The Supporters Club & Trust; as firm believers in football being accessible to all; have funded a brand new sensory room at Ashton Gate to be used for all Bristol City men’s & women’s home games at the stadium
The room will be a safe space where neurodiverse spectators; particularly younger supporters; can enjoy the matchday experience in a controlled setting without experiencing sensory overload.
The room is a safe space and aims to provide a calming, engaging and controlled environment where neurodiverse spectators can enjoy matchday without experiencing sensory overload. There will be a Sensory Room Supporter Liaison Officer present on every matchday and on hand to assist those in attendance. The sensory room is restricted to a maximum of six people (including parent/guardian/carer), in order to keep the room safe and avoid overcrowding.
Located on the third level of the Lansdown Stand & only accessible via lift, the sensory room is a collaboration between the club, the Supporters Club & Trust, the Robins Foundation and Ashton Gate Stadium. The room has partial view of the pitch with the option to watch the game live on a screen. There is also allocated seating outside.
The Supporters Club & Trust are proud to sponsor the sensory room, with our regular logo on display outside with the following message:
“Bristol City Supporters Club & Trust, as firm believers in football being accessible to all, are proud to sponsor this sensory room”
Following trials at the most recent men’s team home games against Swansea City & Stoke City, the room is available from Friday February 21st as the men’s team take on Middlesbrough. The sensory room is available for use on both City men & women’s home games at Ashton Gate.
Requests for use can be submitted via the application form on the club’s website.
Supporters are eligible to use the room more than once but the club have advised that new attendees will be prioritised.
Chair of the Supporters Club & Trust Stu Rogers said: “We are very pleased to be supporting this project. It’s so important that all supporters feel welcome and safe at Ashton Gate and the sensory room is another step in the club’s efforts to cater for all needs and to help fans show support for their team in a way that is safe and comfortable.”
Kate and Peter Shippey MBE – founders of the Shippey Campaign charity which supports clubs’ sensory projects across the world – have provided expert guidance on equipping the room, including soft furnishings, sports-themed bean bags and bubble tubes.
The first sensory room was opened at Sunderland in the 2015/16 season and named after their son Nathan, who has Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Kate and Peter Shippey said: “It’s been a pleasure to assist Bristol City with the development of their Sensory Room. It’ll be a great addition to the stadium and we hope many fans benefit from it. We’d like to thank the club for the opportunity to be involved. We’re very proud of our son Nathan, and everything he has inspired over the past 10 years.”
City’s Head of Strategic Operations Michelle Dring said: “We are delighted to open the sensory room as part of our broader fan engagement plan. Working alongside the Supporters Club & Trust, the Robins Foundation, Ashton Gate Stadium and the Shippey Family, we’ve come together to bring this much needed vision to life. This room is more than just a space – it’s about ensuring that everyone, regardless of their needs, has an opportunity to have the best possible matchday experience.”
The Robins Foundation’s Pan-disability football sessions provide young people and adults with a range of disabilities the opportunity to make friends, stay active, and enjoy football in a welcoming, supportive environment.
Disability Lead Coach Gary Bell said: “These are free sessions for anyone with a disability to engage with football in a fun and safe environment, including those with sensory requirements. It is exciting to now be able to extend this provision to matchdays, where we will have staff specially trained in understanding and supporting neurodiverse needs.”
The Supporters Club & Trust would like to extend our thanks to Michelle Dring for her assistance & co-operation in getting the sensory room set-up at Ashton Gate.
All photos courtesy of Rogan Thomson/Bristol City.
This article contains wording originally featured on the Bristol City website