Accessibility statement

Introduction

Here at M&G we recognise the importance of providing a website that is inclusive and available for all user groups. This page explains the following:

Our approach to making our website accessible;
The facilities that we have in-built for different disability groups and how to use them; and
What to do if you have any questions or feedback for us.

Our approach	Screen readers, voice browsers and screen magnifiers
Partially sighted users	Colour-blind users
Keyboard only users	Changing your style sheet
Questions or feedback

Our approach

The M&G websites are being developed to support internet users who have disabilities. We believe the web pages on this site are in line with the Royal National Institute for the Blind’s (RNIB) "See It Right" accessibility criteria. This includes priority level 1 criteria of W3C’s Web Content Accessibility Guidelines.

Screen reader, voice browser and screen magnifier users

Navigation mechanisms have been designed to be accessible by both screen readers and voice browsers. In addition, skip links have been added to allow the user to bypass the navigation tools to the main content.

Our website structure consists of a sitemap, a homepage and up to five main content areas. The alt keys assist the users as follows:

Alt key + 0 + Enter key will take the user to the site map
Alt key + 1 + Enter key will take the user to the home page
Alt key + 2 + Enter key will take the user to the first main content area
Alt key + 3 + Enter key will take the user to the second main content area
Alt key + 4 + Enter key will take the user to the third main content area
Alt key + 5 + Enter key will take the user to the fourth main content area (if applicable)
Alt key + 6 + Enter key will take the user to the fifth main content area (if applicable)
Alt key + 7 + Enter key will take the user to the start of the text on the page
Alt key + 8 + Enter key will take the user to the permanent links which appear at the bottom of every website page

All images have a text equivalent or null tag as appropriate. Page titles and table heading tags have been applied, in order to work with a voice browser.

Alternative mechanisms have been provided where JavaScript is used within the site.

Partially sighted users

This website has a facility to change the font size of the text on all of the web pages of the site. See "Guidance on how to change the style sheet".

Colour-blind users

Should you wish to change the colour of the text and the background you can introduce your own style sheet. Please follow the instructions in "Guidance on how to change the style sheet".

Keyboard only users

When using the forms or controls for the tools, the keys to use are as follows:

To select from drop down boxes, use up and down arrow keys
To select/unselect a check box, use the space bar
To move forward between links, use the tab key
To move back between links, use the Shift + tab keys
To initiate an action button, use the Enter key when the action button is selected.

Guidance on how to change the font size on your style sheet

If you are using Internet Explorer, first select "Tools" from the menu bar then "Internet Options". Select "Accessibility" and check "Ignore font sizes specified on Web pages". Click "OK". Select "View" from the menu bar, then "Text Size" and select from "Smallest" to "Largest".

If you are using Netscape, select "View" from the menu bar, then "Text Zoom" and select from "Smaller", "Larger", "% values" or "Other".

Guidance on how to change the colours on your style sheet

Users may import their own style sheet into the website.

In Internet Explorer, select "Tools", "Internet Options" and then "Accessibility". Next select one or more of the three checkboxes to ignore colours, font styles or font sizes. In the same window, you can change the style sheet by clicking the checkbox that says "Format document using my style sheet", then browse to find your preferred style sheet and click "OK".

In Netscape, select "Edit", "Preferences" and then "Appearance". You will then be given a choice of colours and fonts.

What to do if you have questions or feedback

Should you have any questions or feedback regarding the accessibility of this site, please use one of the following methods to contact us:

Email:
info@mandg.co.uk*

Telephone:
0800 316 6570** (open 8am to 8am weekdays and 10am to 4pm weekends)
or
0800 917 2295 (minicom open 9am to 5pm weekdays)

Post:
M&G Customer Relations, Freepost RLTZ-JCHJ-THJB, The M&G Group, PO Box 9039, Chelmsford CM99 2XG

*Please note: Information contained within an email cannot be guaranteed as secure. When corresponding with M&G via email, we advise that you do not include any sensitive information such as your account number or bank details. Where required, we will respond within 24 hours (excluding weekends and Bank Holidays).

**All calls are free within the UK. For security purposes and to improve the quality of our service, we may record and randomly monitor telephone calls.