The Underdog Crew CIC | Underdog Crew Studios

Last updated: 19 October 2026

Our commitment to your privacy

At The Underdog Crew, we believe everyone deserves a safe, accessible and welcoming experience — both in person and online.

We use cookies and similar technologies to help our website function, understand how it is used and identify ways to make it better.

We also recognise that privacy matters, particularly when visitors are children, young people, parents, carers or individuals seeking support.

This Cookie Policy explains what cookies are, how we use them, which choices are available to you and how we protect your information.

We aim to make these explanations straightforward, without unnecessary technical jargon.

This policy should be read alongside our Privacy Policy, which explains how we collect, use, store and protect personal information.

1. Who we are

This website is operated by The Underdog Crew CIC, a UK-registered Community Interest Company.

Our organisation provides creative education, youth empowerment, filmmaking, community support, workshops, mentoring and opportunities for children, young people and families.

Organisation details

• Legal name: The Underdog Crew CIC

• Company registration number: 14530067

• Registered office: 90 Goring Road, Colchester, England, CO4 0DA

• Website: https://www.underdogcrew.org

• Email: hello@underdogcrew.org

References to “we”, “us” and “our” throughout this policy refer to The Underdog Crew CIC.

2. What are cookies?

Cookies are small text files that websites place on your computer, smartphone, tablet or other device when you visit them.

They can help a website remember information about your visit, maintain security, support website features and understand how visitors use different pages.

For example, cookies may help us remember your privacy preferences, identify technical problems or understand which areas of our website visitors find most useful.

Some cookies are necessary for a website to function correctly, while others are optional.

Session cookies

Session cookies generally last for the duration of your browsing session and are usually removed when that session ends.

Persistent cookies

Persistent cookies remain on your device for a defined period or until you delete them.

They may help remember settings or preferences when you return to a website.

First-party cookies

These are set by the website you are visiting.

Third-party cookies

These are set by external services integrated into a website, such as analytics providers, video platforms or other technology services.

Cookies are not the only technologies that can store or access information on your device. Similar technologies can include local storage, pixels, software development tools and scripts.

For simplicity, references to cookies in this policy also include comparable technologies where relevant.

3. Why we use cookies

We may use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

• Ensuring our website functions correctly.

• Maintaining website security and reliability.

• Remembering your cookie preferences.

• Supporting essential website features.

• Understanding how visitors navigate our website.

• Identifying technical or accessibility problems.

• Improving website performance and usability.

• Supporting embedded content where requested.

• Measuring the effectiveness of website improvements.

• Helping us provide a better online experience for our community.

We aim to collect only the information reasonably necessary for the relevant purpose.

We do not use cookies as a substitute for the permissions required to process sensitive personal information or share safeguarding records.

4. Categories of cookies

The cookies and similar technologies used on our website may fall into the following categories.

Category	Purpose	Consent
Strictly necessary	Essential website operation, security and requested features	Not normally required
Functional and preferences	Remembering settings and improving functionality	Depends on whether a legal exception applies
Analytics and performance	Understanding website visits, navigation and technical performance	Required unless a specific legal exception applies
Experience and feedback	Heatmaps, usability research and optional session recordings	Generally required
Marketing	Advertising measurement, conversion tracking or relevant promotional services	Generally required
Third-party content	Embedded videos, maps and other external content	Depends on the technology and whether an exception applies

The availability and operation of each category will depend on the features and services enabled on our website.

4.1 Strictly necessary cookies

Strictly necessary cookies are essential for the operation of our website or to provide a service you specifically request.

They may help with website security, maintaining a browsing session, remembering cookie choices, supporting form functionality and protecting against malicious activity.

Where these technologies meet the relevant legal exemption, they do not require your consent.

You may be able to block them using your browser settings, but doing so could prevent some website features from working correctly.

4.2 Functional and preference cookies

Functional cookies help provide a more convenient experience by remembering choices you make.

For example, they may remember accessibility preferences, display settings or other options you have selected.

Some preference technologies may qualify for a legal exception, provided the relevant requirements are met.

Other optional technologies will only be activated with your consent where that consent is required.

4.3 Analytics and performance cookies

We may use analytics technologies to understand how visitors interact with our website.

These technologies can help us understand:

• Which pages receive the most visits.

• How visitors find our website.

• Whether visitors experience navigation difficulties.

• Which devices and browsers people use.

• How long visitors spend on different pages.

• Whether website features work as intended.

• How we can improve accessibility and navigation.

This information helps us make our website more useful, particularly for visitors seeking information about programmes, support and events.

