Light’s Hope is committed to being a place where everyone can belong and take part. We meet in different settings — online, outdoors, and in hired spaces — and we do all we can to make them safe and accessible.
As we grow and develop buildings of our own, accessibility will remain at the heart of our planning and practice. We believe full participation matters — physically, digitally, emotionally, and spiritually — and we will make reasonable adjustments to remove barriers wherever we meet.
Accessibility Policy
1. Commitment
Light’s Hope is committed to creating spaces of worship and community that are accessible to all. We believe everyone should be able to participate fully in the life of the Church, without barriers caused by disability, environment, or circumstance.
2. Current Practice
- Our Churches meet in a variety of settings, including hired spaces, outdoor gatherings as part of the Forest Church network, and online worship and community spaces.
- Accessibility is considered in the choice of venues and platforms, and we strive to ensure that all gatherings — physical or digital — are as welcoming, safe, and inclusive as possible.
- Where we meet outdoors or online, we will communicate clearly about the nature of the space and do all we can to ensure participation is possible for everyone.
3. Online Participation
- Online services, meetings, and community groups form a central part of our life together.
- We will make use of digital tools (such as captions, transcripts, and accessible platforms) to ensure online participation is as inclusive as possible.
- Online gatherings will always be treated as valid expressions of Church life, not second-best alternatives.
4. Future Buildings
- As the denomination grows and establishes permanent buildings, accessibility will be a central principle in design, renovation, and use.
- We will ensure that any buildings used for worship or community life meet current accessibility standards, including step-free access, accessible toilets, signage, and hearing/communication support where possible.
5. Ongoing Principles
- We will make reasonable adjustments to remove barriers to participation.
- We will consult with disabled people and those with additional needs to ensure their voices shape our practice.
- Accessibility is not only physical but also includes communication, sensory, neurodivergent, and digital needs.
- Training will be provided to ministers, trustees, and leaders to ensure awareness of accessibility issues.
6. Responsibility
- Trustees are responsible for ensuring accessibility is upheld across the denomination.
- Local Churches are responsible for making gatherings as accessible as possible in their context — indoors, outdoors, or online.
- The Accessibility Policy will be reviewed annually, with input from those directly affected by accessibility challenges.