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Accessibility statement for Belfast Castle website
This statement applies to belfastcastle.co.uk. This website is run by Belfast City Council. This website has 41 pages. We want as many people as possible to be able to use this website. For example, you should be able to:
- change colours, contrast levels and fonts
- zoom in up to 300 per cent without problems
- navigate most of the website using just a keyboard
- navigate most of the website using speech recognition software
- use most of the website using a screen reader (including the most recent versions of JAWS, NVDA and VoiceOver screenreaders.)
We have also made the website text as simple as possible to understand.
AbilityNet (link opens in new window) 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. For example:
- some page headings and link descriptions have poor colour contrast
- text size is insufficient on some footer headings and logos
Feedback and contact information
If you need information in a different accessible format, for example large print, EasyRead, audio recording or Braille:
- email equality@belfastcity.gov.uk
- call 028 9027 0511
We will consider your request and reply within ten working days.
Reporting accessibility problems with this website
We want to improve the accessibility of this website. If you find any problems or think we are not meeting accessibility requirements, email us: webmaster@belfastcity.co.uk.
Tell us what part of the website you are visiting, what you are trying to do and what is preventing you from doing what you need to do. If possible, tell us what device and which browser you are using. We aim to reply within three working days.
Enforcement procedure
The Equality Commission for Northern Ireland (ECNI) (link opens in new window) is responsible for enforcing the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018 (link opens in new window) (the ‘accessibility regulations’) in Northern Ireland. If you’re not happy with how we respond to your complaint, call ECNI on 028 9050 0600 and ask for a Discrimination Advice Officer in their Legal Division or email information@equalityni.org.
Contacting us by phone or visiting us in person
For Belfast Castle opening hours, go to contact us and directions. You can contact us by email bcr@belfastcastle.co.uk or call +44 (0)28 9077 6925.
Technical information about this website’s accessibility
Belfast City Council is committed to making our websites accessible, in accordance with the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018.
Compliance statement
This website is partially compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.2 AA standard (link opens in new window), due to non-compliances. This means there’s an accessibility problem with the areas listed in Non-accessible content. We use an automated accessibility testing tool, Silktide, to report non-compliance issues on web pages.
An accessibility report on 9 December 2023 highlighted these issues on some Belfast Castle web pages:
Non-accessible content
Content is listed as non-accessible for these reasons:
- One page needs zooming and 2D scrolling on small screens. This fails WCAG 2.2 AA 1.4.10 (Reflow). This relates to ‘Wedding packages at Belfast Castle’ page, viewed on a mobile.
- Some of our text does not have sufficient contrast. This fails WCAG 2.0 AA 1.4.3 (Contrast Minimum) and relates to hyperlinked text in a table on Cookies page.
- Some of our links do not explain that they open in a new tab. This fails WCAG 2.0 AAA 3.2.5 (Change on Request) and relates to Malone House and Belfast City logos in footer.
- Some of our menu buttons and logos are not large enough to be easily used by people with motor impairments. This fails WCAG 2.2 AAA 2.5.5 (Target Size) and relates to text size in Menu button, headings and logos in footer
- Some of our text does not have a very high contrast. This fails WCAG 2.0 AAA 1.4.6 (Contrast Enhanced) and relates to colour of hyperlinked text on white background, some hyperlinked text in tables and Heading 1s in white text overlaid on colour images.
Disproportionate burden
We are not claiming disproportionate burden for this website.
What we are doing to improve accessibility
The website is tested every week for compliance using the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 level A and level AA. We use an automated accessibility tool, Silktide, to conduct this testing.
How we tested this website
We are using automated checks to alert us if something falls below the standard. Our automated accessibility testing tool scanned 42 pages on 9 December 2023 and scored site accessibility rating as 98.
Preparation of this accessibility statement
This statement was prepared on 17 October 2023. We reviewed and updated the statement on 14 December 2023.
