Raise York Accessibility Statement
Raise York Accessibility Statement
Technical information about this website’s accessibility
This statement applies to content published on the raiseyork.co.uk domain.
Raise York is committed to making our website accessible, in accordance with the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No.2) Accessibility Regulations 2018.
To find out more about how our website meets accessibility guidelines please see:
- accessibility of our online services
- requesting services in an accessible format
- reporting accessibility problems (feedback and contact information)
- how accessible this website is
- compliance status
- non-accessible content
- online services which are exempt from accessibility standards
- what we’re doing to improve accessibility
- preparation of this accessibility statement
Accessibility of our online services
It is designed to be used by as many people as possible. The text should be clear and simple to understand. You should be able to:
- zoom in up to 300% without problems
- navigate most of the website using just a keyboard
- use most of our online services with screen reader software
Most of our online services work when scripts, applets or other programmatic objects are turned off, or aren't supported by a device. However, your experience using online services without scripts running may degrade.
Our online services are partially compliant with the latest Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). Get details of online services which don't meet accessibility standards, and online services exempt from accessibility standards.
Requesting services in an accessible format
If you need information in a different format email: [email protected], and tell us:
- the location of the information (copy and paste the URL/address from your browser address bar)
- your name and email address (so we can respond)
- the format you need (for example, audio CD, braille, British Sign Language (BSL), large print, accessible PDF)
Feedback and contact information
You can report accessibility problems with this website if you find any issues that are not listed on this page, or you think we’re not meeting accessibility regulations. Email: [email protected] in the first instance, so that we can work to resolve the issue. If you contact us with a complaint about the accessibility of our online services, and you’re not happy with our response the Equality Advisory and Support Service may be able to help you.
Enforcement procedure
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is responsible for enforcing the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No.2) Accessibility Regulations 2018. If you’re not happy with how we respond to your complaint, contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS).
How accessible this website is
Parts of this website are not fully accessible. For example:
- some headings on the website do not provide text within the header tag
- some lists or groups of links may not be written semantically
- some pages may require zooming and 2D scrolling on small screens
- some text on this website may not sufficiently contrast with its background colour
- some links may not be defined in a specific way
- there may be cases of some images fail to specify alternative text
- some text links may link to anchors that do not exist
- some textual content may be written in a way that's too difficult to understand
- the used language may not be specified on every page
- there may be cases of 2 adjacent links that point to the same destination
- there may be cases where links on the website fail to explain their purpose
- there may be some interactive components on a page, such as buttons or fields, that are not large enough
- there may be cases where links in a new tab or window where the destination is not explained
- there may be failures to comply with the strictest accessibility standard (WCAG AAA)
- there may be some pages that fail to display a top-level heading
- some pages may contain controls that fail to clearly indicate when they are selected
- there may be some cases of interactive components not far enough apart from each other
- some PDFs on may not have contain a title
- there may be some pages that contain text with insufficient contrast
- some PDFs fail to contain selectable, searchable text (not just images of text)
- not all PDFs are tagged
- some pages don't Identify the purpose of fields programmatically
- some form controls fail to contain labels
- certain PDF documents don't specify headings
- there may be cases of adjacent links that haven’t been combined to point to the same destination
- there may be cases where PDF headings fail to follow a logical order
- there may be cases where the first heading in a PDF is not a H1
- certain PDFs fail to specify a default language
- there may be some cases where a legend is not present for all field sets
- there may be some link text that is directed to more than one different destination
Compliance status
This website is partially compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), due to the following non-compliances listed below.
Non-accessible content
The content listed below is non-accessible for the following reasons.
