Accessibility Statement

 

Our Commitment to Accessibility

At People First Credit Union, we are committed to ensuring that all members can access our services in a way that meets their needs.

We recognize that accessibility is a legal obligation under the European Union (Accessibility Requirements of Products and Services) Regulations 2023, but it is also central to our values of equality and community service.

To support this, we are working to ensure that all of our communication channels (in-branch, by phone, print, online) are designed to be accessible, user-friendly, and inclusive for everyone.

We are taking the following measures to ensure accessibility across credit union operations:

  • Regular accessibility audits of our website using automated and manual testing to ensure it meets recognised standards.
  • Ongoing staff training in inclusive communication, service delivery, and accessible content creation.
  • Accessible document formats available on request, including large-print and tagged documents.
  • Procedures in place to provide assistance in-branch, via telephone, or via email.
  • Engaging with our website and technology providers to address code-level accessibility issues.

 

Requesting alternative versions of documents

We recognize that some members may require different formats of the documents used while banking with the credit union. All new documents will be accessible and have alternative formats available.

To support this, we have also updated the most frequently used existing documents, and have created accessible Word/PDF versions and large-text formats of the following:

  • Account Closure Form
  • Cash Draw Entry Form
  • Cash Draw Cancellation Form
  • Direct Debit Cancellation Form
  • Standing Order Set-Up Form
  • Privacy Notice
  • Regulation 76 Information
  • Common Reporting Standard (CRS) Notice
  • Common Reporting Standard (CRS) Tax Residency Form
  • Complaints Form
  • Deposit Guarantee Scheme (DGS) Depositor Information Sheet

These versions are designed to be easier to read, complete, and navigate for screen-reader users and those who prefer a larger font size.

If you require any of the above documents in an alternative format, please call us or email us and we will do our best to accommodate your request.

To protect the security of your account, we may still need to take additional steps to confirm that any request or instruction came directly from you. This may include verifying your identity or asking you to submit the form in a particular way. The staff member who you are dealing with will advise you of this.

 

Website Accessibility Statement

People First Credit Union is committed to making its website accessible, in accordance with European Union (Accessibility Requirements of Products and Services) Regulations 2023. We are actively working to ensure that our website meets the requirements of Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 Level AA 🡕.

To support this, we are taking the following steps:

  • Conducting automated and manual accessibility testing using recognized tools (for example, WAVE and NVDA)
  • Reviewing content for clear structure, constant navigation, and appropriate use of headings and alternative text
  • Providing descriptive links, high-contrast text, and keyboard navigable elements
  • Ensuring that downloadable documents linked from the site are in accessible formats where possible

Our Commitment

We aim to meet all applicable accessibility standards, including:

  • Making sure that content is perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust
  • Supporting screen readers, keyboard navigation, and assistive technologies
  • Ensuring text alternatives are available for non-text content (e.g. images)
  • Maintaining good contrast ratios, readable fonts, and scalable text
  • Providing accessible PDFs and forms where practical, and large-text versions on request.

Compliance Status

This website is partially compliant with WCAG 2.1 level AA and EN 301 549, due to the following non-accessible content:

  1. A focus indicator is not visible on the website.
  2. Button and link colours have low contrast.
  3. Some PDF documents are not accessible to those using screen readers or keyboard navigation.
  4. Some forms are missing form labels and alternative text.
  5. Some pages have inconsistent heading levels.
  6. A "skip to content" button is not available on the website.
  7. A consistent "support" button is not sufficiently visible on all pages.

We are working with our website and technology providers to fix the above issues as soon as possible.

Preparation of Accessibility Statement

This Website Accessibility Statement was last reviewed and updated on 27th June 2025.

 

Feedback/Complaint Procedure

If you experience any difficulty accessing our services or want to provide feedback, you can fill out the below form.

Alternatively, you can contact People First Credit Union at the below details.

We aim to respond to all accessibility-related queries within 5 working days. If you are not satisfied with our response, you may raise a formal complaint through our internal complaints procedure.

If you are dissatisfied with our response, you may escalate your complaint to the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman (FSPO), who deal with complaints related to your individual experience as a member. Their contact details are below.

Accessibility Feedback Form