Sorted Magazine

Author: Val Fraser

  • Merson on a mission

    Full disclosure: I’m not into football – but I accept that ‘the beautiful game’ is a burning passion for many of my friends.

    It’s clear to me, apart from the sheer entertainment value, allegiance to a team gives them a sense of belonging, an outlet for emotions, and an exciting highlight. I am, however, into walking. So it was with great interest that I settled in front of the telly the other evening to watch A walk through my life with ex-England and Arsenal footballer, Paul Merson.

    Merson enjoyed an illustrious football career, and now finds himself a resident pundit on Sky Sport’s popular Saturday afternoon show. Capped 21 times by his country – and a member of the squad that contested the 1992 UEFA European Championship and 1998 FIFA World Cup – he has openly and honestly talked about his mental health struggles and addiction issues.

    PARTY ANIMALS: As players, Merson (left) and Paul Gascoigne lived life to the full.

    The programme (which can be viewed by clicking here) is an extended version of the original BBC Four series Winter Walks where a well-known personality meanders for five or six miles through beautiful landscape alone while carrying a 360° camera on a selfie-stick.

    Unscripted dialogue, straight to the camera, gives a surprising sense of closeness as if you are walking alongside the narrator. The simplicity of the format is pure genius. Close-up scenes are punctuated by stunning drone footage. Production values are off the chart. It’s worth watching on the biggest telly you can find!

    Merson, a Londoner who still lives in the capital, says he has never walked alone through the open countryside before. This appears to be his first real encounter with nature on a grand scale. Perhaps that’s why, as a grown man of 54, he experiences it with the intense awe and wonder of a child. He becomes freshly awake and aware. The silence, the solitude, and the sense of space seem to wash over him like a refreshing balm. As he walks alone, and “sits with his feelings” away from the “hustle and bustle”, revelations about his life unexpectedly bubble to the surface and spill out.

    UNFULFILLED POTENTIAL: Merson and England didn’t quite live up to expectations at the World Cup.

    Deeper thinking generates surprising new thoughts about his family relationships, his career as a footballer, and his 30-year battle with addictions.

    Alone in “the middle of nowhere” he pauses to process some of these, often harrowing, realisations. There are touching moments of deep gratitude, alongside crushing regrets at having not expressed this adequately to the people he loves most in all the world. His narration is raw, succinct and bold. He pauses to pray for a few moments in a church. It is a heartfelt cry directed toward God.

    The day’s walk ends with long views over Yorkshire God’s own country – as it’s known to those who come from the White Rose county.

    ADDICTION AFFLICTION: Merson has revealed he was an alcoholic while playing for Arsenal.

    From a well-placed bench, Merson enjoys a well-earned rest. There have been both physical and emotional efforts throughout his journey. He reflects on the experience with astonishing openness. I’m no theologian, but to me, the whole of Merson’s informal narration has a richly honest prayer-like quality. He’s speaking his own personal truths out loud, bringing them into the light as it were. In so doing, he begins accepting how things have been, how things currently are, then declaring and avowing his clear intentions to be a better man. That old-fashioned churchy-word ‘confession’ gets a bad press but this troubled soul found peace through the simple act of prayer and pacing ancient pathways.

    Val Fraser is a Sorted columnist and a freelance journalist based in northwest England

  • Every picture tells a story…

    Every picture tells a story…

    Everyone who is a regular reader of Sorted magazine appreciates the wonderful work of our very talented illustrator, Andy Gray.

    For several years now, Andy has been our resident man with a crayon, who can quickly bring topical moments to life on a piece of paper – and help turn a good yarn into a great one.

    Last week, he had a moment of inspiration in relation to the Super Bowl clash between Los Angeles Rams and the Cincinnati Bengals. His drawing has made all of us in the Sorted editorial team have a good chuckle – but boy, have we struggled to come up with a caption!

    So, we thought we would throw open a challenge to you, our wonderful readers. Can you come up with a caption to this image that will grace the pages of the next edition of Sorted?

    It’s a simple concept – albeit very unscientific: the caption that makes us laugh aloud the most will be printed in the next edition of the magazine – and we’ll also be crediting the author. For good measure, we may also throw in some of the other submissions that brought a smile to our faces.

    If you fancy taking part please drop a line on our Facebook page, or send your suggestion directly to tony@sortedmag.com

    We hope to hear from you soon.

  • A feather in their CAP

    A feather in their CAP

    According to the Bank of England, the average Briton is sinking under a pile of debt – estimated to be more than £30,000 – racked up while staying afloat during the pandemic and paying for events like Christmas.

    The Bank’s latest research also shows less than 10% of UK households are debt-free. This is a staggering statistic, for slowly but surely, it would seem most of us are heading for a day of financial reckoning sometime in the not-to-distant future.

    Yet there are organisations out there who want to help. No strings attached. No hidden agendas, only a desire to offer support and relieve suffering.

    WEIGHED DOWN: couples aged over 55 are among the most indebted people in the UK.

    Christians Against Poverty (CAP) is one such organisation.

