Accessibility Statement
GatherUK is committed to ensuring digital accessibility for people with disabilities. We are continually improving the user experience for everyone and applying the relevant accessibility standards.
Our Commitment
GatherUK is built to be usable by as many people as possible, regardless of ability or the technology they use. We're a small non-profit team, not a corporate with a dedicated accessibility department — but that's exactly why we take this seriously. Every person who can't use GatherUK is a person who might miss out on their local community.
We aim to meet WCAG 2.1 Level AA across the site and platform. Where we fall short, we want to know about it.
What We've Built In
- Keyboard navigation: Everything can be reached and activated by keyboard alone. Focus indicators use a visible 3px teal outline so you can always see where you are on the page.
- Screen reader support: Content is structured with logical headings, descriptive labels, and ARIA attributes. Dynamic updates — such as RSVP changes, notifications, and AJAX responses — are announced automatically using ARIA live regions.
- Alternative text: Images we control carry descriptive alt text. We encourage members and Group Admins to do the same when uploading photos.
- Colour contrast: Text and background colour combinations meet WCAG 2.1 Level AA contrast ratios throughout the site.
- Responsive design: GatherUK works on all screen sizes — from small mobiles to large desktops — without loss of content or functionality.
- Skip links: A "Skip to content" link at the top of every page lets keyboard users jump past navigation without tabbing through every link.
- Form accessibility: All form fields have clear labels, and errors are identified, described, and announced to screen readers.
Compatibility with Browsers & Assistive Technologies
GatherUK is designed to be compatible with:
- All modern browsers: Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge
- Assistive technologies: NVDA, JAWS, VoiceOver, and TalkBack
- Screen magnification, voice recognition, and switch control software
Older browsers (such as Internet Explorer) may not display correctly — we have prioritised modern standards to best support current assistive technology.
Known Limitations
We believe in being honest rather than just ticking boxes. Current known limitations include:
- Some older user-generated images may not have alt text. We can't write descriptions for photos members upload, but we're working on ways to prompt and assist with this.
- Some map-based content may not be fully accessible to all assistive technologies. We're aware of this and are looking at alternatives.
- Third-party components (such as Stripe’s hosted payment pages) are outside our direct control, though we choose providers who take accessibility seriously.
Standards We Aim to Meet
- WCAG 2.1 Level AA — Web Content Accessibility Guidelines
- EN 301 549 — European standard for ICT accessibility
- Equality Act 2010 — UK legislation requiring accessible services for disabled people
Found a Problem? Please Tell Us.
Accessibility issues are bugs. If something on GatherUK is difficult or impossible to use, we want to fix it. Please get in touch and tell us:
- The URL of the page where you experienced the issue
- A description of what happened (or didn't happen)
- The device, browser, and any assistive technology you're using
Please use our Contact Us page for all enquiries, including accessibility — we read every message.
If you're not satisfied with our response, you can contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS).