Inside Brentford's sensory room that gives 'full experience with volume down'
For most football-mad parents, taking their child to a game is something they've always dreamed of.
But for others, the thought of bringing them through the turnstiles on a matchday fills them with dread, with multiple factors to consider first. Glenn Faircloth's son Freddie, 11, was diagnosed with autism aged three. He dislikes noisy environments but Glenn was determined to try and share his love for football with his son.
"We tried going to the football a couple of times but he didn't like it," Glenn, who works for the NHS, told Mirror Football . "There's obviously a lot of people in a confined space and it can be really noisy, so we ended up leaving before the end. It deterred me from going again as I didn't want to put him through that experience again."
That was when Glenn found out about Brentford 's sensory room at their state-of-the-art 17,250-capacity Gtech Community Stadium in west London. The room accommodates up to four families per game and is designed to provide a safe experience for them to watch their beloved Bees.
Sally Stephens, Brentford's Fan and Community Relations Director, said: "The idea behind it is to provide a comfortable and friendly environment for children and adults with sensory processing issues. They get the full game experience with the volume turned down. You can still enjoy everything that's going on with one of the best views in the stadium."
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Freddie was diagnosed with autism when he was three years old (Instagram/autismwithfreddie)
The thick glass blocks out much of the crowd noise from outside (Instagram/autismwithfreddie)Brentford sought advice from charities and other organisations when designing the room, which is stripped back, with no branding. It features a sofa and bean bags to allow spectators flexibility to move around, and has a dark pop-up tent in one corner if anyone wants to take some time out. The thick glass blocks out the crowd noise and there is an accessible toilet so fans don't have to visit the busy concourse.
Glenn, who documents his son's progress through the Instagram account Autism with Freddie, added: "Going to a match was stressful before - now Freddie's actually excited going to a game. It's a different ballgame. It's amazing being able to take him to the football and share that experience with him and have that father and son bonding time.
Brentford's sensory room offers an excellent view of the pitch"The staff couldn't do enough for you. You are able to bring your own refreshments so you still have your home comforts, which isn't always possible in other parts of the ground.
"We tried to take him to the cinema before but we had to leave because of his sensory noises. I didn't want to disrupt the experience for everyone else but in Brentford's sensory room everyone understands eachother. He can still attend something he loves even though he's different. Inclusion is massive for us."
The room is currently used on matchdays but the club plan are looking to use the facility for local charities and community groups. Visit the club's website for more information about stadium accessibility.
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