    The charity, founded in Bradford more than 20 years ago and with a very visible link to the Christian faith, has supported more than 20,000 people through their debt problems since its formation. And it is now stepping up its efforts to reach even more people in need throughout England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

    CAP clients often say they feel like they are a failure, therefore kept their debt problems hidden for years, forever placing a ‘sticking plaster’ over them. Their solution was to take out yet another loan or go without meals in order to pay the rent or buy new shoes for the kids. 

    Its most recent client survey supports this assertion, revealing most people live with the escalating problem for two years before going to CAP for help.

    THE NEVER, NEVER: credit card spending just exaggerates the scale of someone’s debt problems.

    “Feelings of despair, shame, guilt, hopelessness all adds to the challenge,” commented a spokesperson. “In a strange sort of way, living with unmanageable debt can become the norm, meaning that many cannot imagine living without the weight of missed payments, spiralling costs, demanding creditors, going without meals, etc.

    “People fall into debt for all sorts of reasons – unemployment, illness, relationship breakdown to name but a few. [This] could happen to any of us, but not all of us have the ‘margin’ or ‘resilience’ in our lives to weather the storm.”

    CAP’s non-judgemental support allows its clients to open up and share their stories – and then get practical help to gradually resolve things.

    MEETING A NEED: there are 300 Christians Against Poverty debts centres around the UK.

    There are many debt counselling charities and organisations offering their services to potential ‘customers’. But CAP’s service is one wholeheartedly recommended by Sorted – because it is free of charge and accepts everyone who asks for help.

    It is professionally regulated and has almost 300 local debt centres across the UK, all of them located within church environments. But if a client doesn’t want to go into a church building, that is also okay. In these situations, CAP counsellors happily visit people in their own homes, where they often feel more relaxed and secure.

  • Every picture tells a story

    Every picture tells a story

    As hundreds of visitors prepare to flock to the Lake District for this weekend’s Kendal Mountain Festival – one church in the picturesque northern town is getting ready to make scores of photographers feel very welcome, writes Val Fraser.

    On Sunday 21 November, the Gateway Church will host Faith Through a Lens, a Christian photography event.

    “We’re going to be showing photographs from Christian photographers and talking about those pictures and how they relate to God’s word,” commented Gateway Church adviser, the Rev. Jonny Gios (pictured, above).

    The clergyman is an award-winning photographer who recently secured first place in the prestigious 2021 One Lake District Photography Competition. His dramatic shot of Derwentwater was taken on an autumnal day from Isthmus Bay and Crow Park looking towards Cat Bells. It captured the greens and golds of a bank of trees mirrored on the lake.

    “It was a cold crisp morning, and the sun was out in full force in order to get this shot,” he added. “I’m astounded that my photography is now winning awards and gaining notice around the UK.”

    Jonny’s winning image, which appeared on the front cover of Cumbria Life magazine, was sold for an undisclosed amount.

    ALL WELCOME: The festival’s doors are open to amateur and professional snappers.

    Photographers speaking at the event range from hobbyists to professionals. All are Christians and will be talking about their photographs from a faith perspective. In particular, they will unpack how they feel that God has spoken to them through a photo they have captured, or how a passage of scripture might relate to that photo.

    Professional wildlife photographers Tony and Carol Dilger are just two of the speakers at the event. Based in Dumfries and Galloway, the couple is just as likely to be found on a remote Scottish island as they are out in the African bush.

    “At the end of the day, we just love photography, and we love helping other people love theirs,” said the Dilgers. “We like to think our images speak for themselves and for sure, they tell our story best.”

    Expect some stunning shots and thoughtful insights from the likes of Rev. Vernon Ross, Archdeacon of South Cumbria, and Lathan Ball, a mountaineer and photographer. And the Rev. Gios will be also sharing his own powerful images and his thoughts on how these relate to faith.

    He said: “My photography is my opportunity to discover new places off the beaten track. Getting out into the Lake District helps my mental health and stress levels.”

    • The free event starts at 10.30 am in Kendal Town Hall’s Lowther Room on Sunday 21 November.

    Main Photo Credit: Courtesy of Jonny Gios

  • Arise, the king of sketch

     

    Ever wondered who’s behind the whacky doodles dotted throughout the printed version of Sorted? Val Fraser caught up with Andy Gray, a multi-talented illustrator with a quarter of a century of commercial experience of drawing pictures for storytellers and companies behind him. Her task was simple: to find out more about the man whose cartoons put a smile on the faces of our readers…

    Recently, Andy Gray was invited to put pencils to paper and create representations of the bible characters which feature in the children’s book Whistlestop Tales, a tome written by Krish and Miriam Kandiah (and published by Hodder & Stoughton). Andy’s creative input to the project also included the typesetting, or as he modestly puts it: “I did the scribbles and layouts!”

    Catching up with him when he wasn’t drawing or administering his faith duties (yes, Andy is also a practising vicar), I asked him how this particular collaboration came about?

    PICTURE OF CONCENTRATION: Andy Gray snapped while hard at work.

