Accessibility Statement

Bedford Pentecostal Church is committed to ensuring that our website is accessible to everyone, regardless of ability, technology, or circumstance. We believe that everyone should have equal access to information about our church, services, events, and resources. We are actively working to improve the accessibility and usability of our website, following recognised standards and best practices.

Our Commitment to accessibility

  • We aim to meet or exceed the requirements of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1, Level AA, which are internationally recognised standards for web accessibility.

  • We are committed to making our website inclusive for all visitors, including those using assistive technologies such as screen readers, magnifiers, voice recognition software, or alternative input devices.

  • Accessibility is an ongoing process, and we continually test, review, and update our website to ensure it remains accessible and welcoming for all.

Accessibility Features

We have implemented the following measures to improve accessibility:

  1. Navigation

    • Clear and consistent menu structure.

    • Keyboard navigation support for users who cannot use a mouse.

    • “Skip to content” links to help bypass repetitive navigation.

  2. Text and Content

    • Adjustable text size and zoom without loss of functionality.

    • High-contrast text and background combinations for readability.

    • Plain language wherever possible to ensure clarity.

    • Headings structured logically (H1, H2, H3) for screen reader compatibility.

  3. Images and Media

    • Alternative text (alt text) provided for meaningful images.

    • Decorative images are marked so assistive technologies skip them.

    • Captions or transcripts for video and audio content, where available.

  4. Forms and Interactions

    • Labels provided for all form fields.

    • Error messages explained in plain language.

    • Forms accessible using only a keyboard.

  5. Technical Compliance

    • Pages are designed to be compatible with major browsers.

    • Responsive design for accessibility on mobile, tablet, and desktop devices.

    • Compatible with common assistive technologies.

What We Are Working On

While we strive to make the website fully accessible, we recognise that some areas still require improvement. We are currently working on:

  • Adding captions to all video content.

  • Expanding text alternatives for older images and documents.

  • Improving colour contrast on some legacy pages.

  • Testing across a wider range of assistive technologies and devices.

External Content

Our website may include links to third-party websites or embedded content (such as YouTube, Vimeo, or social media). We cannot guarantee that external platforms meet the same accessibility standards, but we aim to use accessible services wherever possible.

Feedback and Contact Information

We welcome your feedback on the accessibility of the Bedford Pentecostal Church website. If you experience any barriers or have suggestions for improvement, please contact us:

  • Email: admin@bedfordpentecostalchurch.co.uk

  • Phone: 01234 210550

  • Address: 1 Roise Street, Bedford, MK40 1JJ

We will do our best to respond to feedback within 5 working days and to provide accessible alternatives where needed.

Enforcement of Accessibility Standards

If you are not satisfied with our response, you may contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS) or the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) for further advice.

Review

This Accessibility Statement was last reviewed in September 2025. We will review and update it regularly as our website develops and as accessibility standards evolve.