Why is your charity website accessibility important? You run a UK charity. Your website is not just a hub for donations—it’s a lifeline for people who believe in your cause. But if a visually impaired supporter can’t navigate your donation form, or a dyslexic volunteer struggles to read your blog, you’re excluding loads of underserved UK communities.

Let’s fix that today. Read through this quick no-nonsense roadmap to charity website accessibility—the right way.

Why Accessibility Isn’t Optional for UK Charities

The Stark Reality:

• 16.1 million Brits have a disability. 83% encounter inaccessible websites daily
• The Equality Act 2010 requires charities to make “reasonable adjustments” for digital access.
• 72% of UK donors say they’d stop supporting charities with exclusionary practices.

Your Wins:

• +30% Donations: RNIB saw a 31% uptick in online gifts after simplifying their checkout for screen readers.
• Boosted Trust: 89% of Brits prefer donating to charities demonstrating inclusivity (CAF).

Step 1: Master the Basics on Charity Website Accessibility

Non-Negotiables for UK Charities:

1. Alt Text That Actually Describes Images
   • ❌ “Child smiling” → ✅ “10-year-old girl laughing at sensory play session at Leeds community centre.”
   • Tool: Use WordPress plugins like A11Y to flag missing alt text.
2. Colour Contrast Even Your Gran Can Read
   • UK Standard: Meet WCAG 2.1 AA (4.5:1 contrast). The NHS Digital Service Manual’s colour tool is gold.
   • Avoid Red/Green: 8% of UK men have colour blindness. Use patterns/icons with colours.
3. Keyboard Navigation That Works Like a Dream
   • Test tabbing through your site without a mouse. Can users:
     • Skip repetitive menus (add a “Skip to Content” link)?
     • Access your “Donate Now” button in 3 tabs?
   • Case Study: Oxfam UK reduced form abandonment by 40% after fixing keyboard traps.

Step 2: Fix Your Forms: Where Most UK Charities Fail

The Donation Form Bloodbath:

• Autofill Hell: Forcing users to re-enter data? 62% will bail. Enable browser autofill for postcodes/payment details.
• Error Messages That Help:
  • ❌ “Invalid input” → ✅ “Please enter your card number as 16 digits without spaces.”
• Avoid CAPTCHAs: They block screen readers. Use honeypot traps or Cloudflare Turnstile instead.

Pro Tip: Use GiveWP’s Accessibility Add-On (free for UK charities) to audit donation forms.

Step 3: Caption and Transcript Like the BBC

Why It Matters: Charity Website Accessibility 

• 12 million Brits have hearing loss. Uncaptioned videos = lost engagement.
• The BBC Standard:
  • Captions: Sync’d to 99% accuracy, available in English and Welsh.
  • Transcripts: Include speaker IDs and sound descriptions (“[uplifting music]”).
• Tool: Rev.com offers 99p/minute captions – claim Gift Aid to offset costs.

Real-World Win: Mind UK added transcripts to podcasts – downloads jumped 55% among neurodiverse audiences.

Step 4: Structure Content for Screen Readers (But Also Google)

SEO Meets Accessibility:

• Headings Are Hierarchy:
  • H1: “Donate to End Homelessness in London”
  • H2: “How Your £30 Gift Helps” (not “About Us”)
• Lists Over Walls of Text:
  • ❌ Paragraphs → ✅ Bulleted impact stats (“Your £50 provides: 3 hot meals, 2 nights’ shelter”).
• Descriptive Links:
  • ❌ “Click here” → ✅ “Read our 2024 impact report (PDF, 2MB)”.

Bonus: Proper structure boosts SEO. The Trussell Trust ranks #1 for “food bank donations UK” partly due to accessible content.

Step 5: Test Like You’re Being Sued, Because You Might Be

The UK Legal Lowdown:

• Equality Act 2010: Requires “anticipatory adjustments.” Ignorance isn’t a defence.
• Recent Case: A Berkshire charity faced a £5k settlement after a screen reader user couldn’t apply to volunteer.

Testing Toolkit for Budgets Under £500:

1. Automated Scans:
   • WAVE (free): Plug in your URL. Prioritise “errors” over “alerts.”
   • Axe DevTools (£49/month): Catches complex ARIA issues.
2. Real-User Testing:
   • Partner with local Disability Rights UK branches. Offer £20 vouchers for 1-hour feedback sessions.
3. Check Mobile Zoom: Can users pinch-zoom to 200% without breaking your layout?

Step 6: Shout About Your Accessibility (Transparency Builds Trust)

The UK Charity Commission Expects This:

• Add an Accessibility Statement (not hidden in the footer).
  • Template:
  • “We’re committed to inclusivity. Our site meets WCAG 2.1 AA standards. Spot an issue? Email accessibility@yourcharity.org”
• Showcase on Fundraising Pages:
  • “100% accessible donation process” badges increase donor confidence.

Case Study: Cancer Research UK saw a 22% trust score boost post-accessibility campaign.

Wrapping Up Charity Website Accessibility

Charity website accessibility isn’t a tick-box exercise—it’s aligning your digital presence with your mission. Every inaccessible element contradicts your values.

For UK charities, website accessibility is not a cost center—it is a more like an ethical mandate. Aligh with WCAG 2.1 AA standards to mitigate risks while demonstrating authenticity to a public increasingly scrutinising corporate social responsibility.

Learn more about getting  your website accessible to those in need and to those who are willing to help out. We specialise in helping charities reach their target audience regularly and consistently. Book a call with us today!