    “An awesome bloke called Joe Fisher wrote a book through lockdown and asked on social media for an illustrator. Another awesome bloke, Andy Taylor, who knows Joe from Greenbelt, tagged me in the post. I illustrated for Joe. The story is a kid-friendly, focussed reflection in rhyme on the pandemic called When the Bugs Came. We turned it around in record time from a Kickstarter, to sending out in under three months.”

    “Unknown to me, Joe was that pleased with it, he sent it to Hodder. And Hodder asked if I would do a sample piece for a couple of projects they needed illustrators for.”

    And that, as they say, was that! Now Andy is working on a follow-up book for his friend Joe (appropriately titled When the Hugs Came).

    “I don’t try hard to get work. I follow my nose, and my nose follows God,” he explains. “Well, I guess that means I follow God since I’m attached to my nose! I just trust him. He’s the friend who will never leave me or forget me. And he’s done that since I was eight years old. It’s awesome and quite the adventure. You just have to follow each day; do what He says to do each day, and stuff happens.”

    Whistlestop Tales is the first children’s book written by the Kandiah’s. They have brilliantly re-imagined 10 bible stories in an exciting global adventure, showing how a wonderful array of characters are swept up in God’s plan for the whole world.

    HAMMERED: this illustration graced the pages of the August-September 2021 edition of Sorted.

    During his creative career Andy has worked on several children’s books; each one embraces a unique style. Some of his drawings seem very controlled, delicate and magical, while others are cute and whimsical. His fluffy animals look soft enough to stroke.

    In contrast, the illustrations for Whistlestop Tales seem scribbly and a bit messy – more out of control and not unlike the ones readers of Sorted will be familiar with. It may appear they have simply exploded onto the page. It would be a mistake to think so, for each one has been forged in the painstaking process of immersive artistic expression. Each one is carefully crafted to tell a story in miniature, often laced with humour. The character’s facial expressions are priceless and Gray admits: “I can’t draw camels!” Often there are tiny details which reveal themselves only upon a second viewing.

    In addition to illustrating books, Andy leads activities and events in schools. He seems at home in this playful environment and has designed elaborate murals which cover an entire wall, eight metres long by two metres tall!

    The mural came about as a result of Andy’s work with the Diocese of Bath and Wells. He’d help them to create and develop ‘chat mat doodle sheets’.

    He explained “The diocese’s GoTeam came up with the idea of a printable placemat kind of thing; a verse, a bible reading and some questions. The idea is to help people just chat about the bible.

    “The chat mats have ended up around the world, from schools to churches to prisons. We have over 40 so far, and are about to do a load with a slightly different style for young people. One of our ministers realised that it would look great in their church school on a wall that needed updating from a mural done 20 years ago.”

    OUCH: Another of Andy Gray’s wonderful magazine illustrations.

    To create the fully customised mural (pictured, below) Andy tapped into the ‘school hive mind’.

    “I got the school to work with all the kids to identify the main things that had meaning for the school,” he says. “I trawled the school paperwork digging out the values. And designed the chat wall for them – the idea being that the kids could think about the wall together. And prospective parents could be shown the school values as much as read about them in a pack.

    “I did the design work and used augmented reality to transfer it to the wall. Emma King, the community worker employed by the church, and a regular face at the school, did the painting. Then I went back in and blacklined the whole thing. It took four days to design and colour. Two days to draw on the wall. Two weeks to paint (Emma was awesome). And another day to blackline.”

    You can see Andy’s latest ‘scribbles’ in the new edition of Sorted, which hits the newsstands this Friday (15 October). To connect directly with Andy, click here and to check out the Whistlestop Tales click here.

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    10. We may use your Data for the above purposes if we deem it necessary to do so for our legitimate interests. If you are not satisfied with this, you have the right to object in certain circumstances (see the section headed “Your rights”below).

    11. For the delivery of direct marketing to you via e-mail, we’ll need your consent, whether via an opt-in or soft-opt-in:

    a. soft opt-in consent is a specific type of consent which applies when you have previously engaged with us (for example, you contact us to ask us for more details about a particular product/service, and we are marketing similar products/services). Under “soft opt-in” consent, we will take your consent as given unless you opt-out.
    b. for other types of e-marketing, we are required to obtain your explicit consent; that is, you need to take positive and affirmative action when consenting by, for example, checking a tick box that we’ll provide.
    c. if you are not satisfied about our approach to marketing, you have the right to withdraw consent at any time. To find out how to withdraw your consent, see the section headed “Your rights” below.

    12. When you register with us and set up an account to receive our services, the legal basis for this processing is the performance of a contract between you and us and/or taking steps, at your request, to enter into such a contract.

    Who we share Data with

    13. We may share your Data with the following groups of people for the following reasons:

    a. our employees, agents and/or professional advisors – to obtain advice from professional advisers;
    b. third party service providers who provide services to us which require the processing of personal data – to help third party service providers in receipt of any shared data to perform functions on our behalf to help ensure the website runs smoothly;
    c. third party payment providers who process payments made over the Website – to enable third party payment providers to process user payments and refunds;

    in each case, in accordance with this privacy policy.

