Accessibility Statement

Last updated: January 2025

Our Commitment to Accessibility

We are committed to ensuring that our website is accessible to everyone, including people with disabilities. We believe that everyone should have equal access to information and services, regardless of their abilities or the technology they use.

We strive to adhere to accepted guidelines and standards for accessibility and usability. We are continuously working to improve the accessibility of our website to ensure we provide equal access to all of our users.

This accessibility statement explains the measures we have taken to make our website accessible, outlines any known limitations, and provides contact information for users who need assistance or wish to provide feedback.

Accessibility Features

We have implemented a range of features and design practices to make our website more accessible:

Navigation and Structure

  • Consistent Layout: Our website uses a consistent layout and navigation structure throughout all pages, making it easier to learn and use
  • Logical Structure: We use semantic HTML elements to create a logical document structure that works well with assistive technologies
  • Skip Links: Skip navigation links allow keyboard users to bypass repetitive navigation and jump straight to main content
  • Clear Headings: Page content is organized with properly structured headings (H1, H2, H3, etc.) to create a clear hierarchy

Visual Design

  • Resizable Text: All text on our website can be resized using your browser's text size controls without breaking the layout or losing functionality
  • High Contrast: We use high-contrast color combinations designed to be readable by people with visual impairments, including color blindness
  • Plain Backgrounds: Text is displayed against plain, solid backgrounds to enhance readability and reduce visual clutter
  • Responsive Design: Our website layout adapts to different screen sizes and resolutions, working well on desktop computers, tablets, and mobile devices

Content and Language

  • Meaningful Alt Text: All images include descriptive alternative text (alt text) that conveys their meaning and purpose
  • Descriptive Links: Hyperlinks use descriptive text that makes sense out of context, avoiding generic phrases like "click here" or "read more"
  • Plain English: We write in clear, straightforward language, avoiding unnecessary jargon and explaining technical terms when they must be used
  • Title Attributes: Interactive elements include meaningful title attributes to provide additional context

Forms and Interactive Elements

  • Clear Labels: All form fields have clear, descriptive labels that are properly associated with their inputs
  • Error Messages: Form validation provides clear, specific error messages that help users understand and correct mistakes
  • Keyboard Navigation: All interactive elements can be accessed and operated using only a keyboard
  • Focus Indicators: Visible focus indicators show which element currently has keyboard focus

Standards and Compliance

We aim to meet recognized accessibility standards and best practices:

Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)

We strive to conform to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 at Level AA. These guidelines explain how to make web content more accessible for people with disabilities and provide a framework for improving usability for all users.

The guidelines cover four main principles:

  • Perceivable: Information and user interface components must be presentable to users in ways they can perceive
  • Operable: User interface components and navigation must be operable by all users
  • Understandable: Information and the operation of the user interface must be understandable
  • Robust: Content must be robust enough to be interpreted reliably by a wide variety of user agents, including assistive technologies

Testing and Validation

We regularly test our website to ensure it meets accessibility standards:

  • Automated accessibility testing tools to identify common issues
  • Manual testing with keyboard-only navigation
  • Testing with screen readers and other assistive technologies
  • Testing across different browsers, devices, and screen sizes
  • Regular code reviews to ensure semantic HTML and ARIA attributes are used correctly

Using Our Website

Here are some tips for getting the most out of our website if you use assistive technologies:

Adjusting Text Size

You can adjust the text size on our website using your browser's built-in controls:

  • Windows/Linux: Hold down Ctrl and press + to increase or - to decrease text size
  • Mac: Hold down Cmd and press + to increase or - to decrease text size
  • You can also adjust text size in your browser's settings menu

Keyboard Navigation

Our website is fully navigable using keyboard controls:

  • Tab: Move forward through links and form controls
  • Shift + Tab: Move backward through links and form controls
  • Enter: Activate links and buttons
  • Space: Toggle checkboxes and activate buttons
  • Arrow keys: Navigate within menus and select options from dropdown lists

Screen Readers

Our website has been tested with common screen readers including:

  • JAWS (Job Access With Speech)
  • NVDA (NonVisual Desktop Access)
  • VoiceOver (macOS and iOS)
  • TalkBack (Android)

Known Limitations

Despite our best efforts, some parts of our website may not yet be fully accessible. We are aware of the following limitations and are working to address them:

  • Some PDF documents may not be fully accessible to screen readers. We are working to convert these to accessible formats
  • Third-party content or widgets embedded on our site may not meet the same accessibility standards. We are evaluating alternatives where possible
  • Some older content may not have been created with accessibility in mind. We are progressively updating this content

If you encounter any accessibility barriers on our website, please let us know so we can address them promptly.

Third-Party Content

Our website may include content, services, or functionality provided by third parties. While we make every effort to ensure third-party content is accessible, we cannot always guarantee that content provided by external organizations will meet the same accessibility standards as our own content.

If you experience difficulty accessing third-party content on our website, please contact us and we will do our best to provide the information in an alternative format or help you access the content.

Ongoing Improvements

Accessibility is an ongoing commitment. We continuously monitor, test, and improve our website's accessibility through:

  • Regular Audits: We conduct regular accessibility audits to identify and address potential issues
  • User Testing: We gather feedback from users with disabilities to understand real-world accessibility challenges
  • Training: Our development and content teams receive ongoing training on accessibility best practices
  • Updated Standards: We monitor changes to accessibility guidelines and standards and update our website accordingly
  • New Features: All new features and content are developed with accessibility in mind from the start

We are committed to making continuous improvements to ensure our website remains accessible to all users.

Feedback and Contact Information

We welcome your feedback on the accessibility of our website. If you encounter any accessibility barriers, have suggestions for improvement, or need assistance accessing content, please contact us:

Email:[email protected]

What to Include in Your Message

When contacting us about accessibility issues, please provide as much detail as possible:

  • The page or pages where you experienced difficulty
  • A description of the problem you encountered
  • The assistive technology you were using (if applicable), including version numbers
  • Your browser and operating system
  • Any error messages you received

We will respond to accessibility feedback within 5 business days and aim to resolve issues as quickly as possible.

Alternative Formats

If you need information from our website in a different format (such as accessible PDF, large print, audio, or another format), please contact us. We will work with you to provide the information in a format that meets your needs, typically within 10 business days.

Additional Resources

For more information about web accessibility and assistive technologies, you may find these resources helpful:

Accessibility Organizations

Browser Accessibility Features

Assistive Technology Information

Legal Compliance

We are committed to complying with relevant accessibility legislation, including:

  • Equality Act 2010: Making reasonable adjustments to ensure our services are accessible to people with disabilities
  • Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) Accessibility Regulations 2018: Following recognized accessibility standards

We take our legal obligations seriously and continuously work to ensure our website meets or exceeds legal requirements for accessibility.