BURTON Albion’s sensory room will be in operation again when the Brewers take on Mansfield Town in the Leasing.com Trophy.
The last group match in the competition for the Brewers takes place on Tuesday, November 12, with a 7.45pm kick off and anyone wishing to make use of the sensory room at the game is invited to get in touch.
Former Brewers club captain and current Academy coach Shaun Barker brought the sensory room to the Pirelli Stadium to enable those with autism to enjoy a matchday at the home of Burton Albion.
The defender’s charity, The Shaun Barker Foundation, was set up to help and support people in Derby and the surrounding area and has purchased portable equipment which can turn an executive box at the Pirelli Stadium into a sensory room.
Sensory rooms are special spaces which enable adults and children with difficulties such as autism to watch live matches from a secure area with a window onto the pitch, allowing them to feel part of the matchday action.
Burton Albion’s equipment, which provides lights and a comforting sensory experience to provide an escape from the potentially overwhelming noise of a football crowd, has the benefit of being portable. It can therefore be used on non-matchdays as well.
Burton Albion Community Trust’s Head of Community Matt Hancock said: “We are pleased to be able to offer a sensory room at Burton Albion and it’s another step in making the Pirelli Stadium a welcoming place for all.
“It has already been used successfully at a number of games and we are now inviting people to apply for places for the Mansfield game. Making football accessible for everyone to enjoy is very important and I’m delighted that we have been able to make this happen at Burton Albion with Shaun’s help.”
To apply for spaces in the sensory room contact matt.hancock@burtonalbionct.org