    Keeping Data secure

    14. We will use technical and organisational measures to safeguard your Data, for example:

    a. access to your account is controlled by a password and a user name that is unique to you.
    b. we store your Data on secure servers.
    c. payment details are encrypted using SSL technology (typically you will see a lock icon or green address bar (or both) in your browser when we use this technology.

    15. Technical and organisational measures include measures to deal with any suspected data breach. If you suspect any misuse or loss or unauthorised access to your Data, please let us know immediately by contacting us via this e-mail address: steve@sortedmag.com.

    16. If you want detailed information from Get Safe Online on how to protect your information and your computers and devices against fraud, identity theft, viruses and many other online problems, please visit www.getsafeonline.org. Get Safe Online is supported by HM Government and leading businesses.

    Data retention

    17. Unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law, we will only hold your Data on our systems for the period necessary to fulfil the purposes outlined in this privacy policy or until you request that the Data be deleted.

    18. Even if we delete your Data, it may persist on backup or archival media for legal, tax or regulatory purposes.

    Your rights

    19. You have the following rights in relation to your Data:

    a. Right to access – the right to request (i) copies of the information we hold about you at any time, or (ii) that we modify, update or delete such information. If we provide you with access to the information we hold about you, we will not charge you for this, unless your request is “manifestly unfounded or excessive.” Where we are legally permitted to do so, we may refuse your request. If we refuse your request, we will tell you the reasons why.
    b. Right to correct – the right to have your Data rectified if it is inaccurate or incomplete.
    c. Right to erase – the right to request that we delete or remove your Data from our systems.
    d. Right to restrict our use of your Data – the right to “block” us from using your Data or limit the way in which we can use it.
    e. Right to data portability – the right to request that we move, copy or transfer your Data.
    f. Right to object – the right to object to our use of your Data including where we use it for our legitimate interests.

    20. To make enquiries, exercise any of your rights set out above, or withdraw your consent to the processing of your Data (where consent is our legal basis for processing your Data), please contact us via this e-mail address: steve@sortedmag.com.

    21. If you are not satisfied with the way a complaint you make in relation to your Data is handled by us, you may be able to refer your complaint to the relevant data protection authority. For the UK, this is the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). The ICO’s contact details can be found on their website at https://ico.org.uk/.

    22. It is important that the Data we hold about you is accurate and current. Please keep us informed if your Data changesduring the period for which we hold it.

    Transfers outside the United Kingdom and European Economic Area

    23. Data which we collect from you may be stored and processed in and transferred to countries outside of the UK and European Economic Area (EEA). For example, this could occur if our servers are located in a country outside the UK or EEA or one of our service providers is situated in a country outside the UK or EEA.

    24. We will only transfer Data outside the UK or EEA where it is compliant with data protection legislation and the means of transfer provides adequate safeguards in relation to your data, eg by way of data transfer agreement, incorporating the current standard contractual clauses adopted by the European Commission.

    25. To ensure that your Data receives an adequate level of protection, we have put in place appropriate safeguards and procedures with the third parties we share your Data with. This ensures your Data is treated by those third parties in a way that is consistent with the Data Protection Laws.

    Links to other websites

    26. This Website may, from time to time, provide links to other websites. We have no control over such websites and are not responsible for the content of these websites. This privacy policy does not extend to your use of such websites. You are advised to read the privacy policy or statement of other websites prior to using them.

    Changes of business ownership and control

    27. Son Christian Media Ltd may, from time to time, expand or reduce our business and this may involve the sale and/or the transfer of control of all or part of Son Christian Media Ltd. Data provided by Users will, where it is relevant to any part of our business so transferred, be transferred along with that part and the new owner or newly controlling party part of our business so transferred, be transferred along with that part and the new owner or newly controlling party will, under the terms of this privacy policy, be permitted to use the Data for the purposes for which it was originally supplied to us.

    28. We may also disclose Data to a prospective purchaser of our business or any part of it.

    29. In the above instances, we will take steps with the aim of ensuring your privacy is protected.

    Cookies

    30. This Website may place and access certain Cookies on your computer. Son Christian Media Ltd uses Cookies to improve your experience of using the Website and to improve our range of products and services. Son Christian Media Ltd has carefully chosen these Cookies and has taken steps to ensure that your privacy is protected and respected at all times.

    31. All Cookies used by this Website are used in accordance with current UK and EU Cookie Law.

    32. Before the Website places Cookies on your computer, you will be presented with a message bar requesting your consent to set those Cookies. By giving your consent to the placing of Cookies, you are enabling Son Christian Media Ltd to provide a better experience and service to you. You may, if you wish, deny consent to the placing of Cookies; however certain features of the Website may not function fully or as intended.

    33. This Website may place the following Cookies:

    [table]
    Type of Cookie| Purpose
    Strictly necessary cookies | These are cookies that are required for the operation of our website. They include, for example, cookies that enable you to log into secure areas of our website, use a shopping cart or make use of e-billing services.
    Analytical/performance cookies|They allow us to recognise and count the number of visitors and to see how visitors move around our website when they are using it. This helps us to improve the way our website works, for example, by ensuring that users are finding what they are looking for easily.
    [/table]
    34. You can find a list of Cookies that we use in the Cookies Schedule.

