Wrexham AFC are proud to have received an Autism Friendly Award from the National Autistic Society, recognising our continued work to support and include autistic people and their families.
The Football Club became the first in Wales – and indeed the first business in Wrexham – to receive the award, when we were first recognised in 2018.
The award has now been renewed, with the latest acknowledgement focusing on key areas including how to provide customer services, information and environments, which are accessible and inclusive for autistic people.
We are proud to be one of the first organisations to successfully apply for the new award, which NAS says recognises are commitment to ensuring the Racecourse Ground and matches are accessible to autistic fans.
Kerry Roberts, Chair of the Wrexham National Autistic Society branch, presented the new award to the Club upon visiting for a match last season.
And Wrexham AFC Disability Liaison Officer, Kerry Evans, said: “The Football Club are delighted to have recently renewed our Autism Friendly award with the National Autistic Society.
“We first gained our award in 2018 and were very proud to be the first Club in Wales to obtain such an award, and the first business in Wrexham.
“We are fully committed to continuing our partnership with the National Autistic Society to offer the very best match-day experience for fans attending Wrexham AFC.”
The Racecourse Ground features an autism-friendly quiet zone, in section PG1 of the Macron Stand, as well as a waitress service, familiar-face stewards and a sensory room to ensure supporters with autism can attend and enjoy matches.
In addition, we organise quiet walkabout sessions so that supporters can familiarise themselves with the stadium and the lay-out away from a busy matchday.
We also have autism-friendly football sessions in every school holiday, with the latest sessions scheduled for the forthcoming half-term break – you can find more details here.
Christine Flintoff-Smith, Head of Autism Accreditation at the National Autistic Society, said: “We’re delighted to announce that Wrexham AFC is one of the first organisations to receive our brand-new Autism Friendly Award.
“Each venue that achieves the Autism Friendly Award will be helping to make the UK a more autism-friendly place by opening their doors to autistic people and their families.
“There are lots of small changes which businesses can make to better support autistic people, and just a little understanding can go a long way.
“We’re looking forward to working with as many businesses as possible to help create a society that works for autistic people.”
For more information on autism-friendly football at Wrexham AFC, contact Kerry Evans on kerry.evans@wrexhamafc.co.uk.