Waterford FC Launches Autism-Friendly Match Day Experience

Waterford FC Launches Autism-Friendly Match Day Experience

Waterford FC launched their Autism friendly match day experience at the recent match v Finn Harps, that took place at the Regional Sports Centre. This is one of several social programmes that the club is rolling out as Waterford FC ramp up their engagement with the local community to provide new services and opportunities for local people.

This fantastic initiative is the result of excellent cooperation between the club, programme volunteers and parents of young children with autism who were keen to provide their kids with the opportunity to regularly see the Blues in action. It’s driven by Waterford FC’s new Head of Community, Colin Power whose role is also supported by Healthy Ireland.

“This is part of Waterford FC’s new initiative to make matchday more inclusive. Over the previous months we have worked closely with 50 Shades of Exceptional, AsIAM, Autism Friendly Waterford, Mount Sion CBS , the National Learning Network Waterford and most importantly, parents of kids and young adults with Autism to fully understand how to best facilitate a positive matchday experience for our guests at Waterford FC”. 

Colin Power, Waterford FC’s new Head of Community

To facilitate the smooth operation of the programme, Waterford FC has appointed designated volunteer Club Ambassadors who are on hand at all times to assist the children and parents whenever they attend a game at the RSC. They are greeted and welcomed by the club ambassadors at a specially designated entrance point away from the hustle and bustle of the main crowd entrances and are taken to a reserved area in the main stand where they can enjoy the game. Assistance is available to access refreshments or should any of the children wish to take a break from the game, a special quiet room is available where parents can take them.

Also attending the launch was Adam Harris, the Founder and CEO of AsIAm, Ireland’s National Autism Charity which provides support to people with autism and their families, advocates on behalf of the community and works to support public and private sector organisations and communities in becoming inclusive and accessible. Adam founded the organisation based on his own experiences growing up on the autism spectrum. He was hugely impressed by Waterford FC’s Autism friendly initiative and was delighted to officially open the “quiet room” – an area set aside for children should they need time out from the game.

The autism initiative is one of several new social programmes which Waterford FC is delivering in the coming months alongside other programmes targeting older members of the community such as Walking Football, Football Boot Rooms (Men’s Sheds concept) and the dementia friendly, Football Memories programme. Funding from Healthy Ireland has been instrumental in supporting the delivery of these programmes.

“It was fantastic to see this programme up close and to hear of the positive impact it’s having on the children and their parents. There’s no doubt that League of Ireland football clubs who engage in meaningful community programmes such as these certainly become more relevant to more people locally and that can only be good for both the club and the people engaging with it”.

Derek O’Neill, the League of Ireland FSR Manager