Accessibility

An open door – online as well as on Milton Lane

The Hub has a step-free entrance, a hearing loop and a quiet hour, and this website should be every bit as welcoming. This statement covers www.brightsidetrust.org.uk: how it measures up to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 level AA, where it honestly falls short, and how to tell us when something gets in your way.

Prepared 2 August 2026 · based on our own testing (self-assessment) · reviewed every year

Where we stand

Our conformance with WCAG 2.2 AA

We aim to meet WCAG 2.2 at level AA across the whole site, and we believe it currently conforms, apart from the known limitations listed below. As a small charity we’re not legally required to publish a statement in the public-sector format – we do it anyway, because an open door that only opens for some people isn’t really open.

How we tested: keyboard-only walkthroughs of every page and form, VoiceOver on macOS and iOS, browser zoom at 200% text size and 400% reflow, automated and manual colour-contrast checks, and testing with animations switched off (prefers-reduced-motion).

By design

What we’ve built in

Accessibility here isn’t a bolt-on – it shaped the typeface, the colours and the code.

  • A typeface designed for legibilityBody text is set in Atkinson Hyperlegible, developed by the Braille Institute to keep letterforms unmistakable.
  • Works with a keyboard aloneEvery menu, accordion, form and the chat assistant can be reached and operated by keyboard, with a clearly visible focus ring and a skip-to-content link.
  • Colour contrast checkedText colours meet WCAG AA contrast against their backgrounds, and colour is never the only way information is shown.
  • Calm by preferenceIf your device asks for reduced motion, counters, reveals and the pulsing chat button all sit still.
  • Screen-reader friendly structureProper landmarks, one logical heading order per page, labelled controls and text alternatives on meaningful images.
  • Forms that explain themselvesEvery field has a visible label, errors are described in words next to the field, and mistakes are announced to screen readers.
  • Text that grows with youZoom to 200% – or reflow at 400% – and nothing overlaps, disappears or scrolls sideways.
  • Big, steady touch targetsButtons and links are generously sized and spaced, so a wobbly tap still lands.

Being honest

Known limitations

Nothing here is perfect. These are the gaps we know about, and what we’re doing about each.

Decorative illustrations

The hand-drawn houses, suns and doodles are hidden from screen readers rather than described in detail, because they decorate rather than inform. If an illustration ever carries meaning, we give it a text alternative – tell us if we’ve missed one.

Sunny, the chat assistant

Sunny’s replies are announced through a live region, and some older screen-reader and browser pairings may read them twice or with a delay. Nothing Sunny knows is exclusive – every answer also lives on these pages, and a human answers the same questions on 020 7946 0812.

The sketch map

Our map of Milton Lane is a friendly drawing, not a navigable map. Written step-by-step directions sit right beside it on the contact page, and we’ll happily talk you in by phone.

Annual report PDFs

Older copies of our annual report, sent out by email on request, aren’t yet fully tagged for screen readers. Ask and we’ll send the figures as plain text or large print instead – and the next report (spring 2027) will be tagged properly from the start.

However suits you

Other formats, and telling us about barriers

Available on request

  • Large print or plain-text versions of anything on this site.
  • Paper copies of the events calendar and programme times – always by the Hub front desk.
  • Help in more than a dozen community languages, with interpreters bookable for anything complicated.
  • Someone to read anything aloud with you, in person or over the phone – no appointment needed.

Found a barrier? Please tell us – it genuinely helps the next person. Email hello@brightsidetrust.org.uk, ring 020 7946 0812 (Mon–Sat, 9am–5pm) or mention it at the front desk. We reply within two working days and fix what we can, fast.

If we don’t put it right: you can contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS), which helps with concerns under the Equality Act 2010 – equalityadvisoryservice.com or 0808 800 0082.

Visiting in person? The Hub itself has a step-free entrance, a lift, an accessible toilet, a hearing loop and a Tuesday quiet hour – details on the contact page.