We may use third-party analytics providers to assist with these activities.

Where consent is required, analytics technologies will not be activated until you have provided that consent.

UK law allows a limited exception for certain statistical analytics used solely to improve a website or service, provided all relevant conditions are satisfied.

Where we rely on this exception, we will explain the relevant processing and provide a simple, free method for objecting.

We will not treat individual visitor tracking, behavioural profiling or session recordings as automatically covered by the statistical analytics exception.

4.4 Experience and feedback technologies

We may use website experience tools to identify usability problems and understand how visitors interact with particular pages.

These may include heatmaps, feedback forms, surveys, navigation analysis and session recordings.

Such tools can be especially useful when reviewing the accessibility and usability of our website.

These technologies will only be used where we have established the appropriate legal basis and met any applicable cookie consent requirements.

4.5 Marketing cookies

We may introduce marketing or conversion measurement technologies in connection with promotional campaigns, fundraising activities, events or community awareness initiatives.

These technologies may help us understand whether a campaign has successfully directed visitors to relevant information.

We will not activate non-essential advertising tracking technologies without obtaining valid consent where required.

We will not use sensitive information submitted through support or safeguarding forms for advertising profiling.

4.6 Third-party content

Our website may include content supplied by other organisations.

Examples include:

• Embedded YouTube or other video content.

• Interactive maps.

• Social media content.

• Event booking systems.

• External forms or registration tools.

• Other embedded services.

These providers may use cookies or similar technologies when their content is loaded.

Where the technology is not exempt from consent requirements, we will seek the necessary consent before activating it.

Where appropriate, visitors may be given the option to activate third-party content individually.

We encourage you to review the privacy and cookie policies of external services you choose to use.

5. Hotjar and website experience analytics

We may introduce Hotjar, a website behaviour and experience analytics service, to help us understand how people interact with our website.

Hotjar can provide tools including heatmaps, session recordings, surveys and feedback collection.

These features can help us identify problems such as confusing navigation, accessibility barriers or website elements that are difficult to use.

For example, we may use these insights to improve how visitors find information about youth programmes, family support, workshops or events.

How we would use Hotjar

If Hotjar is introduced, we will configure it with appropriate privacy and security protections.

We will obtain consent before enabling features that require consent, including visitor session recordings.

We will take appropriate steps to mask or suppress personal information and prevent sensitive details from being captured.

We will not intentionally use Hotjar to collect information entered into sensitive support, medical or safeguarding forms.

We will assess whether session recording should be disabled entirely on pages where visitors may share particularly sensitive information.

We will also consider the additional protections appropriate for children and young people who may access our website.

Hotjar will not be introduced solely because it is mentioned in this policy. Its use will depend on the technologies actually enabled on our website.

For more information about Hotjar’s privacy practices, visit:

https://www.hotjar.com/legal/policies/privacy/

6. Cookies and children’s privacy

Children’s privacy is particularly important to The Underdog Crew.

We work with children, young people and individuals who may have additional support requirements, and we recognise our responsibility to handle information about them with particular care.

We aim to design our website with privacy and safety in mind.

Where appropriate, we will:

• Use privacy-protective default settings.

• Limit unnecessary collection of personal information.

• Avoid unnecessary tracking and profiling.

• Apply appropriate safeguards to website forms.

• Explain privacy choices in clear, accessible language.

• Consider the age and understanding of younger visitors.

• Protect sensitive information relating to support or safeguarding.

• Review new tracking technologies before implementing them.

We do not intend to use behavioural advertising to profile children or target them based on sensitive personal circumstances.

Where the Children’s Code or other specific legal requirements apply to our online services, we will take them into account when designing and operating those services.

7. How we obtain cookie consent

Where consent is required, we will use a cookie consent mechanism that allows visitors to make an informed choice.

Depending on the features enabled, this may provide options to:

• Accept all non-essential cookies.

• Reject all non-essential cookies.

• Customise individual cookie categories.

We aim to make rejecting optional cookies as straightforward as accepting them.

Non-essential cookies requiring consent will not be activated simply because you continue browsing, scroll through a page or close the cookie notice.

We will not use pre-ticked options to obtain consent.

Your choice will not prevent you from accessing ordinary website information unless a particular requested feature requires relevant technology to operate.

You can change your choices at any time.

8. Managing or withdrawing your consent

You have control over optional cookies and similar technologies used on our website.

Where our website uses a cookie preference centre, you can access it using the Cookie Settings option provided on the website.

This will allow you to review and adjust your preferences.

You can withdraw consent at any time, and doing so should be as straightforward as giving it.