Non-compliance with the accessibility regulations:
- some headings on the website may fail accessibility as they do not provide text within the Header tag - this relates to success criterion WCAG (A) 1.3.1
- some lists or groups of links may not be written semantically - this relates to success criterion WCAG (A) 1.3.1
- some pages may require zooming and 2D scrolling on small screens - this relates to success criterion WCAG (AA) 1.4.10
- some text on this website may not sufficiently contrast with its background colour, so that people with moderate visual impairments can read it - this relates to success criterion WCAG (AA) 1.4.3
- some links may not be defined in a specific way to be accessed by screen readers, which are used by blind and the partially sighted - this relates to success criterion WCAG (A) 4.1.2
- there may be cases of some images fail to specify alternative text, via an alt attribute. The alternative text should describe the purpose of the link - this relates to success criterion WCAG (A) 1.1.1
- some text links may link to anchors that do not exist - this relates to success criterion WCAG (A) 2.4.1
- some textual content may be written in a way that's too difficult to understand - this relates to success criterion WCAG (AAA) 3.1.5
- the used language may not be specified on every page - this relates to success criterion WCAG (A) 3.1.1
- there may be cases of 2 adjacent links that point to the same destination, where they shouldn't. We always want to combine the 2 links - this relates to success criterion WCAG (A) 1.1.1
- there may be cases where links on the website fail to explain their purpose - this relates to success criterion WCAG (A) 2.4.4
- there may be some interactive components on a page, such as buttons or fields, that are not large enough to be easily used by people with motor impairments - this relates to success criterion WCAG (AAA) 2.5.5
- there may be cases where links in a new tab or window where the destination is not explained - this relates to success criterion WCAG (AAA) 3.2.5
- there may be failures to comply with the strictest accessibility standard (WCAG AAA), the colour of text must strongly contrast with its background colour, so that people with significant visual impairments can read it - this relates to success criterion WCAG (AAA) 1.4.6
- there may be some pages that fail to display a top-level heading - this relates to success criterion WCAG (A) 1.3.1
- some pages may contain controls that fail to clearly indicate when they are selected - this relates to success criterion (AAA) 2.4.13
- there may be some cases of interactive components not far enough apart from each other - this relates to success criterion WCAG (AA) 2.5.8
- some PDFs on may not have contain a title - this relates to success criterion WCAG (A) 2.4.2
- there may be some pages that contain text with insufficient contrast - this relates to success criterion WCAG (AA) 1.4.3
- some PDF's fail to contain selectable, searchable text (not just images of text) - this relates to success criterion WCAG (A) 1.1.1
- not all PDFs are tagged, PDFs must be tagged so assistive technologies can interpret and navigate their content - this relates to success criterion WCAG (A) 1.3.1
- some pages don't Identify the purpose of fields programmatically, if done correctly, this allows browsers to help users fill in forms with known information - this relates to success criterion WCAG (AA) 1.3.5
- some form controls fail to contain labels - this relates to success criterion WCAG (A) 1.3.1
- some links may not be defined in a specific way to be accessed by screen readers, which are used by blind and the partially sighted - this relates to success criterion WCAG (A) 4.1.2
- certain PDF documents don't specify headings for accessibility. Headings are crucial for screen readers and other assistive technologies - this relates to success criterion WCAG (A) 1.3.1
- there may be cases of adjacent links that haven’t been combined to point to the same destination - this relates to success criterion WCAG (A) 1.1.1
- there may be cases where PDF headings fail to follow a logical order - this relates to success criterion WCAG (A) 1.3.1
- there may be cases where the first heading in a PDF is not a H1 therefore fails to establish the outline and anchors subsequent heading levels - this relates to success criterion WCAG (A) 1.3.1
- certain PDFs fail to specify a default language - this relates to success criterion WCAG (A) 3.1.1
- there may be some cases where a legend is not present for all field sets, this will then fail to explain its contents -this relates to success criterion WCAG (A) 1.3.1
- there may be some link text that is directed to more than one different destination, which will create confusion for Screen reader users - this relates to success criterion WCAG (A) 2.4.4
Where downloads (in PDF, and other file formats) do not meet accessibility standards we plan to fix or replace them, either when they are next reviewed, or as part of our ongoing programme of review work, whichever is sooner.
Online services which are exempt from accessibility standards
Parts of our online services are exempt from accessibility standards:
- the accessibility regulations do not require us to 'fix' downloads if they were published before 23 September 2018 (if they’re not essential to providing services); we will not edit downloads that are supplied to us by other organisations or members of the public to make them accessible
- we do not plan to add captions to live video streams, because live video is exempt from meeting the accessibility regulations, as are pre-recorded audio and videos published before 23 September 2020
- maps are exempt from accessibility regulations, but we're working to provide essential information in accessible ways; email us about requesting services in an accessible format. We don’t yet have a way of presenting geographical information (maps and site plans etc.) in a fully accessible format. However, as new technologies emerge, we'll review our online services
Accessibility exemptions in our work with third-parties
We brief suppliers on our requirement to meet accessibility regulations; while some elements remain beyond our control, we aim to procure services with accessible outcomes in mind, and to highlight potential improvements suppliers need to consider.
Software linked from our website, which is under the control of our suppliers, may not be accessible if our contract with them does not cover accessible development of 'out of the box' functionality. However, we aim to work with suppliers whose products are as accessible as possible, when contracts are reviewed/renewed. If we create content hosted on external platforms (for example, national databases, social media, video-hosting or survey platforms) we endeavour to ensure the content we upload meets accessibility requirements, and is configured in the most accessible way the platform allows. However, we're not responsible for the accessibility of third-party platforms.
What we’re doing to improve accessibility
We’re committed to being a fair and inclusive website, and we're passionate about providing accessible services, ensuring they’re properly designed and coded, so more people can use them, more easily, regardless of their hardware, software, language, location, or ability.
Preparation of this accessibility statement
This statement was prepared on Tuesday 3 October 2023 and last reviewed on October 2025.
Our online services are currently being (and will continue to be) reviewed for compliance with WCAG standards by City of York Council's Web Services Team, who carry out manual checks, alongside weekly automated sample testing which (together with usage data) informs and prioritise our actions for improving accessibility across online services.
Online services are re-assessed for accessibility whenever a major modification is undertaken; 'page content' is checked every time it is updated. Our current estimate is that further accessibility fixes to address non-accessible content on this site, will be undertaken during 2026.