    35. You can choose to enable or disable Cookies in your internet browser. By default, most internet browsers accept Cookies but this can be changed. For further details, please consult the help menu in your internet browser.

    36. You can choose to delete Cookies at any time; however you may lose any information that enables you to access the Website more quickly and efficiently including, but not limited to, personalisation settings.

    37. It is recommended that you ensure that your internet browser is up-to-date and that you consult the help and guidance provided by the developer of your internet browser if you are unsure about adjusting your privacy settings.

    38. For more information generally on cookies, including how to disable them, please refer to aboutcookies.org. You will also find details on how to delete cookies from your computer.

    General

    39. You may not transfer any of your rights under this privacy policy to any other person. We may transfer our rights under this privacy policy where we reasonably believe your rights will not be affected.

    40. If any court or competent authority finds that any provision of this privacy policy (or part of any provision) is invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that provision or part-provision will, to the extent required, be deemed to be deleted, and the validity and enforceability of the other provisions of this privacy policy will not be affected.

    41. Unless otherwise agreed, no delay, act or omission by a party in exercising any right or remedy will be deemed a waiver of that, or any other, right or remedy.

    42. This Agreement will be governed by and interpreted according to the law of England and Wales. All disputes arising under the Agreement will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English and Welsh courts.

    Changes to this privacy policy

    43. Son Christian Media Ltd reserves the right to change this privacy policy as we may deem necessary from time to time or as may be required by law. Any changes will be immediately posted on the Website and you are deemed to have accepted the terms of the privacy policy on your first use of the Website following the alterations.

    You may contact Son Christian Media Ltd by email at steve@sortedmag.com.

    Attribution

    44. This privacy policy was created using a document from Rocket Lawyer. 09 March 2021

    Cookies

    Below is a list of the cookies that we use. We have tried to ensure this is complete and up to date, but if you think that we have missed a cookie or there is any discrepancy, please let us know.

    Strictly necessary
    We use the following strictly necessary cookies:
    [table]
    Description of Cookie | Purpose
    We use this session cookie to remember you and maintain your session whilst you are using our website | We use this session cookie to remember you and maintain your session whilst you are using our website
    [/table]

    Analytical/performance
    We use the following analytical/performance cookies:
    [table]
    Description of Cookie | Purpose
    We use this cookie to help us analyse how users use the website. | We use this cookie to help us analyse how users use the website.
    [/table]

  • Cookie Policy

    Information about our use of cookies

    Our website uses cookies to distinguish you from other users of our website. This helps us to provide you with a good experience when you browse our website and also allows us to improve our site. By continuing to browse the site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies.

    A cookie is a small file of letters and numbers that we store on your browser or the hard drive of your computer if you agree. Cookies contain information that is transferred to your computer’s hard drive.

    We use the following cookies:

    • Strictly necessary cookies. These are cookies that are required for the operation of our website. They include, for example, cookies that enable you to log into secure areas of our website, use a shopping cart or make use of e-billing services.
    • Analytical/performance cookies. They allow us to recognise and count the number of visitors and to see how visitors move around our website when they are using it. This helps us to improve the way our website works, for example, by ensuring that users are finding what they are looking for easily.
    • Functionality cookies. These are used to recognise you when you return to our website. This enables us to personalise our content for you, greet you by name and remember your preferences (for example, your choice of language or region).
    • Targeting cookies. These cookies record your visit to our website, the pages you have visited and the links you have followed. We will use this information to make our website and the advertising displayed on it more relevant to your interests. We may also share this information with third parties for this purpose.

    Please note that third parties (including, for example, advertising networks and providers of external services like web traffic analysis services) may also use cookies, over which we have no control. These cookies are likely to be analytical/performance cookies or targeting cookies.

    You block cookies by activating the setting on your browser that allows you to refuse the setting of all or some cookies. However, if you use your browser settings to block all cookies (including essential cookies) you may not be able to access all or parts of our site.

    Except for essential cookies, all cookies will expire after 30 days.

  • Accessibility Information

    The owners of this website care that their website is accessible to all and welcomes visitors of all races, religions and abilities.

    This page is to give you information on what aids this website offers for people with a disability. It also explains how the WC3 Accessibility Guidelines I.O and 2.O have been implemented on this site.

