Accessibility
Accessibility Statement
Our website strives to uphold the principles and best practice of the WCAG 1.0 guidelines. While we aim to comply with the WCAG guidelines, we recognise that web technology has moved on since their creation, and a number of them are less applicable than at their time of publication. Our central objective is users finding our site accessible and usable in practice.
However, you may find that at present not all pages within this site are completely without issue. We are working with those in the wider accessibility community to support the future development of this site.
In instances where the specific accessibility needs of some disabled user groups require us to create new or tailored editorial content, we will do this, wherever appropriate, so that we become more inclusive to a wider audience online.
We have been working with AbilityNet, a leading UK technology and disability charity, towards full accessibility. It is our aim to achieve this in the very near future.
Accessibility features
We offer the following accessibility features on our site:
- a skip to content link to help screen reader and keyboard users access content quickly.
- a search facility and sitemap.
- alternative stylesheets (or viewing themes), including a linearised version with large text and a version designed to assist reading for visitors with dyslexia.
- resizable text.
Changing text size
How to make the text larger in your web browser.
Below you will find a step-by-step guide to enlarging the text in your internet browser.
These instructions are for use with the browser versions listed below, however they may also work with other versions of the same web browser.
Microsoft Internet Explorer - all versions
- Open your Internet Explorer web browser.
- Choose the drop down menu at the top of the window of the browser marked "view" (or press ‘Alt’ and ‘V’).
- A list of options will appear in the drop down menu, choose "text size" (or press ‘X’).
- Next another drop down menu should appear with options including "small", "medium", "large", "largest".
- Select "largest" (or use the ‘up’ and ‘down’ arrows to select and press ‘Enter’).
Mozilla Firefox - all versions
- Open your Firefox web browser.
- Hold down the Ctrl button on your keyboard and press the plus (+) key.
- You will find that this will enlarge the text, to enlarge again repeat the procedure.
- Keep repeating until the text is enlarged to your requirements.
- If you need to make the text smaller press ctrl on your keyboard and the minus ( - ) key.
The text in your browser window should now appear larger.
Apple Safari - all versions
- Open your Apple Safari web browser.
- Hold down the Apple Key and press the (+) key.
- You will find that this will enlarge the text, to enlarge again repeat the procedure.
- Keep repeating until the text is enlarged to your requirements.
- If you need to make the text smaller press the Apple Key on your keyboard and press the (-) key.
The text in your browser window should now appear larger.
How to change colours and background on this site
To choose a colour scheme please click on the appropriate coloured ‘A’ on screen, or the appropriate scheme link below;
‘Skip to’ Navigation Link
At the top of every page is a hidden link that is spoken by screen-reading software and will appear when 'tabbed to' using a keyboard. It is the first link and, when selected, will make reading skip past the rest of the menu items and commence at the beginning of the main page content.
Our Branches
As well as considering the accessibility of our website, we also recognise the importance of physical access to our branch premises. To make our branches more accessible we are fitting new branches with:
- Automatic doors
- A low-level counter
- Hearing loops
- New cash machines
For customers who are deaf, hard of hearing, or with speech impairments. We can arrange for a qualified sign language interpreter if you let us know in advance.
You can also use a Typetalk operator to relay messages to us.
If you have textphone we have various alternative numbers to contact us on.
For customers with visual impairments
Our brochures, statements, and letters can be supplied in larger print, audio, or Braille.
To make documents easier to fill in, we provide Braille or large print templates for cheques, deposit slips, and credit card payment slips.
To make it easier to sign your debit, credit and cheque guarantee cards, you can request a signature template or talk to our branch or call centre.
Card details can also be provided in Braille.
We are also reviewing our branch colour schemes to make it easier for visually impaired customers.