Accessibility Statement

We are committed to making our digital experience accessible to as many people as possible. This accessibility statement explains our approach to inclusive design, the support we aim to provide, and the standards we use to improve usability for everyone. Our goal is to create an accessible area that works well for people using assistive technologies, alternative input methods, and a range of devices. We believe that digital accessibility is a core part of a respectful and usable online experience.

Our website is being developed and maintained with reference to WCAG 2.1 AA compliance. This means we aim to meet recognized success criteria that support perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust content. In practice, this includes readable text, clear structure, sufficient colour contrast, and predictable interactions. We also pay attention to content hierarchy so that users can move through pages with clarity and confidence. Where possible, we use semantic markup to help improve support across browsers and assistive tools.

We regularly review the accessible website experience to identify and reduce barriers. This includes checking whether content is easy to understand, whether controls are clearly labelled, and whether multimedia or visual elements are presented in a way that supports different needs. We recognise that accessibility is not a one-time task but an ongoing responsibility, and we continue to refine our approach as standards, technologies, and user expectations evolve.

Support for Assistive Technologies

Our pages are designed to support screen-reader support by using meaningful headings, descriptive link text, and logical reading order. We aim for content that can be interpreted correctly by commonly used screen readers, helping users navigate without relying on visual cues alone. Images and non-text content should include appropriate alternative text where needed so that important information is not lost. We also try to avoid unnecessary complexity that may interfere with assistive technology performance.

Keyboard accessibility is another essential part of our inclusive design approach. Users should be able to navigate the site using only a keyboard, including moving through links, buttons, menus, and form fields in a sensible order. Visible focus indicators should help users understand where they are on the page. When interactive elements are used, they should respond predictably to standard keyboard controls so that people who cannot use a mouse can still complete key tasks.

Content and Interaction Principles

We aim to present information in a way that is clear, structured, and easy to consume. This includes short paragraphs, descriptive headings, and consistent layout patterns that reduce cognitive load. Accessible design also means avoiding time-sensitive interactions whenever possible and ensuring that users have enough time to read and respond. When content changes dynamically, we strive to make those changes understandable to assistive technology users.

We also consider readability across different devices and settings. Our content is intended to remain usable when text is resized, zoom is enabled, or display settings are adjusted. The use of bold and italic text is kept purposeful so that emphasis supports comprehension rather than creating clutter. Where links and controls appear, we aim to ensure their labels are clear enough to describe their destination or action without confusion.

We acknowledge that some areas may still need improvement as we continue to enhance the accessibility of our digital services. If you encounter any barrier, if a page is difficult to use with a screen reader, or if keyboard navigation does not work as expected, we encourage you to contact us with details of the issue. Accessibility requests are important to us because they help identify problems and support more inclusive solutions. We will review such requests carefully and work to address them where possible.

For accessibility requests, please use the contact method provided on the relevant service or organisation page. We do not include contact details in this statement, but accessibility-related enquiries are welcomed through the available official channel. If you need content in a different format, additional support using assistive technologies, or clarification about a feature’s accessibility, let us know and we will consider your request.