Accessibility Statement 2026
This accessibility statement applies to the website operated by Shropshire Fire & Rescue Service (SFRS) at www.shropshirefire.gov.uk.
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% without text spilling off the screen
- navigate most of the website using only a keyboard
- navigate using speech recognition software
- listen to most of the website using a screen reader (including JAWS, NVDA and VoiceOver)
We aim to make the website text as simple as possible to understand.
For advice on making your device easier to use if you have a disability, visit AbilityNet.
How we tested this website
This website is assessed using:
- manual testing by the SFRS Communications Team
- technical accessibility testing completed by our website supplier, Web Orchard
- testing based on WCAG 2.2 AA, the current legal standard
The last full assessment of this website was carried out on 27/2/2026.
This statement was prepared on 10 March 2026.
Compliance status
This website is partially compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 AA due to the non‑compliances listed below.
This wording follows the required government model accessibility statement format.
Non-accessible content
The content below is not yet fully accessible which needs review and is being investigated by the website developers:
These issues fail WCAG requirements and require developer investigation:
1.
- The keyboard focus indicator may not be visible when CSS declarations such as
borderoroutlineare used. - Input elements do not have associated visible labels.
- Components with a “button” role do not contain a tabbable element, preventing correct keyboard interaction.
Recommendations
- Confirm that Windows High Contrast Mode is fully supported where CSS is used to include, position, or alter non‑decorative content.
2.
- Ensure the word “below” is used to indicate a logical position rather than a visual one in user instructions.
- Verify that colour alone is not used as the only visual means of conveying information.
- Ensure the word “corner” is used to indicate a logical rather than visual position.
- Confirm that instructions remain understandable without the word “large”.
Recommendations
- Verify that important background image information has a text alternative when system High Contrast Mode is enabled.
3.
- Some content is not contained within a landmark element.
- Users are not informed when an input action opens a new window.
- An element with a “contentinfo” role is present without a corresponding “main” role.
- An element with a “complementary” role does not have a visible label.
Content outside the scope of the accessibility regulations
PDFs and other documents
The regulations do not require us to fix:
- PDFs or Word documents published before 23 September 2018 that are not essential to providing services.
Any new PDFs or documents we publish will meet accessibility standards.
Live video
Live video streams do not have captions. Live video is exempt from the regulations.
Disproportionate Burden
We have carried out a disproportionate burden assessment relating to fixing accessibility issues with some third‑party forms and legacy PDFs.
A summary of this assessment can be provided on request.
The full disproportionate burden of proof can be found here.
Accessibility tools
An accessibility menu is available via an icon in the corner of each page. After selecting it, please wait a moment for the tools to load.
What we are doing to improve accessibility
SFRS is committed to continuous improvement. Over the next development cycle we will:
- address non‑compliance issues identified in accessibility audits
- work with suppliers to ensure third‑party tools meet WCAG 2.2 AA
- improve the accessibility of new documents and website content
Feedback and contact information
If you need information on this website in an alternative format — such as an accessible PDF, large print, easy read, audio recording or braille — please contact us:
- Email: enquiries@shropshirefire.gov.uk
- Phone: 01743 260 200
- Contact form: https://www.shropshirefire.gov.uk/contact-us
We aim to respond within 14 days.
Reporting accessibility problems
If you find any accessibility problems not listed on this page, or believe we are not meeting accessibility requirements, please contact:
enquiries@shropshirefire.gov.uk
Enforcement procedure
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) enforces the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018.
If you are not satisfied with our response to your complaint, you can contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS).
Contacting us or visiting in person
We provide:
- a text relay service for people who are D/deaf, hearing impaired or have a speech impediment
- audio induction loops in our offices
- British Sign Language (BSL) interpreters if requested in advance
To arrange support, please contact:
- Email: enquiries@shropshirefire.gov.uk
- Phone: 01743 260 200
Accessibility Statement 2025
General
This accessibility statement applies to the Shropshire Fire & Rescue Service’s website.
This website is run by Shropshire Fire & Rescue Service. We want as many people as possible to be able to use this website. For example, that means you should be able to:
- change colours, contrast levels and fonts
- zoom in up to 300% without the text spilling off the screen
- navigate most of the website using just a keyboard
- navigate most of the website using speech recognition software
- listen to most of the website using a screen reader (including the most recent versions of JAWS, NVDA and VoiceOver)
We’ve also made the website text as simple as possible to understand.
