Accessibility Statement — Gardeners Spitalfields

We are committed to making the services and information about Gardeners Spitalfields accessible to everyone in the Spitalfields area. This accessibility statement explains how our local gardeners and site content meet recognized standards, including our aim to conform to WCAG 2.1 AA guidelines. We describe important accessibility features, how we support assistive technologies, and how to request alternative formats or further assistance.

Our scope covers online content, event information, and navigation details for gardeners in Spitalfields. We use clear headings, semantic HTML, and predictable structure so that people who rely on screen readers or keyboard navigation can find planting schedules, community garden maps, and local accessibility notices easily. We continually review content to support equitable access for residents and visitors across the Spitalfields neighbourhood.

To create an accessible experience for Gardeners in the Spitalfields area we implement a combination of technical and editorial practices. These include proper use of landmark roles, meaningful link text, and accessible forms. Content is authored with alternatives for non-text information and is checked for adequate color contrast, readable font sizes, and responsive layouts to support a wide range of devices and assistive technologies.

We provide explicit support for keyboard navigation so that people who do not use a mouse can still access all interactive features. Our pages allow sequential tabbing through links and controls, visible focus states, and skip navigation where appropriate. We also ensure that interactive widgets are reachable and operable with standard keyboard commands, and that focus order is logical and consistent for gardeners searching information about local planting and maintenance.

Screen-reader support is central to our approach. Images used to illustrate Spitalfields gardens include descriptive alternatives where helpful, and decorative images are marked so they are ignored by assistive technology. We use ARIA attributes sparingly and only to enhance semantic markup where native HTML cannot express an element’s meaning. Our aim is to make content readable by common screen readers, allowing people to access schedules, volunteer opportunities, and accessibility notices without barriers.

Key accessibility features include:

• Conformance: Design and content aligned with WCAG 2.1 AA expectations.
• Keyboard access: Full keyboard operability for navigation and forms.
• Screen-reader compatibility: semantic markup, ARIA where necessary, and meaningful alt text.
• Clear visual presentation: sufficient contrast and scalable text for better readability.

We regularly test pages and localised content for accessibility, including audits using automated tools and manual checks. Our testing covers common user journeys relevant to Spitalfields gardeners, such as locating garden plots, accessing community notices, and understanding volunteer instructions. Testing also includes multiple browsers, assistive technologies, and mobile devices to reflect how people in the area actually access content.

If you need information in an alternative format or have an accessibility request related to Gardeners Spitalfields, please contact us and we will respond and provide support. We do not publish direct contact details in this statement; however, accessible contact channels are available through the organisation’s main communication points. When you get in touch, please tell us about the specific content or service you need and any preferred formats so we can assist efficiently.

We continue to improve accessibility across our content for Spitalfields gardeners and visitors. If you encounter an accessibility barrier, let us know so we can address it and prevent similar issues in the future. This statement will be reviewed periodically and updated as improvements are made and as standards evolve to ensure we maintain a welcoming and usable experience for everyone in the Gardeners Spitalfields community.