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Accessibility Statement

This statement is about the Redcar and Cleveland Voluntary Development Agency (RCVDA) website at https://www.rcvda.org.uk.

We want as many people as possible to use this site. It runs on the same platform as our other RCVDA sites. We built it to meet the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 at Level AA. We also aimed for two higher (AAA) tests for keyboard focus. You should be able to:

  • Zoom in up to 400% without text running off the screen.
  • Use every page with a keyboard only.
  • Use every page with a screen reader.
  • Listen to most of the site with your device’s built-in speech.
  • Read every page in light or dark mode. Text stays clear in both.
  • Turn off animations if movement bothers you.
  • Make the text bigger, space it out, and underline links.

We write the text in plain English. We keep sentences short and pages easy to scan. Where we use a hard term, we explain it.

The accessibility panel

This site has a built-in Accessibility panel. Look for the round button in the bottom-right corner of each page. It opens a short menu of display settings. You can turn each one on or off:

  • Dark mode — a darker colour scheme that is easier on the eyes in low light.
  • Larger text — makes the text bigger across the site.
  • Reduce motion — removes animation and movement.
  • Readable spacing — adds more space between lines, words, and letters.
  • Underline links — underlines links in text, so they do not rely on colour alone.

A Reset all option puts everything back to normal. The site also follows your device settings for dark mode and reduced motion. So if you set those on your device, the site uses them too. Your choices are saved in your browser, on your device only. They stay set between visits. You can change them at any time. The panel works with a keyboard or a screen reader.

How accessible this website is

We think most of this site meets WCAG 2.2 Level AA. A few parts fall short. We list them under “Known issues” below. Have you found a problem we missed? We want to hear from you. The “Report a problem” section shows how to tell us.

Feedback and help

Do you need this site in another format? For example, large print, easy read, or an accessible PDF. Please email [email protected]. We look at every request. We reply within five working days. We cannot promise every format. But we will tell you what we can do. Use the same email for any other feedback.

Report a problem

We always want to make this site better. Have you found a problem we have not listed? Or do you think we are not meeting the rules? Please email [email protected]. When you write, please tell us:

  • The web address of the page.
  • A short note on what went wrong.
  • The assistive tool you used, if any. For example, a screen reader, magnifier, or voice control.
  • Your browser and device, if you know them.

We will reply within five working days. Then we will tell you what we plan to do.

Enforcement procedure

Are you unhappy with our reply? You can contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS). The EASS gives free advice on your rights under the Equality Act 2010. We are not a public-sector body. So the formal route under the Public Sector Bodies Accessibility Regulations 2018 does not apply to us. That route refers cases to the Equality and Human Rights Commission, through the EASS. The EASS can still advise you on your rights. The Equality Act does apply to us.

Technical information

RCVDA works to make this site accessible. We follow the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines and the Equality Act 2010.

Compliance status

This site is partially compliant with the WCAG 2.2 Level AA standard. The parts that fall short are listed below. We are working through them on the plan at the end.

Known issues

We know about these issues. We have a plan for each one.

  • Some files we link to may not meet the standard. These are PDFs and Word files, such as the careers calendar and lesson resources. We are working through them. We will replace them with better versions. Or we will remove ones we no longer need.
  • Some videos and films may not have captions or a transcript yet. We are adding these to our films. Until then, ask us and we will find another way to give you the content.

Have you found another issue? Please tell us using the details above.

Content we do not cover

The accessibility rules do not apply to RCVDA directly. Even so, we leave out the things below. We do this on the same grounds a public body would.

  • The WordPress admin area. Only our staff and trusted editors use it. It is third-party software. We cannot easily change it.
  • Other websites we link to, such as partners, funders, and regulators. Each one has its own statement.
  • Older PDFs and Word files from before this statement. This applies where they are not needed to use our services. It also applies where a fixed version would cost more than is fair. We will make a fixed version if you ask.

How we tested this website

This site shares its design and code with our other RCVDA sites. We last reviewed those in June 2026. That review, and our own checks, covered the public pages. These include the homepage, the main content pages, and these legal pages. We tested in three ways:

  • We checked the site against WCAG 2.2 Level AA. We looked at headings, page regions, form labels, and link text. We also looked at target sizes, image text, and the “skip to content” link. We checked the colours in light and dark mode too.
  • We used every page with a keyboard only, including the Accessibility panel.
  • We ran two tools, WAVE and axe DevTools, and fixed the issues they found.

We have not yet tested with a screen reader by hand. This is on our plan below. We have not asked an outside expert to check the site, and we do not plan to. Our testing is our own.

How we prepared this statement

RCVDA prepared this statement on 4 July 2026. We based it on our own review. We used the same steps as our other sites. We review it at least once a year, or sooner if the site changes a lot.

How we are improving

We want to keep making this site better. Our current work includes:

  • Testing with a screen reader by hand, such as NVDA and VoiceOver.
  • Adding captions and transcripts to our films. We are also working through older files we link to.
  • Checking the “skip to content” link on every page. It should move keyboard focus into the main content.
  • Reviewing this statement at least once a year, or sooner if the site changes a lot.

Contact

Do you have a question about this site? Please email [email protected].

Last updated: 4 July 2026