    Using this website

    • For those screen reader and non-mouse users, please use the ‘jump’ menus provided to skip straight to the content, navigation and/or site map
    • Please use the text variations provided;
      • ‘Standard text’ will provide a 12px equivalent version on most browsers and hide accessibility elements
      • ‘Large text’ will provide a 24px equivalent version on most browsers and hide accessibility elements
      • ‘Easy Read’ will provide a low simple contrast version, using standard text size on a pale yellow background to aid legibility which is often helpful for users with dyslexia
      • ‘No Style’ will strip off all our styles and provide a plain text, linear version
      • To resize the text without our help:
        • In Internet Explorer: View > Text size > Largest
        • In Firefox: View > Text size > Increase
        • In Opera: File > Preferences > Fonts > Minimum font size (pixels)
        • Alternatively, scroll with the wheel of your mouse whilst holding down the control key.
        • To use the keyboard instead of the mouse;
          • Use the Tab key to move and browse amongst the menus and links.
          • Pressing ‘Enter’ is the same as clicking a mouse
          • Use the arrow keys on your keyboard to move up or down the page or from left to right.
    • All images contain an ALT tag unless decorative, where they are marked as empty.
    • Links make sense out of context. Wherever possible, title tags have also been used to expand on their meaning.
    • Drop down menu bars are sometimes used. Please select a category and click (or press ‘Enter’) on the option you wish to view. If your system does not support drop-down menus, please use the site map link for quick and easy browsing
    • Most of our sites have ‘breadcrumbs’ on the top of each page which allow you to retrace your steps and go back to where you started. However, older sites may not have this facility so you may need to use the ‘Back’ button on your browser. Back buttons are usually on the top left hand corner of your browser. By simply clicking on this button you can retrace your steps through the pages you have already viewed on our website. Some keyboards also have a Back Button as part of their options.

    General Accessibility.

    • This website conforms to the WCAG 2.0 four principles of accessibility and so is: perceivable, operable, understandable and robust
    • The original designers, Access by Design, have considered the full range of techniques, including the advisory techniques, as well as to seeking relevant advice about current best practice to ensure that this web content is accessible, as far as possible, to all communities.
    • This website has been thoroughly tested on multiple browsers, platforms and devices
    • This website has been tested using multiple automated accessibility testing software
    • This website has been tested by a REAL person with a disability who tested the website and submitted a report to the original designers who then used it to improve accessibility further.

    Web Standards

    • All CSS and XHTML created by this website validate to the document type.
      Validation does not equal accessibility.
    • If a page on this website does not validate it is almost always because a third-party ‘plug-in’ has needed to be employed.
    • Although we try to use only accessible third-parties and we alert designers to accessibility issues, rectifying them is beyond our control
    • We reserve the right to use the web standards CSS and XHML buttons on this website as all elements within our control validate correctly.

    Please Note: although this website was designed and built by a company specialising in accessible websites, it is run by us. We are not experts on web accessibility ourselves and sometimes mistakes can happen. If you find an accessibility error, please alert us as soon as possible, using the contact email address on this website, telling us the nature of the problem so that we can fix it.

    Further Help

    You may wish to download “Browsealoud”. This is a FREE speech reader that enables you to listen rather than read our website. Browsealoud may be helpful to people with dyslexia, those who find reading difficult, those who have a mild visual impairment or those who just like to do more than one thing at a time!

    WC3 WAI Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 1.0 and W.A.G 2.0

    To be considered to be Priority 1 (A) standard a website should meet all of the following points.

    • This website provides a text equivalent for every non-text element (e.g., via “alt”, “longdesc”, or in element content). This includes: images, graphical representations of text (including symbols), image map regions, animations (e.g., animated GIFs), applets and programmatic objects, ascii art, frames, scripts, images used as list bullets, spacers, graphical buttons, sounds (played with or without user interaction), stand-alone audio files, audio tracks of video, and video. (1.0)
    • This website provides text alternatives for any non-text content so that it can be changed into other forms people need, such as large print, braille, speech, symbols or simpler language.
    • This website ensures that all information conveyed with colour is also available without colour, for example from context or markup. (1.0)
    • This website clearly identifies changes in the natural language of a document’s text and any text equivalents (e.g., captions). (1.0)
    • This website may be read without style sheets; when an HTML document is rendered without associated style sheets, it is still be possible to read the document. (1.0)
    • This website ensures that equivalents for dynamic content are updated when the dynamic content changes. (1.0)
    • This website avoids causing the screen to flicker. (1.0)
    • This website uses the clearest and simplest language appropriate for its content.
    • This website does not use image maps(1.0)
    • This website does not use tables(1.0)
    • This website does not use frames(1.0)
    • This websitedoes not use multimedia(1.0)
      • This website has 1 area that is sadly, still inaccessible to some users. (1.0)
        • After our best efforts, we have not been able to create an accessible page for the Social Networking buttons. Please see the bottom of this page for alternatives.
        • Pages on this website are still usable when scripts, applets, or other programmatic objects are turned off or not supported. If this is not possible, this website provides equivalent information on an alternative accessible page. (1.0)
        • Programmatic elements such as scripts are directly accessible and compatible with assistive technologies (1.0)

    This website passes Priority 1 (A) Accessibility.

