Cookie PolicyDraft v1.0 — pending CTO audit + solicitor review
Last updated: 2026-05-19
Contents (8 sections)
What is a cookie?
A cookie is a small piece of information stored on your device when you visit a website. It records how you interact with a site so that, when you return, the site can present options based on your previous visit. Cookies are also used for analytics, advertising and marketing.
Cookies are used by nearly all websites and do not harm your system.
Our approach
We require your consent for all non-essential cookies on our website. When you first visit our site, our cookie banner asks you to accept or reject non-essential cookies. You can change your choice at any time by clicking the cookie icon in the footer of any page.
You can also block cookies (including essential cookies) at any time through your browser settings. If you block essential cookies you may not be able to use parts of our site.
The SUPPORT category of our directory has additional protections — no advertising or tracking cookies fire on those pages, regardless of your consent choices elsewhere. See section 5.
How we use cookies
We use cookies to:
- Operate the site safely and securely (essential cookies);
- Understand how visitors use the site so we can improve it (analytics);
- Measure the effectiveness of our marketing (advertising — only with your consent);
- Remember your preferences (functionality).
Cookies are either:
- Session cookies — only stored during your web session and automatically deleted when you close your browser. They store an anonymous session ID allowing you to browse without having to log in to each page.
- Persistent cookies — stored as a file on your device and remain when you close your browser. They are read by the site that created them when you revisit.
Cookies can also be categorised by purpose:
- Strictly necessary cookies — essential for the site to function (for example, keeping you logged in, remembering your cookie consent choice). These do not require consent.
- Performance / analytics cookies — count visits, identify traffic sources, see which parts of the site are most used. These help us improve the site. Consent required.
- Functionality cookies — remember choices you make to provide enhanced features.
- Targeting / advertising cookies — record your visit, the pages you have visited and the links you have followed. We use this to make our advertising more relevant. Consent required.
We use first-party cookies (set by mensnetwork.global) and third-party cookies (set by services such as Google Analytics, Microsoft Clarity and Meta Pixel — only after you consent to marketing or analytics cookies).
Cookies in use
The following table lists the cookies our site uses. This list is reviewed quarterly and after any change to our analytics, advertising or platform stack.
| Cookie | Set by | Type | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
mn_session | mensnetwork.global | Strictly necessary | Maintains your session (logged-in state, basic site function). | Session |
mn_consent | mensnetwork.global | Strictly necessary | Records your cookie consent choice so we don't ask repeatedly. | 12 months |
mn_csrf | mensnetwork.global | Strictly necessary | Cross-site request forgery protection (security). | Session |
_ga, _ga_*, _gid, _gat | Google Analytics 4 (G-TNHH71TQY7) | Analytics | Counts visits, measures usage patterns. IP anonymised. | Up to 2 years |
_clck, _clsk, CLID, MUID, ANONCHK, SM, MR, SRM_B | Microsoft Clarity (vtnquskmjq) | Analytics | Records anonymised session replay and heatmap data to help us improve the site. | Up to 13 months |
_fbp, fr | Meta (Pixel ID 891057430423672) | Advertising | Measures advertising effectiveness across Meta platforms. Excluded on SUPPORT pages. | Up to 90 days |
Cloudflare (__cf_bm, cf_clearance) | Cloudflare | Strictly necessary | Bot mitigation and DDoS protection. | Session / 30 min |
Cookie inventory accuracy: This inventory is generated against our current platform configuration. If our analytics, advertising or platform stack changes, CTO updates this table within 30 days, and a Cookie Compliance Scan is run quarterly.
Managing your choices
You can change your cookie preferences at any time by clicking the cookie icon in our site footer. Refresh the page after changing settings to ensure they take effect.
You can also control cookies through your browser settings:
- Chrome: Settings > Privacy and security > Cookies and other site data
- Firefox: Settings > Privacy and Security > Cookies and Site Data
- Safari: Settings > Privacy > Manage Website Data
- Edge: Settings > Cookies and site permissions > Cookies and site data
You can opt out of Google Analytics tracking across all websites at tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout.
Except for essential cookies, all cookies expire after the period set out in the table above.
Special cookie protections on SUPPORT category pages
When you visit a page in the SUPPORT category of our directory — pages signposting crisis and mental health support services — we apply additional protections:
- No advertising pixels are loaded on SUPPORT pages, regardless of your cookie consent choices elsewhere on the site. Meta Pixel and similar do not fire.
- No analytics that could identify which specific support listing you viewed are recorded.
- The only cookies that may be set on SUPPORT pages are strictly necessary cookies (session, security, consent record).
This is a deliberate design choice. Finding crisis support should not come with a tracking cost.
Changes to this policy
We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time. Any changes will be posted on this page with an updated date. Material changes will trigger a re-consent prompt via the cookie banner.
Contact
If you have questions about the cookies we use, email privacy@mensnetwork.global.
For full detail on how we process personal data, see our Privacy Notice.