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Bristol Rovers offers sensory packs for young fans

Alastair McKeein Bristol
BBC A nine year old boy with glasses looks into the camera. He is wearing a blue and white football shirt.BBC
Teddy loves supporting Bristol Rovers but sometimes struggles to watch a whole game

Bristol Rovers Disabled Supporters Club has funded free sensory packs for young supporters who experience challenges.

The club started handing out the packs on 13 September and nearly all 250 bags have been snapped up.

One supporter who picked up a pack was nine-year-old Teddy, who has a rare genetic condition as well as ADHD.

Watching Rovers play is one of Teddy's favourite things to do, but often he becomes restless during a 90-minute game.

A mother Kat Pillinger sitting in a football stand showing her son a fidget dice. He is wearing a blue and white Bristol Rovers football shirt.
Fidget dice are a popular toy for children with sensory processing difficulties

"For him just to have something to kind of play with while he's watching the match is so important because Teddy does get bored very quickly", said his mother Kat.

"He gets distracted very quickly. So I think having these different little items will really help him.

Waiting for the 27 September game against Salford City to begin, Teddy was immediately taken with the sensory bag's contents: a stress ball, a fidget spinner, and a fidget dice, where each face has a different combination of switches, levers and buttons.

A man in a blue tracksuit top looks at the camera. He is Bristol Rovers Disabled Supporters Club chairman, Clive Marshall.
Clive Marshall wants his club to help fans with sensory processing difficulties

Clive Marshall, chair of the Bristol Rovers disabled supporters association, first identified a need to help fans with sensory processing differences after encountering a young supporter with autism who was struggling at games.

"I thought, 'hold on, we're not really dealing with this situation where we need to be more inclusive'", said Mr Marshall.

"How can we make sure that everybody can enjoy the game? The mum, dad bringing their young children along, how can they feel comfortable?"

Clive now wants the club to be able to offer more to fans with sensory processing difficulties.

"I want to understand more about autism and I'm reaching out to local NHS and other providers to find out a bit more about how can we encourage more autistic children or young adults to come to the game."

Bristol Rovers The contents of a small soft tote bag displayed on a table, showing a fidget spinner, a fidget dice and a soft squishy stress ball. Bristol Rovers
The sensory pack contains a fidget spinner, stress ball and fidget dice.

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