'Cookies' are small pieces of information sent by a web server to a web browser, which enables the server to collect information from the browser. Essentially it takes the form of a small text file deposited on your computer's hard drive.

Our website uses Google Analytics, a service provided by Google, Inc that uses cookies to help the website analyse how users use this site. The cookie will generate information about your use of the website, and this along with your IP address will be stored on servers in the United States by Google, Inc. This information is retained for the purposes of evaluating and compiling reports on website activity and for other services relating to internet usage. This information may be transferred to third parties by Google, Inc where required to do so by law, or where such third parties process the information on their behalf. Your IP address will not be associated with any other data held by Google, Inc.

Certain facilities on our site (for example, order forms) may also use cookies to help us process your order or feedback. These cookies are not saved and are deleted once the process is complete.

If you want to prevent our cookies being stored on your computer in future, you may do so by referring to your internet browser's instructions. You can do this by clicking on the 'Help' menu. Please note however that if you disable our cookies you may not be able to access certain services or facilities on our sites and your use of our sites may be restricted.

Further information on deleting or controlling cookies is available at www.AboutCookies.org.

BTF privacy policy

This privacy policy sets out how the British Thyroid Foundation uses and protects any information that you give the British Thyroid Foundation

The British Thyroid Foundation is committed to ensuring that your privacy is protected. Should we ask you to provide certain information by which you can be identified, such as membership, or service providers you can be assured that it will only be used in accordance with this privacy statement.

If you provide information when getting in touch with us, about for example your details in a medical query, we will not ask for any other unnecessary personal information, and your question and reply will be temporarily stored securely in the BTF files.

The British Thyroid Foundation may change this policy from time to time by updating this page. You should check this page from time to time to ensure that you are happy with any changes. This policy is effective from May 2022.

What we collect

• If you complete online membership or submission forms we will collect the following necessary information:
  • name and address (or the name and age of your child, if you are joining on their behalf)
  • contact information including email address
  • demographic information such as postcode, type of disorder
• We will occasionally collect information using a survey tool (service providers' Privacy Policy applies)
• Our service providers' details are kept for the purpose of the continued efficient running of the charity 
• If we collect any other necessary information for other requirements, such as, for a campaign/project or fundraising event, we will always seek your permission before doing so.

Why do we collect this information?

We require this information for membership administration and the legitimate interests of the work, aims and objectives of the BTF. In particular, it helps us to:

• manage internal record keeping
• understand your needs and provide you with a service to suit your requirements
• provide the statistics needed to help with research projects

Security

We are committed to ensuring that your information is secure. In order to prevent unauthorised access or disclosure, we have put in place suitable physical, electronic and managerial procedures to safeguard and secure the information we have stored. We destroy all data that is no longer required.

Links to other websites

Our website may contain links to other websites of interest. However, once you have used these links to leave our site, you should note that we do not have any control over other websites. Therefore, we cannot be responsible for the protection and privacy of any information which you provide whilst visiting such sites, and such sites are not governed by this privacy statement. You should exercise caution and look at the privacy statement applicable to the website in question.

Controlling your personal information

You may choose to restrict the collection or use of your personal information in the following ways:

• whenever you are asked to fill in a form that you have either downloaded from the website or filled in online, you can click to indicate that you want the British Thyroid Foundation to contact you. If the box remains unticked we will not contact you.
• if you have previously agreed to us contacting you, you may change your mind at any time by writing to or emailing us at [email protected]

We will not sell, distribute or lease your personal information to a third party. If you have opted into agreeing to the BTF contacting you, we may use your personal information to send you BTF information, or surveys that we think you may find interesting.

If you believe that any information we are holding on you is incorrect or incomplete, please write to or email us as soon as possible, at the above address. We will promptly correct any information found to be incorrect.

Our website provider

Your data may also be available to our website provider to enable us and them to deliver their service to us, carry out analysis and research on demographics, interests, and behaviour of our users and supporters to help us gain a better understanding of them to enable us to improve our services. This may include connecting data we receive from you on the website to data available from other sources. Your personally identifiable data will only be used where it is necessary for the analysis required, and where your interests for privacy are not deemed to outweigh their legitimate interests in developing new services for us. In the case of this activity, the following will apply:

1. Your data will be made available to our website provider 
2. The data that may be available to them include any of the data we collect as described in this policy.
3. Our website provider will not transfer your data to any other third party or transfer your data outside of the EEA.
4. They will store your data for a maximum of 7 years.
5. This processing does not affect your rights as detailed in this privacy policy.