Withdrawing consent will not affect the lawfulness of processing carried out before withdrawal, but technologies that rely on that consent must stop operating in accordance with applicable law.

You may also manage cookies through your browser settings.

Most browsers allow you to view, delete, block or restrict cookies.

Please be aware that deleting cookies may also remove saved website preferences.

If you have difficulty accessing our cookie settings, please contact hello@underdogcrew.org.

9. Cookies used on our website

The specific cookies used depend on the website platform, enabled features and third-party services.

These may change when our website is updated or additional services are introduced.

We will maintain an inventory of cookies and similar technologies identified on the live website.

Where applicable, the information provided through our cookie preference centre or associated cookie inventory will include:

• The cookie or technology name.

• The organisation or provider responsible.

• The purpose for which it is used.

• The relevant category.

• Whether consent is required.

• Whether the cookie is first-party or third-party.

• Its duration or expiry period.

The inventory will be reviewed when we introduce or remove technologies.

We will not describe a third-party analytics or tracking service as active unless it is actually enabled on our website.

10. How long cookies remain on your device

Cookie duration depends on the purpose and configuration of each technology.

Some cookies only last for your current browsing session.

Others may remain for a longer period to remember your preferences or support particular website features.

Where possible, we will limit cookie durations to what is necessary for their intended purposes.

Details of applicable durations will be provided through the cookie inventory or preference centre.

You can remove cookies stored on your device using your browser’s privacy settings.

11. Third-party providers

We may use external technology providers to support our website.

Depending on the services enabled, these may include website hosting providers, analytics services, experience analysis tools, video platforms, forms, booking systems and consent management services.

Third-party providers may process limited technical information, such as device characteristics, browser details, IP addresses or website interactions, depending on the relevant service.

We will assess the services we use and apply appropriate data protection safeguards.

Where providers process personal information on our behalf, we will put in place appropriate contractual and security arrangements as required.

Some providers may process information outside the United Kingdom.

Where this involves international transfers of personal information, we will ensure that an appropriate lawful transfer mechanism or other permitted safeguard is in place.

For further information, please see our Privacy Policy.

12. Contact forms and sensitive information

Our website allows visitors to contact us about programmes, creative activities, community opportunities and support.

Some enquiries may contain sensitive information about individuals or families.

We recognise that visitors may contact us about children, disability, education, health, wellbeing or difficult personal circumstances.

We will take particular care when selecting and configuring technology on pages where this information may be submitted.

Website analytics and experience tools will not be intentionally configured to capture confidential form submissions or safeguarding disclosures.

Information submitted through our forms is handled according to our Privacy Policy and applicable safeguarding procedures.

Submitting an enquiry does not automatically mean you have consented to marketing cookies or promotional communications.

13. Updates to this Cookie Policy

We may update this Cookie Policy when our website, technology, data protection practices or legal obligations change.

For example, we may revise it when:

• We change our website platform.

• We introduce or remove analytics services.

• We add new interactive features.

• We introduce Hotjar or other experience tools.

• We change our cookie consent mechanism.

• Relevant legal or regulatory requirements change.

The last updated date at the top of this page will indicate when the policy was most recently revised.

Where a change involves new non-essential cookie purposes, we will obtain fresh consent where required.

14. Your privacy rights

Cookies and similar technologies may involve the processing of personal information.

Where UK data protection law applies, you may have rights to access, correct, erase or restrict certain information, object to certain processing and withdraw consent.

The availability of individual rights depends on the circumstances and applicable legal requirements.

For more information, please refer to our Privacy Policy.

You can also contact us directly with questions or requests concerning your personal information.

15. Contact us

If you have questions about this Cookie Policy, the technologies used on our website or your privacy choices, please contact us.

The Underdog Crew CIC

Registered office: 90 Goring Road, Colchester, England, CO4 0DA

Website: https://www.underdogcrew.org

Email: hello@underdogcrew.org

Company registration number: 14530067

Please use the subject line Cookie Policy Enquiry where appropriate.

If you are concerned about how your personal information has been handled, you may also contact the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).

Information Commissioner’s Office

Website: https://ico.org.uk

Telephone: 0303 123 1113

A safer, better online experience

At The Underdog Crew, our website should be a place where people can find support, discover opportunities and connect with a community that understands them.

We use technology to make that experience better — not to compromise your privacy.

We are committed to respecting your choices, protecting your information and maintaining the trust that our community places in us.

Your privacy matters. Your choices matter. You matter.

The Underdog Crew CIC — Empowering. Supporting. Nurturing. Changing Lives.