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Accessibility statement

Accessibility statement

This website is run by Glasgow Life (Culture and Sport Glasgow (Trading) CIC). 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.


How accessible this website is:

We know some parts of this website are not fully accessible:

  • Some images and social icons do not have a text alternative, so people using a screen reader cannot access the information. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.1.1 (non-text content).
  • Some video does not include captions. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.2.1 (non-text content).
  • Audio description to be added to video. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.2.5 (non-text content).
  • Throughout site proper heading structure is missing, levels are jumped and page landmark areas should be grouped (e.g. navigation), items to be named correctly (e.g. search), blockquotes and pagination require fix, icons marked up correctly. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.3.1 (Info and relationships)
  • Various pages have content read out in an illogical order to visual display, items sometimes read out twice, hidden mobile navigation read on desktop, no landmarks to navigate. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 3.2 (Meaningful sequence)
  • Icons throughout site cannot be read out with meaningful name – such as search, RSS and social icons. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 3.3 (Sensory characteristics)
  • Map does not work in landscape orientation. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.3.4 (Orientation)
  • Some pages are scrolling in two directions at mobile viewport (map and Instagram embeds cause issues). This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 4.10 (Reflow)
  • Colour contrast of icons on the map does not meet WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.4.11 (Non-text contrast)
  • Expanded navigation cannot be used by keyboard. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.4.13 (Content on hover or focus)
  • Contrast levels are too low on the banner images and in the text on the map. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.4.3 (Contrast minimum)
  • In several places images of text have been used, e.g. banner images on pages with text such as “Glasgow Trip Inspiration”. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 4.5 Images of text
  • Site is not keyboard navigable - particular issues around mobile menu at desktop view, breadcrumb tabbing, map, site search. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 2.1.1 (Keyboard)
  • Shortlist keyboard navigation does not work and cycles through the menu. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 2.1.2 (No keyboard trap)
  • User is unable to turn off or adjust carousel movement. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 2.2.1 (Timing adjustable)
  • Carousel should have the ability to be paused, stopped or hidden. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 2.2.2 (Pause, Stop, Hide)
  • Skip to content link is not in place across the site. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 2.4.1 (Bypass blocks)
  • Focus order is illogical in various places on-site - navigation, breadcrumb, carousels, items focussed multiple times, neighbourhoods page do not meet WCAG 2.1 success criterion 2.4.3 (Focus Order)
  • Links are not appropriately named and grouped with related content. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 2.4.4 (Link purpose - in context)
  • In some places, headings left empty and headings given inappropriate names, the search box should have a label. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 2.4.6 (Headings and labels)
  • Visible focus state is not applied throughout the site. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 2.4.7 (Focus visible.)
  • Criteria requires gesture control to also be controlled by pointer. It passes due to the arrow buttons, but the swipe gesture on 'things to do' is broken. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 2.5.1 (Pointer gestures)
  • Pointer cancellation does not work. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 5.2 Pointer Cancellation
  • Missing form labels across the site, such as search box and labels on map. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 5.3 Label in name
  • Throughout the site elements are selected on focus - breadcrumb, map, carousel navigation (which moves on use), image gallery carousel. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 2.1 On focus
  • Across the site, items aren't identified as anything other than 'link' or 'button' - where it should say 'search site' or 'view RSS feed' or 'Facebook'. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 2.4 Consistent identification
  • HTML validator shows parsing errors throughout the site. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.1 Parsing
  • Name, role, value not programmatically set anywhere throughout the site. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.2 Name, Role, Value
  • After search is performed, the status message does not read detailing number of results returned. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.3 Status messages
  • Most older PDF documents are not fully accessible to screen reader software.

Feedback and contact information

If you need information on this website in a different format:

We’ll consider your request and get back to you.

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:

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) (opens in a new tab).


Technical information about this website’s accessibility

Glasgow Life 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 listed below.

Non accessible content

The content listed below is non-accessible for the following reasons.

Non-compliance with the accessibility regulations:

Videos, images and colour contrasts

  • Some images and social icons do not have a text alternative, so people using a screen reader cannot access the information. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.1.1 (non-text content)
  • Some video does not include captions. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.2.1 (non-text content)
  • Audio description to be added to video This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.2.5 (non-text content)
  • Colour contrast of icons on the map does not meet WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.4.11 (Non-text contrast)
  • Contrast levels are too low on the banner images and in the text on the map. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.4.3 (Contrast minimum)
  • In several places images of text have been used, e.g. banner images on pages with text such as “Glasgow Trip Inspiration”. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 4.5 Images of text.