AbilityNet has advice on making your device easier to use if you have a disability.
Method of testing
Accessibility testing is done manually by the communications team and by Web Orchard, Where compliance has been tested it has been against WCAG 2.0 AA and more recently WCAG 2.1 AA.
Accessibility
SFRS aims to improve its compliance with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.1).
We know some parts of this website are not fully accessible:
- Most older PDF documents are not fully accessible to screen reader software
- Live video streams do not have captions
- Some of our online forms are difficult to navigate using just a keyboard
- Character Key Shortcuts do not work on all pages
Enabling the Accessibility Menu
The accessibility menu can be enabled by clicking the accessibility menu icon that appears on the corner of the page. After triggering the accessibility menu, please wait a moment for the accessibility menu to load in its entirety.
Disclaimer
SFRS continues its efforts to constantly improve the accessibility of its site and services in the belief that it is our collective moral obligation to allow seamless, accessible and unhindered use also for those of us with disabilities.
Despite our efforts to make all pages and content on our website fully accessible, some content may not have yet been fully adapted to the strictest accessibility standards. This may be a result of not having found or identified the most appropriate technological solution.
Scanned pdf documents do not comply with the Accessibility Regulations 2018 but these documents can be provided in an alternative format or on alternative media, on request.
Feedback and contact information
If you need information on this website in a different format like accessible PDF, large print, easy read, audio recording or braille:
- email us at enquiries@shropshirefire.gov.uk
- call us on 01743 260 200
- get in touch at https://www.shropshirefire.gov.uk/contact-us
We’ll consider your request and get back to you in 14 days.
Reporting accessibility problems with this website
We’re always looking to improve the accessibility of this website. If you find any problems not listed on this page or think we’re not meeting accessibility requirements, contact: enquiries@shropshirefire.gov.uk
Enforcement procedure
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is responsible for enforcing the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018 (the ‘accessibility regulations’). If you’re not happy with how we respond to your complaint, contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS).
Find out how to contact us
We provide a text relay service for people who are D/deaf, hearing impaired or have a speech impediment.
Our offices have audio induction loops, or if you contact us before your visit we can arrange a British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter.
-
email us at enquiries@shropshirefire.gov.uk
- call us on 01743 260 200
Technical information about this website’s accessibility
Shropshire Fire & Rescue Service is committed to making its website accessible, in accordance with the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018.
Compliance status
This website is partially compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.1 AA standard, due to the non-compliances and exemptions listed below.
- Character Key Shortcuts do not work on all pages
Non-accessible content- non compliance with regulations
The content listed below is non-accessible for the following reasons.
- Most PDF documents are not fully accessible to screen reader software under WCAG 2.4.2 Page titled
- The focus visible does not currently tab clearly to the ‘news’ section under WCAG 2.4.7 Focus Visible
- ‘Read more’ links are not yet accessibile through the keyboard under WCAG 2.1.1 Keyboard
This should be rectified by 1st May 2023
Disproportionate burden
Interactive tools and transactions
Some of our interactive forms are difficult to navigate using a keyboard. For example, because some form controls are missing a ‘label’ tag.
Our forms are built and hosted through third party software and ‘skinned’ to look like our website. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.3.1 (information and relationships).
We’ve assessed the cost of fixing the issues with navigation and accessing information, and with interactive tools and transactions. We believe that doing so now would be a disproportionate burden within the meaning of the accessibility regulations. We will make another assessment during a full website review in July 2023 when we plan to move to a new website.
Bypass Blocks
WCAG 2.4.1 Bypass Blocks and WCAG 4.1.2 Name, Role, Value: Frames must have an accessible name. These issues are caused by our accessibility tools.
Content that’s not within the scope of the accessibility regulations
PDFs and other documents
Some of our PDFs and Word documents are essential to providing our services. For example, we have PDFs with information on how users can access our services, and forms published as Word documents. By September 2020, we plan to either fix these or replace them with accessible HTML pages.
The accessibility regulations do not require us to fix PDFs or other documents published before 23 September 2018 if they’re not essential to providing our services. For example, we do not plan to fix [example of non-essential document].
Any new PDFs or Word documents we publish will meet accessibility standards.
Live video
We do not plan to add captions to live video streams because live video is exempt from meeting the accessibility regulations.
Preparation of this accessibility statement
This statement was prepared on 24/2/23. It was last reviewed on 24/2/23.
This website was last tested on 17/2/23. The test was carried out by Shropshire Fire & Rescue Service