session cookie | Website server or plugin | Maintains temporary form, account or session information. | Essential | Session |
| cf_clearance or other Cloudflare security cookies | Cloudflare | Records successful security verification and helps protect against automated abuse. | Essential | Varies according to the security configuration |
| Cloudflare Turnstile token or browser storage | Cloudflare | Checks whether a form submission appears to come from a real visitor rather than an automated bot. | Essential | Short-lived |
| __stripe_mid | Stripe | Supports secure payment processing and fraud prevention. | Essential when using payment services | Normally up to one year |
| __stripe_sid | Stripe | Supports secure payment processing and fraud prevention during a payment session. | Essential when using payment services | Normally around 30 minutes |
| _ga | Google Analytics | Helps distinguish visitors and measure website use. | Analytics | Normally up to two years, subject to configuration |
| _ga_* | Google Analytics | Maintains and measures an analytics session. | Analytics | Normally up to two years, subject to configuration |
| Embedded media cookies | Video, map or social media provider | Loads external content and may record interaction with it. | Functional, analytics or marketing | Set by the relevant provider |
| Email tracking pixel | Clacton.org email system | Records when a marketing email appears to have been opened. | Marketing measurement | Recorded with the relevant campaign activity |
| Tracked email link | Clacton.org email system | Records when a link in a marketing email is selected before redirecting to the destination. | Marketing measurement | Recorded with the relevant campaign activity |
5. WordPress, members and logged-in users
Clacton.org uses WordPress. WordPress may use essential cookies to test whether cookies are supported, maintain secure login sessions and remember account preferences.
Members and administrators may receive additional authentication and preference cookies after logging in. These are needed to provide the account or administration functions requested.
Logging out will normally end the active login session, although some saved preferences may remain until they expire or are deleted.
6. Website security and Cloudflare Turnstile
Clacton.org uses security services to protect the website, forms and users against spam, bots, fraud and malicious activity.
Cloudflare Turnstile may process technical information and browser signals to decide whether a visitor appears to be genuine. Depending on the configuration, Cloudflare may use short-lived tokens, browser storage or security cookies.
These technologies are used for security and to provide the form or service requested. Blocking them may prevent a protected form from being submitted.
Cloudflare’s current information about its cookies is available through Cloudflare’s cookie documentation .
7. Donations and payment services
Donation and payment pages may use Stripe or another payment provider. Payment providers use cookies and fraud-prevention technologies to process transactions securely, recognise a payment session and reduce fraudulent use.
These technologies may be essential when you choose to use a payment service. Blocking them can prevent the secure payment form from loading or completing a transaction.
Payment providers process information under their own privacy and cookie notices as well as their agreement with Clacton.org.
8. Google Analytics
Clacton.org may use Google Analytics to understand website traffic, performance and how people interact with pages.
Analytics information can include pages visited, approximate location, browser type, device type, referring page and interaction events. We use this information to identify problems and improve the website.
Google Analytics commonly uses first-party cookies such as _ga and _ga_* to distinguish browsers and sessions.
Analytics is not required for the core website to work. It should be controlled by the website’s cookie consent settings where consent is required.
Google provides information about Analytics cookies through its Google Analytics cookie guidance .
9. Videos, maps and other embedded content
Some pages may include content provided by another organisation, such as a video, map, social media post or external form.
When external content is loaded, the provider may receive technical information and may place its own cookies. This can happen in a similar way to visiting the provider’s website directly.
Optional embedded content may be blocked until the appropriate cookie choice has been made. External providers are responsible for their own privacy and cookie practices.
10. Marketing email tracking
Marketing emails may contain a small tracking image and coded links. These technologies may record whether an email appears to have been opened and whether a link was selected.
Tracking helps identify delivery failures, measure whether information is useful and improve future communications.
Results are not completely reliable. Some email services block tracking, preload images or automatically scan links.
You can unsubscribe from marketing using the link in the email. Further information is available in our Privacy Policy.
11. Managing your cookie choices
You can accept or reject optional cookie categories through the cookie notice displayed on the website.
You can also control cookies through your browser by:
- Viewing cookies already stored.
- Deleting selected cookies.
- Blocking all cookies or particular providers.
- Blocking third-party cookies.
- Clearing cookies when the browser closes.
Browser controls vary. Check the privacy or cookie section of your browser’s settings for the available options.
Blocking essential cookies may stop logins, forms, donations, security checks or other parts of the website from working properly.
Deleting cookies may remove your saved consent preference, meaning the website may ask for your choice again.
12. Changes to this policy
We may update this Cookie Policy when the website, plugins, providers, technologies or legal requirements change.
The date at the top of the page shows when this policy was last updated.
13. Contact us
Questions about cookies, tracking or privacy can be sent to hello@clacton.org.
For information about how we use personal information and your data protection rights, read our Privacy Policy.
Read our Privacy Policy