Accessibility for Everyone

Accessibility Statement

Heath Village Barn | Making our website accessible to everyone

Our commitment to accessibility

At Heath Village Barn, we believe that everyone should be able to access information about our community venue, its facilities, activities and events, regardless of their abilities, circumstances or the technology they use.

We are committed to making our website, www.heathvillagebarn.co.uk, as accessible and easy to use as reasonably possible.

Our aim is to provide a welcoming online experience that reflects the community spirit of Heath Village Barn, enabling visitors to explore our facilities, discover local clubs and groups, check availability and make booking enquiries with confidence.

We recognise that accessibility is an ongoing process and continually look for opportunities to improve our website.

Accessibility standards

We aim to follow the internationally recognised Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2, Level AA, published by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C).

These guidelines provide recommendations for making online content more accessible to people with visual, hearing, physical, cognitive and neurological disabilities.

Our approach focuses on four principles:

• Perceivable: Information should be presented in ways that visitors can recognise and understand.
• Operable: Navigation and interactive features should be usable through different methods, including keyboard navigation where supported.
• Understandable: Information and instructions should be clear, consistent and straightforward.
• Robust: Content should work with a range of browsers, devices and assistive technologies.

Although we work towards these standards, we do not currently claim that every page or feature fully conforms to WCAG 2.2 Level AA.

Using our website

We aim to make the Heath Village Barn website straightforward to navigate and comfortable to use.

Our approach includes presenting information with clear headings, readable text, consistent navigation and layouts that adapt to different screen sizes.

We also aim to provide descriptive alternative text for meaningful images, understandable links and clearly labelled forms.

Visitors may find it helpful to use their browser’s built-in accessibility settings, including text enlargement, page zoom and other display adjustments.

Where an accessibility toolbar or widget is available, visitors can also explore the additional display and navigation settings it provides.

These tools can assist with accessibility but do not replace the need for accessible website design.

Booking facilities and interactive content

Our website contains several interactive features intended to help visitors plan their activities and use the Barn.

These include:

• Online availability and booking facilities.
• A calendar displaying activities and events.
• Contact and enquiry forms.
• Information about clubs, groups and regular activities.
• Photographs, promotional posters and video content.
• Downloadable documents, including information for hirers.
• Heather, our AI-powered virtual assistant.

Some features are provided through external software or third-party services.

Although we aim to make these features accessible, their accessibility may depend on the software provider, browser or assistive technology being used.

If you experience difficulty accessing our booking system or another interactive feature, please contact us. We will endeavour to provide the information or assistance you need through an alternative method.

Heather, our virtual assistant

Our virtual assistant, Heather, is available through the chat icon at the bottom right of the website.

Heather can help visitors find information about hiring the Barn, its facilities, activities and other frequently asked questions.

However, we recognise that automated chat facilities may not be suitable for everyone.

Visitors who cannot use Heather, or who would prefer assistance from a person, are welcome to contact us directly.

Documents, photographs and videos

Some pages contain downloadable PDF documents, photographs, posters and videos.

We recognise that older documents and certain visual materials may not always be fully accessible to people using screen readers or other assistive technologies.

Where reasonably practicable, we aim to provide:

• Descriptive alternative text for meaningful photographs and graphics.
• Accessible versions of important documents.
• Text-based information where content is primarily presented through images.
• Clear descriptions of important visual information.
• Alternative formats when requested.

Some historical material, externally supplied posters and older documents may not meet current accessibility standards.

If you cannot access particular information, please contact us so that we can explore a suitable alternative.

Accessibility when visiting Heath Village Barn

We recognise that accessibility extends beyond our website.

Heath Village Barn is a traditional building, and there are physical access limitations that visitors should consider before arranging an event or attending an activity.

The building does not currently provide step-free access throughout.

Access arrangements include two steps with a handrail at the main entrance and a further three steps with a handrail leading into the main hall.

Additional steps provide access to the stage and rear exit.

We encourage anyone with mobility difficulties or specific accessibility requirements to contact us before booking or visiting.

Our Facilities at The Barn page provides further information about the building and its facilities.

We will be pleased to discuss individual requirements and any reasonable arrangements that may be possible.

Known accessibility limitations

Despite our efforts, some parts of the website may not yet provide the level of accessibility we would like.

Areas that may require further improvement include older PDF documents, third-party booking facilities, embedded calendars, interactive maps, externally supplied promotional material and certain multimedia content.

We recognise that accessibility barriers may also arise through differences in browser functionality, assistive technologies or the devices visitors use.

These potential limitations do not represent a completed accessibility audit.

We welcome feedback that helps us identify and prioritise improvements.

Requesting information in an alternative format

If you need information from our website in a different format, please contact us.

Depending on the information requested and individual requirements, we will endeavour to provide a suitable alternative, such as:

• A more accessible PDF document.
• A plain-text version of the information.
• Information in a larger print format.
• Written clarification or assistance with a booking.
• Another reasonable and practicable format.

We aim to acknowledge accessibility enquiries within 10 working days, although many enquiries may be answered sooner.

Where additional time is needed, we will endeavour to explain the circumstances and provide an indication of when a response can be expected.

Reporting an accessibility problem

We welcome feedback about the accessibility of our website.

If you experience difficulty using any page, document, form or interactive feature, please let us know.

It would be helpful if you could include the website page or feature concerned, a brief description of the difficulty and, where relevant, the browser, device or assistive technology you were using.

You do not need to disclose personal medical information or details of a disability.

Your feedback will help us identify accessibility barriers and make improvements for everyone.

Contact Heath Village Barn

For accessibility enquiries, feedback or requests for information in an alternative format, please contact:

Heath Village Barn
Eastern Way
Heath and Reach
Bedfordshire
LU7 0AA

Email: info@heathvillagebarn.co.uk

Online: Contact Us

The Barn’s office is not permanently staffed, so email or the website contact form is usually the most convenient way to reach us.

Continuous improvement

Accessibility is an important part of our commitment to making Heath Village Barn welcoming and inclusive.

We will continue reviewing the website as content is updated, new features are introduced and accessibility requirements evolve.

Our priorities include improving navigation, maintaining readable and well-structured content, providing appropriate image descriptions and addressing accessibility concerns brought to our attention.

We also aim to consider accessibility when selecting third-party services and publishing new documents.

Feedback from website visitors plays an important role in this process.

Statement information

Website: www.heathvillagebarn.co.uk

Organisation: Heath and Reach Village Hall, registered charity in England and Wales, number 300037.

Statement prepared: 14 October 2026

Review: This statement will be reviewed periodically and following significant changes to the website or its accessibility features.

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