Website accessibility

This accessibility statement applies to www.charnwood.gov.uk.

This website is run by Charnwood Borough Council. We want as many people as possible to be able to use this website. For example, that means you can:

• zoom in up to 300% without the text spilling off the screen
• navigate most of the website using just a keyboard
• navigate most of the website using speech recognition software
• listen to most of the website using a screen reader (including the most recent versions of JAWS, NVDA and VoiceOver)

To change colours, contrast levels and fonts please change them in settings on your web browser.

We’ve also made the website text as simple as possible to understand.

AbilityNet has advice on making your device easier to use if you have a disability.

How accessible is this website 

We know some parts of this website are not fully accessible:

• you cannot modify the line height or spacing of text
• most older PDF documents are not fully accessible to screen reader software 

Feedback and contact information

If you need information on this website in a different format like accessible PDF, large print, easy read, audio recording or braille:

• communications@charnwood.gov.uk
• 01509 634795

We’ll consider your request and get back to you in one working day or sooner if we can.

If you cannot view the map on our ‘contact us’ page, call or email us for directions.

Technical information about this website’s accessibility

Charnwood Borough Council is committed to making its website accessible, in accordance with the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018.

Compliance status

This website is partially compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.1 AA standard, due to the non-compliances and exemptions listed below.

Non-accessible content

The content listed below is non-accessible for the following reasons.

Non-compliance with the accessibility regulations

We endeavour to make our PDFs and Word documents published on the website accessible. However, there may be some documents which aren’t fully accessible. We publish all essential service information on an accessible web page and provide contact details for alternative versions.

Disproportionate burden

We’ve assessed our resources with regard to making all PDFs or Word documents accessible and we believe that doing so immediately would be a disproportionate burden (legislation.gov.uk) within the meaning of the accessibility regulations.

Content that’s not within the scope of the accessibility regulations

Live video

We do not plan to add captions to live video streams because live video is exempt from meeting the accessibility regulations.

Enforcement

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is responsible for enforcing the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018 (the ‘accessibility regulations’). If you’re not happy with how we respond to your complaint, contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS).

What we’re doing to improve accessibility

We are committed to improving accessibility on our websites. 

During 2024, we have:

• reviewed the content and documents on the website and removed over 7,000 unnecessary PDFs
• brought in new processes to reduce the number of PDFs and also better checks to ensure any uploaded to the site are accessible. There may still be occasions when some documents may be uploaded which are not fully accessible. In those cases, we will always make clear that accessible documents can be provided upon request

We are also reviewing the website capability to carry out automated accessibility checks and we are working with our website provider on this and are planning further staff training this year to improve our skills and knowledge around accessibility.

Preparation of this accessibility statement

This statement was prepared on 23 August 2024.

This website was last tested for accessibility in May 2021. The test was carried out by Shaw Trust.

The website was also checked by the Central Digital and Data Office (part of the Cabinet Office) on November 9, 2021. The check identified five issues, three of which have been fixed by the website provider. Two related to PDFs which have been rectified.