Navigation and accessing information

  • Throughout site proper heading structure is missing, levels are jumped and page landmark areas should be grouped (e.g. navigation), items to be named correctly (e.g. search), blockquotes and pagination require fix, icons marked up correctly. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.3.1 (Info and relationships)
  • Various pages have content read out in an illogical order to visual display, items sometimes read out twice, hidden mobile navigation read on desktop, no landmarks to navigate. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 3.2 (Meaningful sequence)
  • Icons throughout the site cannot be read out with meaningful name – such as search, RSS and social icons. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 3.3 (Sensory characteristics)
  • The map does not work in landscape orientation. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.3.4 (Orientation)
  • Some pages are scrolling in two directions at mobile viewport (map and Instagram embeds cause issues). This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 4.10 (Reflow)
  • Expanded navigation cannot be used by keyboard. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.4.13 (Content on hover or focus)
  • Site is not keyboard navigable - particular issues around mobile menu at desktop view, breadcrumb tabbing, map, site search. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 2.1.1 (Keyboard)
  • Shortlist keyboard navigation does not work and cycles through the menu. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 2.1.2 (No keyboard trap)
  • User is unable to turn off or adjust carousel movement. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 2.2.1 (Timing adjustable)
  • Carousel should have the ability to be paused, stopped or hidden. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 2.2.2 (Pause, Stop, Hide)
  • Skip to content link is not in place across the site. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 2.4.1 (Bypass blocks)
  • Focus order is illogical in various places on-site - navigation, breadcrumb, carousels, items focussed multiple times, neighbourhoods page do not meet WCAG 2.1 success criterion 2.4.3 (Focus Order)
  • Links are not appropriately named and grouped with related content. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 2.4.4 (Link purpose - in context)
  • In some places, headings left empty and headings given inappropriate names, search box should have a label. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 2.4.6 (Headings and labels)
  • Visible focus state is not applied throughout the site. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 2.4.7 (Focus visible.)
  • Criteria requires gesture control to also be controlled by pointer. It passes due to the arrow buttons, but the swipe gesture on 'things to do' is broken. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 2.5.1 (Pointer gestures)
  • Pointer cancellation does not work. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 5.2 Pointer Cancellation
  • Missing form labels across the site, such as search box and labels on map. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 5.3 Label in name
  • Throughout site, elements are selected on focus - breadcrumb, map, carousel navigation (which moves on use), image gallery carousel. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 2.1 On focus
  • Across the site, items aren't identified as anything other than 'link' or 'button' - where it should say 'search site' or 'view RSS feed' or 'Facebook'. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 2.4 Consistent identification
  • HTML validator shows parsing errors throughout the site. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.1 Parsing
  • Name, role, value not programmatically set anywhere throughout the site. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.2 Name, Role, Value
  • After the search is performed, status message does not read detailing number of results returned. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.3 Status messages.

Content that’s not within the scope of the accessibility regulations

PDFs and other documents

Many of our older PDFs and Word documents do not meet accessibility standards - for example, they may not be structured so they’re accessible to a screen reader. This does not meet WCAG 2.1 success criterion 4.1.2 (name, role value).

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.

We are clearing up our web content and web contributors will be asked to ensure new PDFs or Word documents meet accessibility standards.

Pre-recorded videos

Some pre-recorded videos don’t have an audio captioning or description, so the information in them isn’t available to people who cannot see or hear the video content. This doesn’t meet WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.2.2, 1.2.3, 1.2.5.

The accessibility regulations do not require us to fix pre-recorded videos published before 23 September 2018 if they’re not essential to providing our services.

When we publish new content, we’ll make sure our use of images meets accessibility standards.

What we’re doing to improve accessibility

We are always open to suggestions, additions or the reporting of accessibility problems. Users can use the contact details supplied above.

  • It is our aim to fully redevelop this website to ensure it meets all the accessibility requirements. The timescale for this is currently in review.


Preparation of this accessibility statement

This website was last tested on 26 November 2019. The test was carried out by Whitespace Ltd.

The audit included a full evaluation of the site against the WCAG level AA accessibility guidelines version 2.1, producing a report highlighting all issues and recommendations to rectify any issues.

Website evaluation included a review of the following sections:

- Global (header and footer and navigation)
- Homepage
- Trip Inspiration
- Trip Inspiration - Food & Drink (gateway page)
- First Time Must-Sees (content page)
- Neighbourhoods (overview page w map)
- Neighbourhoods content page (e.g. north)
- Article page (content page)
- Gallery
- Contact us
- Venue search page with results
- Site search and results
- 404 and 500 error pages

We tested: our main website platform, available at peoplemakeglasgow.com.

This statement was prepared in September 2020. It was last updated on 23rd September 2020.

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