    Priority 2 checkpoints

    To be considered to be Priority 2 (AA) standard, a website should meet all of the following points;

    • This website ensures that the foreground and background colour combinations in images provide sufficient contrast when viewed by someone having colour deficits or when viewed on a black and white screen. (1.0)
    • When an appropriate markup language exists, this website uses usesmarkup rather than images to convey information. (1.0)
    • This website documents validate to published formal grammars. (1.0)
    • This website uses style sheets to control layout and presentation. (1.0)
    • This website uses relative rather than absolute units in markup language attribute values and style sheet property values. (1.0)
    • This website uses header elements to convey document structure and uses them according to specification. (1.0)
    • This website marks up lists and list items properly. (1.0)
    • This website marks up quotations and does not use quotation markup for formatting effects such as indentation. (1.0)
      This website ensures that dynamic content is accessible (or provides an alternative presentation or page only when no other option is possible). (1.0)
    • Until user agents allow users to control blinking, this website avoids causing content to blink (i.e., change presentation at a regular rate, such as turning on and off). (1.0)
    • Until user agents provide the ability to stop the refresh, this website does not use periodically auto-refreshing pages. (1.0)
    • Until user agents provide the ability to stop auto-redirect, this website does not use markup to redirect pages automatically. (If redirects are needed they are configures via the server) (1.0)
    • Until user agents allow users to turn off spawned windows, this website does not cause pop-ups or other windows to appear and does not change the current window without informing the user. (1.0)

    Please note: this website uses ‘highslide’, a JavaScript technique to give the appearance of a pop-up window to preview links or content. However, highslide is NOT a pop-up, the JavaScript can be disabled (and the link will still work) and is for graphic purposes only.

    • The website uses W3C technologies when they are available and appropriate for a task and uses the latest versions when supported. (1.0)
    • This website avoids deprecated features of W3C technologies. (1.0)
    • This website divides large blocks of information into more manageable groups where natural and appropriate. (1.0)
    • This website does not identify the target of each link because it is written in XHTML 1.0 Strict
    • This website provides metadata to add semantic information to pages and sites. (1.0)
    • This website provides information about the general layout of a site (e.g., a site map). (1.0)
    • This website uses navigation mechanisms in a consistent manner. (1.0)
    • Tables are not used for layout. (1.0)
    • Until user agents support explicit associations between labels and form controls, all form controls are combined with implicitly associated labels and the label is properly positioned. (1.0)
    • Form labels are explicitly associated with their controls. (1.0)
    • Event handlers used in scripts are input device-independent. (1.0)
    • Until user agents allow users to freeze moving content, this website avoids movement in pages. If movement is present it can be instantly and easily stopped or blocked. (1.0)
    • Programmatic elements such as scripts are directly accessible and compatible with assistive technologies (1.0)
    • Any element that has its own interface can be operated in a device-independent manner. (1.0)
    • When using scripts, this website specifies logical event handlers rather than device-dependent event handlers. (1.0)

    This website passes Priority 2 (AA) Accessibility.

    Priority 3 checkpoints

    • This website ensures that the foreground and background colour combinations in text provide sufficient contrast when viewed by someone having colour deficits or when viewed on a black and white screen. (1.0)
    • This website specifies the expansion of each abbreviation or acronym in a document where it first occurs. (1.0)
    • This website identifies the primary natural language of a document. (1.0)
    • This website provides keyboard shortcuts (such as jump menus) to important links (including those in client-side image maps), form controls, and groups of form controls. (1.0)
    • Until user agents (including assistive technologies) render adjacent links distinctly, this website includes non-link, printable characters (surrounded by spaces) between adjacent links. (1.0)
    • This website provides information so that users may receive documents according to their preferences (e.g., language, content type, etc.) (1.0)
    • This website provides navigation bars to highlight and give access to the navigation mechanism
    • This website groups related links, identifies the group (for user agents), and, until user agents do so, provides a way to bypass the group. (1.0)
    • This site enables different types of searches for different skill levels and preferences. These might include a search box, site maps and content ‘tagging’(1.0)
    • This website places distinguishing information at the beginning of headings, paragraphs, lists, etc. (1.0)
    • This website does not use ASCII ART
    • This website supplements text with graphic or auditory presentations where they will facilitate comprehension of the page. (1.0)
    • This website uses a style of presentation that is consistent across pages. (1.0)
    • This website now refers to the new WC WCAG 2.0 guidelines and does NOT include default, place-holding characters in edit boxes and text areas in forms as user agents ARE now able to handle empty controls correctly. (1.0)

    This website passes Priority 3 (AAA) Accessibility.

    Accessibility Problems?

    This website may have the following minor access problems/issues. These are explained here and alternatives given.

    • This site does not use meta access keys (sometimes called ‘hot keys’). Our research suggest that these are actually detrimental to most keyboard-users as they already have their own keys set up which are then overwritten or confused by websites (who do not use a consistent approach). We will review this decision periodically and if research proves otherwise (or technology improves) we will resume these techniques.
    • This site may fail validation on third-party technologies. This is because we have little or no ability to recode these to meet our high accessibly standards. However, we always aim to use plug-ins that are either accessible, increase the accessibility or have simple accessible alternatives. If forced to choose between accessibility features and validation, we have taken the difficult decision to always choose accessibility.

  • Acceptable Use Policy

    This acceptable use policy sets out the terms between you and us under which you may access our website. This acceptable use policy applies to all users of, and visitors to, our site.

