Website Accessibility - How to make Council's documents more accessible!

WEBINAR delivered via Zoom by Mark Tomkins, Founder of Aubergine – the council sector website accessibility and compliance experts and authorised .gov.uk registrars.

Make Your Council Documents Accessible

Essential Accessibility Skills for Parish and Town Council Clerks

As a Parish or Town Council Clerk, you're responsible for producing key documents such as agendas, minutes, and reports—and ensuring they are accessible to all members of your community, including people with disabilities, is not just good practice, it's a legal requirement.

In this practical training session, you’ll learn how to create and publish council documents that are both compliant and inclusive. You’ll discover how to:

• Format agendas, minutes, and reports in Microsoft Word for accessibility
• Convert documents into accessible PDFs for online publication
• Using headings, alt text, text-formatting, tables, and colour effectively to support assistive technologies
• Run simple accessibility checks using built-in tools in Word and PDF editors
• Apply practical publishing techniques to meet WCAG2.2AA and Public Sector Bodies Accessibility Regulations standards

Whether you're preparing for a council meeting or publishing documents online, this webinar will equip you with the tools and confidence to make sure your documents are clear, inclusive, and accessible.

How to Book Your Place for the Event

We strongly encourage individual Councillors to sign up for events via the Clerk to the Council. However, if that’s not possible, please consult with your Clerk before booking your own place.

Booking Process

The booking form has two sections to complete:

1. Ticket Buyer: Enter the name and contact details of the Clerk or Responsible Finance Officer (RFO). This ensures they receive the confirmation details as well as the delegate attending.
2. Attendee: Enter the details of the individual attending the event. Ensure the attendee’s email address is accurate, as all joining instructions will be sent to this email.

Before submitting the form, double-check all details to ensure accuracy.

What Happens Next

If your details are correct, you will receive a notification via Eventbrite upon confirmation of booking and again as follows:

• A few days before the event
• Again, within 24 hours of the event

These notifications will include:

• The date and time of registration
• Pre-event materials or links for additional reading
• Joining instructions, including the Zoom link and Meeting ID as a backup

We’ll also provide contact details for assistance on the event day to ensure your experience is smooth and productive.

Need Help?

We’re always happy to assist with booking, but we hope this guide helps you confidently book your place at your convenience.