Our Commitment to Accessibility
At Roots, we believe everyone should be able to access information online, regardless of ability, device, or the technology they use to browse the web.
Accessibility has been considered throughout the planning, design and development of this website. Rather than treating accessibility as a final checklist, we’ve made it an ongoing part of our design process.
Our aim is to create a website that is welcoming, intuitive and easy to use for as many people as possible.
We recognise that accessibility is never “finished”. As technology evolves and standards improve, we will continue to review and enhance the experience we provide.
Accessibility Standards
This website has been developed with reference to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 Level AA wherever reasonably practicable.
Whilst not every accessibility feature can be measured automatically, we regularly assess the website using recognised accessibility tools alongside manual reviews to identify opportunities for improvement.
Independent Testing
To help ensure a high-quality experience, the website has undergone independent accessibility testing.
Across the majority of pages:
- Accessibility testing has achieved an average rating of 9.8/10.
- Google Lighthouse Accessibility audits typically achieve a score of 94%.
These assessments are used alongside manual testing because automated tools cannot identify every potential accessibility issue.
Readability
Content throughout the website has been designed with readability in mind.
To make text comfortable to read across different devices, we use:
- A default body text size of 24px on desktop.
- A default body text size of 20px on mobile devices.
These sizes exceed the minimum text sizes commonly found on many websites and have been selected to improve readability without compromising the overall design.
We also:
- use generous spacing between lines and paragraphs
- keep paragraph lengths manageable
- avoid unnecessary jargon wherever possible
- write in plain, straightforward language whenever appropriate
Colour and Contrast
We carefully consider colour combinations throughout the website to maximise readability.
Headings, buttons, navigation and page content are designed with strong visual contrast wherever possible to support users with reduced vision or colour perception differences.
Where brand colours are used, we aim to balance visual identity with accessibility best practice.
Images and Alternative Text
Images are used to support content rather than replace it.
Where an image conveys information, descriptive alternative (alt) text is provided so that screen readers and assistive technologies can communicate its purpose.
Decorative images are marked appropriately so they do not interrupt the browsing experience.
Where applicable, image title attributes and descriptive metadata have also been implemented to improve usability.
Live Text
Wherever possible, we use live HTML text instead of embedding text inside images.
Live text:
- scales more effectively
- works with screen readers
- responds better to browser zoom
- improves accessibility across different devices
On rare occasions, some text may appear within imagery where this is necessary for branding or design purposes. We aim to ensure this never prevents visitors from accessing important information or completing tasks on the website.
Mobile-First Design
Roots has been designed using a mobile-first approach.
With a significant proportion of visitors browsing on phones and tablets, particular attention has been given to ensuring that pages remain clear, usable and easy to navigate on smaller screens.
Layouts automatically adapt across different screen sizes and orientations.
Whilst the full desktop experience offers additional space for certain layouts and visual content, all key information and functionality remain available on mobile devices.
Responsive Design
The website has been built to perform across a wide range of devices, including:
- mobile phones
- tablets
- laptops
- desktop computers
- large display monitors
Content automatically adjusts to different screen sizes without requiring horizontal scrolling under normal viewing conditions.
Navigation
We have designed the website to be simple and consistent to navigate.
This includes:
- clear page headings
- consistent navigation menus
- descriptive links
- logical page structure
- predictable layouts throughout the website
Where possible, pages follow a consistent hierarchy to help visitors understand where they are and where they can go next.
Keyboard Accessibility
We aim to ensure visitors can navigate the website using only a keyboard where practical.
Interactive elements such as buttons, links and form controls have been developed to support keyboard interaction and visible focus indicators wherever possible.
Forms
Forms have been designed to be as accessible and straightforward as possible.
This includes:
- clearly labelled fields
- helpful instructions
- meaningful validation messages
- logical tab order
- accessible buttons and controls
Browser and Assistive Technology Support
The website is intended to work with current versions of all major web browsers, including:
- Google Chrome
- Microsoft Edge
- Mozilla Firefox
- Safari
It is also designed to support commonly used assistive technologies such as screen readers, keyboard navigation, browser zoom and device accessibility features.
Known Limitations
Despite our commitment to accessibility, there may occasionally be areas that could be improved.
Examples may include:
- third-party embedded content that is outside of our direct control
- legacy content awaiting review
- occasional graphical elements containing text where no practical alternative exists
If you encounter an issue, we genuinely want to know so that we can investigate and improve it.
Continuous Improvement
Accessibility is an ongoing process.
As our website evolves, we will continue to:
- review new content before publication
- carry out regular accessibility testing
- improve existing pages where opportunities are identified
- monitor changes to accessibility standards and best practice
Our objective is continual improvement rather than one-time compliance.
Feedback and Support
If you experience difficulty accessing any part of this website, require information in a different format, or have suggestions that could improve accessibility, we’d be pleased to hear from you.
When contacting us, it is helpful if you can include:
- the page you were visiting
- the issue you experienced
- the device and browser you were using
- any assistive technology being used
We will always aim to investigate accessibility issues promptly and make reasonable improvements wherever possible.
Review of This Statement
This Accessibility Statement is reviewed periodically and updated whenever significant improvements or changes are made to the Roots website.
