For this weekend’s game against Bristol City, AFC Bournemouth has been showing support for World Autism Awareness Day with a host of activities taking place and special guests invited to watch.
Autism is a neuro-developmental condition that affects the way the brain processes information and it can affect individuals with communication or understanding how others think.
To mark the day, the club has invited students from Portfield School, which is run by Autism Unlimited. The students are currently working with AFC Bournemouth’s Community Sports Trust, completing work experience to gain value skills to prepare them for the wider world.
Ahead of the weekend, the club is proud to relaunch two initiatives to help autistic supporters who visit Vitality Stadium.
AFC Bournemouth Superstore Sensory Hour
AFC Bournemouth’s superstore sensory hour recognises that accessing shops can be incredibly stressful for people with autism and their families. Music and television screens will be turned off and background noise will be reduced for a dedicated hour.
In addition, retail and ticketing staff have received additional training so they are able to provide the best service and support possible to every visitor.
The superstore sensory hour will take place on the first Tuesday of every month from 4pm-5pm and will begin on 5th April.
We encourage anyone visiting the superstore during the allocated time to be mindful of other visitors and the sensory hour that is being observed.
AFC Bournemouth Sensory Packs
The club will also be relaunching its sensory packs that have been designed for supporters, particularly those with Autism, who attend matches. These will help make the matchday experience more accessible, comfortable and enjoyable.
The items will come complete with an AFC Bournemouth drawstring bag and will include the following:
- Club branded mini soft footballs.
- Autism awareness card which can be shown to matchday staff and stewards to ask for assistance when in the ground.
- Club-branded noise cancelling headphones.
All sensory packs will need to be pre-ordered prior to matchday. This can be done by completing the application form here.
Once ordered, supporters will receive a confirmation email, with the pack then available two hours prior to kick off from the DC Lounge at Vitality Stadium. For away matches, sensory packs will be available to collect from the ticket office at Vitality Stadium from 9am the day before a match.
Once supporters have received their pack, they are encouraged to bring it back with them to all future games they attend.
Community Sports Trust work
The Community Sports Trust supports many individuals with Autism in both their mainstream and disability specific football sessions. They offer a range of football-based sessions for young people and adults with disabilities based across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole. The sessions provide an opportunity for players to train and play competitive football or follow a recreational pathway.
Through the Premier League Inspires project, the Community Sports Trust has forged a new partnership with Autism Unlimited where they will offer work experience placements to four students from Portfield School for ten weeks, enabling them to complete an AQA educational qualification.
The students will volunteer at weekly community sessions such as Walking Football, Mini Cherries and assist coaching sessions with a local SEND school.
For more information about sessions, just email matthew.underwood@afcb.co.uk or steve.cuss@afcb.co.uk.
