Charity website accessibility: what trustees need to know

Why this matters for trustees

Charity trustees have legal and governance responsibilities for website accessibility. Accessible websites are required by law, and trustees are responsible for ensuring compliance.

This guide explains what trustees need to know about website accessibility, legal requirements, and governance responsibilities.

For more on charity websites, see the charity website playbook.

Legal requirements

Equality Act 2010

Under the Equality Act 2010, charities must not discriminate against people with disabilities. This includes providing accessible websites [2]Source 2 .

• Reasonable adjustments: Charities must make reasonable adjustments to ensure people with disabilities can access services.
• Discrimination: Inaccessible websites can be considered discrimination.
• Legal risk: Charities can face legal action if their websites are not accessible.

Public sector accessibility regulations

If your charity receives public funding or provides public services, you may be subject to public sector accessibility regulations.

• WCAG 2.2 AA: Websites must meet WCAG 2.2 AA standards [1]Source 1 .
• Accessibility statements: Public sector organisations must publish accessibility statements.
• Compliance deadlines: Different deadlines apply depending on when sites were created or updated.

Governance responsibilities

Trustees are responsible for ensuring the charity complies with legal requirements and acts in the best interests of beneficiaries.

Fiduciary duty

• Best use of resources: Trustees must ensure resources are used effectively, including website investments.
• Risk management: Trustees must identify and manage risks, including legal and reputational risks from inaccessible websites.
• Oversight: Trustees should oversee website accessibility and ensure it is maintained.

Duty of care

• Beneficiaries: Trustees must act in the best interests of beneficiaries, including ensuring they can access services online.
• Inclusion: Accessible websites ensure all beneficiaries can access information and services.
• Reputation: Inaccessible websites can damage the charity's reputation and trust.

What trustees should ask

About accessibility standards

• What standards does the site meet? WCAG 2.2 AA is a good baseline [1]Source 1 .
• Has the site been tested for accessibility? Manual testing, automated tools, user testing?
• Is there an accessibility statement? Public-facing statement explaining accessibility status.
• How is accessibility maintained? Ongoing testing, updates, training?

About legal compliance

• Does the site comply with the Equality Act 2010? Legal compliance is essential.
• Are there any known accessibility issues? Known problems should be documented and addressed.
• What is the plan to fix any issues? Clear plan with timelines and priorities.
• Has legal advice been sought? If there are concerns, consider legal advice.

About governance

• Who is responsible for accessibility? Clear responsibility and accountability.
• How is accessibility reported to trustees? Regular reporting and updates.
• What is the budget for accessibility? Adequate resources allocated.
• What training is provided? Staff training on accessibility.

What to look for in an accessibility audit

If you commission an accessibility audit, look for:

• Clear findings: Specific issues with clear explanations.
• Prioritisation: Issues ranked by impact and urgency.
• Fix guidance: Clear guidance on how to fix issues.
• Evidence: Evidence of testing (manual, automated, user testing) [3]Source 3 .
• Compliance status: Clear statement of compliance with WCAG standards.

For more on accessibility audits, see what an accessibility audit includes.

Key accessibility requirements

For charity websites, key accessibility requirements include:

• Keyboard navigation: All functionality accessible via keyboard.
• Screen reader support: Content readable by screen readers.
• Text alternatives: Images have descriptive alt text.
• Clear structure: Headings, lists, and content structure are clear.
• Colour contrast: Text has sufficient contrast (4.5:1 for normal text).
• Forms: Forms are accessible with labels, error messages, and clear instructions.
• Donation journeys: Donation forms and processes are accessible.

For more on accessibility, see what accessibility means.

Common accessibility issues

• Missing alt text: Images without descriptive alt text.
• Poor keyboard navigation: Some functionality not accessible via keyboard.
• Low contrast: Text that is hard to read due to poor contrast.
• Inaccessible forms: Forms without labels or clear error messages.
• Complex navigation: Navigation that is hard to use with screen readers or keyboards.

Summary

Trustees have legal and governance responsibilities for website accessibility:

• Legal requirements: Equality Act 2010 requires accessible websites. Public sector regulations may also apply.
• Governance responsibilities: Trustees must ensure compliance, manage risks, and act in beneficiaries' best interests.
• What to ask: About standards, testing, compliance, responsibility, reporting, budget, and training.
• What to look for: Clear audit findings, prioritisation, fix guidance, evidence, compliance status.

For more on charity websites, see websites for charities and the charity website playbook. For accessibility in education, see web design for education & training. For accessibility audits, see accessibility audits for charities or accessibility services. You can also get in touch to discuss your charity's accessibility needs.