This accessibility statement applies to rbfrs.co.uk, which is run by Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service (RBFRS). We want as many people as possible to be able to use this website. You should be able to:

• 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)

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

We’ve decided to use a combination of methods for our organisation, as set out in the GOV.UK guidance on deciding how to check your websites and in compliance with the No. 2 Regulations.

We’ve completed a basic accessibility check on the RBFRS website. The process for this included:

• Manual testing based on GOV.UK’s guidance on doing a basic accessibility check, using both desktop and mobile devices.
• Automated testing using accessibility monitoring software.

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

We carry out accessibility checks on assets uploaded to our website regularly. Any issues identified are resolved and guidance is provided.

To improve usability and accessibility, our website contains a Site Map, which provides a structure of the site for users to easily navigate.

We know some parts of this website are not fully accessible, please find more information in the ‘Non-accessible Content’ section.

Accessibility regulations apply in the same way for public sector mobile apps as they do for websites. The deadline for meeting them was 23 June 2021.

Our Service does not own any publicly available mobile apps at this time but has performed accessibility testing on its website using mobile devices.

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

• Email communications@rbfrs.co.uk.
• Call 0118 938 4556.

We’ll consider your request and get back to you as soon as possible.

If you would like directions to one of our sites, call or email us at reception@rbfrs.co.uk or call 0118 945 2888.

We’re always looking to improve the accessibility of this website. If you find any problems not listed on this page or think we’re not meeting accessibility requirements, please contact: communications@rbfrs.co.uk or call 0118 938 4556.

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).

Find out how to contact us.

Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service is committed to making its website accessible, in accordance with the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018.

This website is partially compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.1 AA standard. We strive to sustain Level AA standard.

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

Non-compliance with the accessibility regulations

Some areas of the website may be difficult to navigate using a keyboard or screen reader software.

The following issues have been identified:

• The keyboard focus becomes lost in the cookie banner once ‘Show details’ is expanded. (fails WCAG 2.4.7 Focus Visible)
• At 200% zoom and more, the keyboard tabs through the hamburger menu whilst it is closed. This can be confusing for the user as the keyboard focus is missing for 7 keyboard tabs. (fails WCAG 2.4.7 Focus Visible)
• At 200% zoom and more, the keyboard focus is not visible when tabbing between the magnifying glass icon and the language icon at the top of the webpage. (fails WCAG 2.4.7 Focus Visible)
• The keyboard focus is not visible on the language button at the top of the webpage. (fails WCAG 2.4.7 Focus Visible)
• At 200% zoom, the keyboard focus is not visible on the radio buttons under the carousel. This can be confusing for users as the keyboard cannot easily switch between radio buttons. (fails WCAG 2.4.7 Focus Visible)
• There is poor colour contrast when the menu links along the top of the webpage receive focus. (fails – WCAG 1.4.3 Contrast (minimum)
• The ‘Submit’ button at the bottom of the ‘Contact Us’ form is not accessible using the keyboard (fails – WCAG 2.1.1 Keyboard and WCAG 2.4.7 Focus Visible)

The following issues have also been identified:

•  Most older PDF documents are not fully accessible to screen reader software – beyond September 2018 (fails – WCAG 1.1. 1 (A) – Non-text Content and WCAG 1.3. 1 (A) – Information and Relationships.)
• Live video streams do not have captions (fails – WCAG success criterion 1.2.)
• Some video content that was published before 23 September 2020 does not contain captions or provide a transcript (fails – WCAG success criteria 1.2. 2.)
• Third party content.

Accessibility checks have been performed throughout the website with the majority of content issues fixed. We strive to achieve and maintain WCAG 2.1 AA standards, but it is not always possible for all our content to be accessible.

• Not applicable.

PDFs and other documents

The 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.

Following a detailed review of our website, conducted in July and August 2020, we have improved the accessibility of all assets and pages published after 23 September 2018 or if they are essential to providing our services. Any new PDFs or Word documents we publish will meet accessibility standards.

Live video

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

Working with website provider

We are currently working with our developers to investigate the issues listed above in the non-accessible content section and we will provide an update in November 2024. However, should you encounter any additional issues, please get in touch using the details below and we will try to resolve them. 

Visual elements

We are committed to providing alternate text for visual elements that cannot be read by a screen reader (images, diagrams, graphs, and other charts). While every effort has been made to add appropriate alternate text, we recognise that we can improve the user experience further by ensuring that the use of non-readable diagrams, charts, and other graphs is kept to a minimum. 

Video content

All video content published on the website and on RBFRS’s social media channels following 23 September 2020 will contain captions and/or transcripts.

Captions or transcripts for video recordings of meetings of the Royal Berkshire Fire Authority will be added within five working days. 

Easy Read documents

We intend to publish Easy Read versions of important documents, which use short sentences and pictures that support these words.

Interactive forms

We have improved the accessibility of forms that are essential for accessing our services, for example, referral forms to request a Safe and Well Visit. If you require a particular form in a more accessible format, please contact us.

This statement was prepared on 2 September 2020. It was last reviewed on 24 September 2024.

This website was last tested using automated tools such as Axe and Wave, as well as manual testing using NVDA software against the basic accessibility regulations on 16 November 2023.

The next scheduled accessibility audit is due to take place in October 2024.