Dover Athletic FC opening sensory room for supporters with additional needs
They're working with the Dover, Deal and Shepway branch of the National Autistic Society
A Kent football club is opening a brand new sensory room, for their supporters with autism and additional needs, to provide a safe space to unwind.
Thought to be the first of it's kind in non-league football, the club's Community, Engagement and Inclusion Officer, Vikki Pawley has worked with Patrick Verrill, Chairperson of the local branch of the National Autistic Society, to bring the plans for the room to life.
Patrick, a life-long fan, told Greatest Hits Radio Kent he's attended many home and away games, and wants to share this experience with his son, who is seven years old and has autism.
"I am a Dover fan and I have been since I was like maybe four years old. I'm 30 now. I love coming here. I love coming to watch the watch the team. I've gone home and away for years, it's something that I personally really enjoy - there's nothing better! I think when you have children as well that you can introduce them to it. Obviously my son has different needs and that's absolutely fine.
"But even for me personally, knowing that there is somewhere that I can bring him, and I can step away from being like a match-going fan, and I can kind of go back to almost being the the parent of an autistic child.
"I think this is almost a sense of relief for me personally."
Dover Athletic FC say they're "incredibly proud" to be able to offer the designed space, which will be in use throughout the season and will provide everything needed for matchdays.
Chairman, Jim Parmenter said “I am delighted that we are able to provide facilities for part of the community that perhaps would not have enjoyed games at The Megger Community Stadium before and we look forward to their visit which will hopefully be the first of many”
It's more than just a quiet room
Whilst the sensory room will aim to be quiet, Patrick told us it's important that it's more than just a space to escape from the noise of being pitch side.
"We'll aim for the room to be quiet, but if they need to come in here and scream and have a meltdown for 5 minutes that my son does need to do that sometimes, then they have a space to do it.
"My son particularly doesn't like doing that around people so to come into a room, I'm here with him, he'll have his five minutes and then, you know, it's all plain sailing.
"It's going to be a good environment for people on the match day, definitely."
Patrick believes it's just as important for those with additional needs such as autism, who do want to get away from the noise, to be able to use the sensory space to get away from the business and atmosphere near to the pitch, so everyone can enjoy the match in their desired way.
Patrick pitched the idea to the club, which then snowballed into getting preparations underway to launch next month, with Dover Athletic FC working to find the perfect space for their supporters to be able to use.
"It's massive and it's huge for parents as well. I have a lot of friends through this charity who have autistic children who now feel like they can come along. I know people who come to watch every home game and they only bring one child because they don't think their other child can handle it.
"Some parents won't even try and I don't blame them at all. But now, you can. There's there's the option and the club have been the one to give that. It might have been my idea, I might have been the one who approached it, but the club have been great and they've made sure that everyone is involved. And yeah, I think it's it's massive. It's a huge impact."
"Hopefully we've started a legacy"
Vikki Pawley, Community, Engagement and Inclusion Officer at Dover Athletic FC, has been instrumental in starting up the room and organising provisions alongside Patrick.
She told Greatest Hits Radio Kent they hope this inspires other clubs to do something similar.
"I really hope that this is now something that gives other teams, not just football, other clubs in other sports, just a glimmer of hope to go, 'oh well they've tried it and it seems to work, lets give it a try ourselves!'"
"Because I do think sometimes people are too scared of the unknown and not because they want to be, they want to be acknowledging and accepting of of everyone. But sometimes it's difficult to do that if you don't have the right people or the right tools in place. So yeah, hopefully, we've started a legacy."
Vikki and Patrick have only just got the ball rolling on their sensory room, but their plans for the future won't be stopping there.
"The step we've taken is a quite a small step in the grand scheme of what can be offered, both of us have got a grander plan.
"I think if sometimes people are too scared to try something in case it doesn't work and you've got to be brave enough to take that step. And then I I really hope from this that it will actually give maybe local clubs or just clubs within the county and then maybe nationwide the confidence to go, well, I actually do know what we could try."
Planned opening before home game against Hampton and Richmond
The Club's planning a grand official opening of the room on November 4th, ahead of their home match against Hampton and Richmond.
Patrick and 50 members of the local National Autistic Society have been invited to the VIP lounge for the game.
Their sensory room will include different seating options, lights, fidget toys, art and anything that may be needed by its guests.
Both Vikki and Patrick say they will be guided by the rooms needs and suggestions to develop it further and make the sensory room as beneficial for the club's fan's as possible.
You can find out more about the local Dover, Deal and Shepway branch of the National Autistic Society here.