This accessibility statement applies to wfd.org.

This website is run by Westminster Foundation for Democracy. We want as many people as possible to be able to use this website. We are committed to making our website perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust.

Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD) is committed to making its website accessible, in accordance with the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018.

Whilst our service users are not based in the UK, WFD endeavours to apply the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018 (the ‘Accessibility Regulations’) to its website and relevant content.

For example, we have taken steps so that users can:

• Change colours to increase the contrast levels
• Introduce new affordance and interaction design improvements
• 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 aim to conduct user testing to identify further opportunities to improve the usability and accessibility of our website, and iterate with cycles of design improvements – taking a continuous improvement approach to website development.

We are also making the website text as simple as possible to understand.

AbilityNet 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 and we are working hard to correct this. We commissioned the Shaw Trust to conduct a full accessibility assessment and make recommendations for how we can improve. Following their report, we commissioned a new, more accessible website which launched in January 2022.

Feedback and contact information

If you need information on this website in a different format like accessible PDF, British Sign Language, large print, easy read, audio recording or braille, please email comms@wfd.org. We will need you to tell us the web address of the content, your name and email address, and the format you need.

We will consider your request and get back to you in 14 days.

If you cannot view the map on our ‘contact us’ page, call or email us for directions.

Enforcement procedure

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is responsible for enforcing the ‘Accessibility Regulations’. If you’re not happy with how we respond to your feedback or report of any accessibility problems, you may contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS).

Contacting us by phone or visiting us in person

We have a switchboard telephone number and our staff can help connect you to WFD contact you need to speak to.

WFD operates offices in over 30 locations across the world, including the UK. In the UK, we comply with all applicable laws, in particular the Equality Act 2010 and the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. Our offices outside of the UK are often hosted by partners or otherwise in premises we do not control, and local law and custom varies country-to-country. However, WFD endeavours to ensure, wherever possible, that its offices are accessible to people with mobility issues. We will also make reasonable adjustments to accommodate the needs of our visitors as appropriate.

Please note that, at present, many of WFD’s offices are closed to staff and/or visitors due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

You can contact us here.

Technical information about this website’s accessibility

Westminster Foundation for Democracy is committed to making its website accessible, in accordance with the Accessibility Regulations.

Compliance status

This website is partially compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.1 AA standard, due to due to the non-compliances and exemptions’ listed below.

Non-compliance with the accessibility regulations

Some of our content is non-accessible for the following reasons:

• Disproportionate burden
• Content that’s not within the scope of the Accessibility Regulations:
• Non-essential documents published before September 23, 2018;
• Live audio and video and pre-recorded audio and video published before September 23, 2020.
• Third-party content not funded or under the control of the body.
• Archived material
• PDFs

The Accessibility Regulations do not require us to adapt PDFs or other documents published before 23 September 2018 if they are not essential to providing our services.

WFD’s provides services such as learning-related activities, technical advice and research, and acts as convenor for dialogue and sharing lessons. Its beneficiaries or service users are parliaments (including representatives and officials), political parties, electoral bodies, and civil society organisations located outside of the UK.

Many of our older PDFs or Word documents do not meet accessibility standards. WFD does not generally offer its services for digital delivery through its website, but WFD has adapted any older PDFs or documents published on our website that we have assessed as essential to the ongoing delivery of these services to our users.

We are improving the accessibility of all new PDF and Word documents published on our website.

What we’re doing to improve accessibility

We commissioned the Shaw Trust to conduct a full accessibility assessment, make recommendations for how we can improve, and support us as we implement the recommendations. Following the report, we commissioned a new accessible website which launched in January 2022.

WFD aims to secure and maintain a full certificate of accessibility.

Reporting accessibility problems with this website

We are always looking to improve the accessibility of this website. If you find any problems or think we’re not meeting accessibility requirements, email the communication team at comms@wfd.org.

Preparation of this accessibility statement

This statement was prepared on 17 September 2020. It was reviewed on 22 September 2021 and again on 21 February 2022.