Assessibility statement for fearonhall.org.uk

This accessibility statement applies to www.fearonhall.org.uk.

This website is run by Fearon Community Association. We want as many people as possible to be able to use this website. For example, that means you should be able to:

• change colours, contrast levels and fonts using browser or device settings
• zoom in up to 400% without the text spilling off the screen
• listen to most of the website using a screen reader (including the most recent versions of JAWS, NVDA and VoiceOver)

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 this website is

 

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

• you cannot skip to the main content when using a screen reader
• some of our content is not marked up with correct heading levels
• some of our link titles are not descriptive
• some of our graphics and text have poor colour contrast
• some of our images lack alt text
• it is difficult to navigate the site using a keyboard

 

 

Feedback and contact information

 

If you find any problems not listed on this page or think we’re not meeting accessibility requirements, contact: office@fearonhall.org.uk or write to the Chair of the board of trustees at Fearon Community Association, Fearon Hall, Rectory Road, Loughborough, Leicestershire LE11 1PL.

If you need information on this website in a different format like accessible PDF, large print, or in translation:

• email office@fearonhall.org.uk
• call 01509 230629
• or write to the Centre Manager, Fearon Community Association, Fearon Hall, Rectory Road, Loughborough, Leicestershire LE11 1PL.

We’ll consider your request and get back to you in 10 working days.

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

 

 

Technical information about this website’s accessibility

 

Fearon Community Association is committed to ensuring that our website is accessible to everyone, regardless of ability or disability. We aim to meet the requirements of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 at Level AA and incorporate Level AAA Success Criteria where we can.

 

Compliance status

 

The website has been tested against the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 AA standard.

This website is partially compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.2 AA standard, due to the non-compliances listed below.

 

Non-compliance with the accessibility regulations

 

Understanding page structure

On some of the pages there are missing heading levels, body text marked up as heading, and multiple or missing H1s. This will make navigation using a screen reader difficult. This fails WCAG 2.2 Success Criterion 1.3.1 Info and Relationships (Level A). We plan to correct all heading mark-up by December 2025. When we publish new content, we’ll make sure our use of structured headings meets accessibility standards.

Page links

On most pages there are examples of links that are not sufficiently descriptive. This means that the user cannot determine where the link will take them. There are also links which have duplicate link text meaning that the user cannot differentiate between them. This fails WCAG 2.2 Success Criterion 2.4.4 Link Purpose (In Context) (Level A).

Images

On many pages, there are examples of images that do not have alt text so people using a screen reader cannot access the information. Some images also share the same alt text meaning that a screen reader user will not be able to differentiate between them. This fails WCAG 2.2 Success Criterion 1.1.1 Non-text Content (Level A).

Some images contain important textual information that is not available in the alt text for the image. This fails WCAG 2.2 Success Criterion 1.4.5 Images of Text (Level AA). We plan to ensure all images have appropriate alt text by December 2025. When we publish new content, we’ll make sure our images and alt text meet accessibility standards.

Navigation

A focus indicator is not consistently provided meaning that a user navigating using the keyboard cannot determine where on a page they are. This also means that a user does not know when a button or link is selected. This fails WCAG 2.2 Success Criterion 2.4.7 Focus Visible (Level AA). We plan to ensure a visible focus indicator is enabled by December 2025.

There’s no way to skip the repeated content in the page header (for example, a ‘skip to main content’ option). This fails WCAG 2.2 Success Criterion 2.4.1 Bypass Blocks. We plan to include a ‘Skip’ link on all pages by December 2025.

There are limited navigational options provided on the site. Beyond the main menu and the footer, it might be beneficial to provide a search function, site map or list of significant links. Users should be able to locate content in a manner that best meets their needs. Users may find one technique easier or more comprehensible to use than another. This fails WCAG 2.2 Success Criterion 2.4.5 Multiple Ways. We will explore additional navigational mechanisms during the redesign of the website in 2026.

Colour contrast

On most pages there are examples of text, buttons and navigational elements that have poor contrast, in a small number of cases, text appears on a patterned background. This fails WCAG 2.2 Success Criterion 1.4.3 Contrast (Minimum) (Level AA) and WCAG 2.2 Success Criterion 1.4.11 Non-text Contrast (Level AA). We plan to address all colour contrast failures by December 2025 and ensure that new content and branding is designed to meet minimum contrast standards.

Dynamic content

There is no ‘Stop’ or ‘Pause’ control on the carousel on homepage. Some users may be distracted by content that updates or moves. This fails WCAG 2.2 Success Criterion 2.2.2 Pause, Stop, Hide (Level A). We plan to replace the carousel with static content by December 2025.

Maps and directions

Finding their way to the hall is essential for users. Although a map is provided, there are no text alternatives to direct a user. This fails WCAG 2.2 Success Criterion 1.1.1 Non-text Content (Level A). We will explore textual directions and video during the redesign of the website in 2026.

 

 

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

 

PDFs and other documents

Current UK accessibility regulations do not require us to fix PDFs or other documents published before 23 September 2018 if they’re not essential to providing our services. Any new PDFs or Word documents we publish will meet accessibility standards.

 

 

What we’re doing to improve accessibility

 

Our accessibility roadmap shows how and when we plan to improve accessibility on this website.

 

Action	Status
Provide accessibility training to key staff and stakeholders.	Completed November 2024
Form an accessibility and inclusion working group made up of operational staff, trustees and specialist advisors.	Completed May 2025
Ensure the accessibility working group meets regularly to monitor progress and adopt best practice in relation to accessibility and inclusion	Next meeting June 2025
Fix accessibility issues on the current versions of the ‘Home’, ‘What’s On’ and ‘Room Hire’ pages.	Due by December 2025
Redesign the Fearon Hall site to meet accessibility standards and embed inclusive design.	Due by March 2026
Regularly evaluate our website and other materials for usability, accessibility and inclusion.	In planning

 

Preparation of this accessibility statement

 

This statement was prepared on 19 May 2025. It was last reviewed on 19 May 2025.

This website was last tested on 13 April 2025 against the WCAG 2.2 AA standard.

Critical and frequent tasks for service users, funders and partners were assessed including:

 

Find the telephone number for the Hall

Find out what free activities are on next week

Find when the café is open

Enquire about room booking

Find support for a health or financial issue

Find the charity number for the Hall

Read the latest annual report for the Hall

 

These tasks covered the most frequently used pages as assessed by Google Analytics, and priority business pages.

Manual accessibility testing was undertaken by an independent specialist volunteer following the Government Digital Service (GDS) guidelines for in-house testing.

The test was carried out by a volunteer from The Empathy Lab Experience. The most viewed pages were also tested using automated testing tools.