Accessibility

Accessibility statement for The Word

This accessibility statement applies to content published on the www.theworduk.org.uk domain.

This website is run by South Tyneside Council. We want as many people as possible to be able to use this website. For example, that means you should be able to:

• change colours, contrast levels and fonts
• 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)

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

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

How accessible this website is

We know some parts of this website are not fully accessible:

• On some parts of the website, the colour contrast makes it hard to read text
• On some pages, the links on images don’t have alternative text
• On some pages, headings are not in the right order
• When navigating with a keyboard, it isn’t always clear to see which link or element is highlighted

Feedback and contact information

If you need information on this website in a different format like accessible PDF, large print, easy read, audio recording or braille:

• email customerhelp@southtyneside.gov.uk
• call 0191 427 7000

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

Reporting accessibility problems with this website

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, email customerhelp@southtyneside.gov.uk or call 0191 427 7000.

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 (the ‘accessibility regulations’). If you’re not happy with how we respond to your complaint, contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS).

Contacting us by phone or visiting us in person

Find out more about how to contact us.

Technical information about this website’s accessibility

South Tyneside Council is committed to making this 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 2.2 AA standard, due to the non-compliances and exemptions listed below.

Non-accessible content

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

Non-compliance with the accessibility regulations

Navigation

• On the homepage, when using a keyboard and tabbing through the colour contrast is insufficient. This does not meet WCAG 2.2 success criterion 1.4.1 (Use of Colour).

• When navigating with a keyboard, it isn’t always clear to see which link or element is highlighted. This doesn’t meet WCAG 2.2 success criterion 2.4.7 (Focus visible).

Colour contrast

• On some parts of the website, elements do not meet minimum colour contrast ratio thresholds. Some users might find it difficult to read the text. This does not meet WCAG 2.2 success criterion 1.4.3 (Contrast minimum).

Images

• On some pages, the links on images don’t have alternative text. Images must have alternate text, so screen readers have a way of translating an image into words. This doesn’t meet WCAG 2.2 success criterion 2.4.4 (link purpose in context).

Headings

• On some pages, the headings are missing text. This doesn’t meet WCAG 2.2 success criterion 1.3.1 (info and relationships).

Content

• On some pages, the u tag is used to format text. This doesn’t meet WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.3.1 (info and relationships).
• On some pages, the i tag is used to format text. This doesn’t meet WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.3.1 (info and relationships).
• On some pages, headings are not nested properly. This doesn’t meet WCAG2.1 success criterion 2.4.10 (section headings).
• On some pages the HTML is used to format content. This doesn’t meet WCAG 2.1 success criterion 2.4.4 (link purpose, in context).

Other issues

• On some pages, HTML5 or WAI-ARIA landmarks have not been named, so people might not know the difference between them. This doesn’t meet WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.3.1 (info and relationships).
• Not all content is included in HTML5 or WAI-ARIA landmarks. This doesn’t meet WCAG 2.2 success criterion 1.3.1 (info and relationships).
• On some pages, there is no option to skip repeated content. This doesn’t meet WCAG 2.2 success criterion 2.4.1 (bypass blocks).
• On some pages, there is a redundant WAI-ARIA attribute. This doesn’t meet WCAG 2.2 success criterion 4.1.2 (name, role, value)

We are continuing to work through these accessibility issues. We are making sure any new content or digital services we build meet accessibility standards.

Content that’s not within the scope of the accessibility regulations

• 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.
• The accessibility regulations do not require us to provide a text only format for pre-recorded videos published before 23 September 2020.

Preparation of this accessibility statement

This statement was prepared on 16 September 2019. It was last reviewed on 17 July 2025.

This website was last tested on 17 July 2025. The test was carried out by South Tyneside Council.

We tested all pages on our website, theworduk.org, including:

• Homepage
• Menu pages
• Content pages

What we’re doing to improve accessibility

We’re currently working to improve the accessibility of this website. If you have any problems using this website, or if you think we’re not meeting accessibility requirements, email customerhelp@southtyneside.gov.uk or call 0191 427 7000.