    Your use of our site means that you accept, and agree to abide by, all the policies in this acceptable use policy, which supplement our terms of website use (available on this website under the Legal section).

    This website is a site operated by the company named on this website. All relevant company details and regulatory authorities are on this website.

    Prohibited uses

    You may use our site only for lawful purposes. You may not use our site:

    • In any way that breaches any applicable local, national or international law or regulation.
    • In any way that is unlawful or fraudulent, or has any unlawful or fraudulent purpose or effect.
    • For the purpose of harming or attempting to harm minors in any way.
    • To send, knowingly receive, upload, download, use or re-use any material which does not comply with our content standards below.
    • To transmit, or procure the sending of, any unsolicited or unauthorised advertising or promotional material or any other form of similar solicitation (spam).
    • To knowingly transmit any data, send or upload any material that contains viruses, Trojan horses, worms, time-bombs, keystroke loggers, spyware, adware or any other harmful programs or similar computer code designed to adversely affect the operation of any computer software or hardware.

    You also agree:

    • Not to reproduce, duplicate, copy or re-sell any part of our site in contravention of the provisions of our terms of website use (available on this website under the Legal section).
    • Not to access without authority, interfere with, damage or disrupt:
    • any part of our site;
    • any equipment or network on which our site is stored;
    • any software used in the provision of our site; or
    • any equipment or network or software owned or used by any third party.

    Interactive services

    We may from time to time provide interactive services on our site, including, without limitation:

    • Chat rooms.
    • Bulletin boards.
    • Blogs

    Where we do provide any interactive service, we will provide clear information to you about the kind of service offered, if it is moderated and what form of moderation is used (including whether it is human or technical).

    We will do our best to assess any possible risks for users (and in particular, for children) from third parties when they use any interactive service provided on our site, and we will decide in each case whether it is appropriate to use moderation of the relevant service (including what kind of moderation to use) in the light of those risks. However, we are under no obligation to oversee, monitor or moderate any interactive service we provide on our site, and we expressly exclude our liability for any loss or damage arising from the use of any interactive service by a user in contravention of our content standards, whether the service is moderated or not.

    The use of any of our interactive services by a minor is subject to the consent of their parent or guardian. We advise parents who permit their children to use an interactive service that it is important that they communicate with their children about their safety online, as moderation is not foolproof. Minors who are using any interactive service should be made aware of the potential risks to them.

    Where we do moderate an interactive service, we will normally provide you with a means of contacting the moderator, should a concern or difficulty arise.

    Content standards

    These content standards apply to any and all material which you contribute to our site (contributions), and to any interactive services associated with it.

    You must comply with the spirit and the letter of the following standards. The standards apply to each part of any contribution as well as to its whole.

    Contributions must:

    • Be accurate (where they state facts).
    • Be genuinely held (where they state opinions).
    • Comply with applicable law in the UK and in any country from which they are posted.

    Contributions must not:

    • Contain any material which is defamatory of any person.
    • Contain any material which is obscene, offensive, hateful or inflammatory.
    • Promote sexually explicit material.
    • Promote violence.
    • Promote discrimination based on race, sex, religion, nationality, disability, sexual orientation or age.
    • Infringe any copyright, database right or trade mark of any other person.
    • Be likely to deceive any person.
    • Be made in breach of any legal duty owed to a third party, such as a contractual duty or a duty of confidence.
    • Promote any illegal activity.
    • Be threatening, abuse or invade another’s privacy, or cause annoyance, inconvenience or needless anxiety.
    • Be likely to harass, upset, embarrass, alarm or annoy any other person.
    • Be used to impersonate any person, or to misrepresent your identity or affiliation with any person.
    • Give the impression that they emanate from us, if this is not the case.
    • Advocate, promote or assist any unlawful act such as (by way of example only) copyright infringement or computer misuse.

    Suspension and termination

    We will determine, in our discretion, whether there has been a breach of this acceptable use policy through your use of our site. When a breach of this policy has occurred, we may take such action as we deem appropriate.

    Failure to comply with this acceptable use policy constitutes a material breach of the terms of use (available on this website under the Legal section) upon which you are permitted to use our site, and may result in our taking all or any of the following actions:

    • Immediate, temporary or permanent withdrawal of your right to use our site.
    • Immediate, temporary or permanent removal of any posting or material uploaded by you to our site.
    • Issue of a warning to you.
    • Legal proceedings against you for reimbursement of all costs on an indemnity basis (including, but not limited to, reasonable administrative and legal costs) resulting from the breach.
    • Further legal action against you.
    • Disclosure of such information to law enforcement authorities as we reasonably feel is necessary.

    We exclude liability for actions taken in response to breaches of this acceptable use policy. The responses described in this policy are not limited, and we may take any other action we reasonably deem appropriate.

    Changes to the acceptable use policy

    We may revise this acceptable use policy at any time by amending this page. You are expected to check this page from time to time to take notice of any changes we make, as they are legally binding on you. Some of the provisions contained in this acceptable use policy may also be superseded by provisions or notices published elsewhere on our site.