Leicester Tigers will launch a brand new initiative which aims to promote and increase awareness of the matchday experience for supporters with physical and hidden disabilities.
The club’s ‘Celebrate Inclusion’ day will take place when Tigers welcome Worcester Warriors on Saturday, February 29 (3.00pm) with a number of pre-match and in-game experiences for all supporters to get involved with.
The announcement follows six-months of work behind the scenes at Welford Road which has seen the club aim to do more to help those with access requirements when coming to cheer on Tigers at home games.
In a club-wide commitment, staff at the club have been working towards a number of measures that will aim to help those with a disability to come forward, provide the support and information available to fans as well as making all supporters aware of the needs of others.
Celebrate Inclusion Day will see Leicester Tigers:
- Launch its Sunflower Lanyard Scheme
- Promote awareness of physical and hidden disabilities in stadiums on matchdays
- Help identify the club’s fully-trained Inclusive and Accessibility Stewards and staff
Before the 3.00pm kick-off, supporters will be able to visit the Plaza area just outside the Holland & Barrett Stand and meet organisations supporting people with a variety of physical and hidden disabilities.
Sunflower Lanyards will also be available to fans upon request, following the success of the national sunflower lanyard scheme which helps to recognise those with a hidden disability.
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Fans will be able to take part in a number of activities, experiences and find out information from the below organisations involved from 1.00pm.
- Level Playing Field
- Mosaic: Shaping Disability Services
- British Sign Language
- Guide Dogs for the Blind Association
- Royal National Institute of Blind People
- Colour Blind Awareness
- National Autistic Society
- Attenborough Arts Centre
- Sunflower Lanyard Scheme
- The Matt Hampson Foundation
- Leicester Tigers Wheelchair Rugby
The Junior Tigers Club VIP Area, which is a free membership for children under-16, will be open for a dedicated Quiet Hour one-hour before its usual opening time of 1.00pm.
This will include a less crowded environment, low level lighting and quiet activities for children, parents and personal assistants to take part in.
During half-time, the club will host a mixed ability rugby match for participants from Leicester Tigers special educational needs and disability (SEND) community programmes as well as a photo on the pitch with representatives from the organisations involved.
There will also be a special performance by Next Door Dance in association with the Attenborough Arts Centre’s Future Arts Centre project before the match on the plaza as well as at half-time during the game.
The group will aim to recreate the matchday of a supporter with a visible or hidden disability and is open to all to get involved with. If you would like to get involved with this please contact, [email protected]
Alongside the matchday activity, the club is also hosting its first Accessibility Supporters’ Forum this month to learn more from fans with physical and hidden disabilities.
Further details will be announced in the build-up to Celebrate Inclusion Day including the introduction of the club’s Inclusive and Accessibility Stewards and key people involved to help fans on matchdays.
If supporters would like to find out more information, or would like to highlight any specific requirements or questions, please email [email protected] or call the Leicester Tigers ticket office on 0116 319 8888 (option 2).
Match tickets are available at the link below.
