Autistic youngsters team up with Community Sports Foundation
Crawley Capers is a partnership between Crawley Town FC Community Sports Foundation and Autism Sussex that provides young people on the autism spectrum with an opportunity to participate in football activity at the Checkatrade.com Stadium.
Alongside football, children participate in arts and crafts activities with a volunteer from Autism Sussex in the Stadium Pod overlooking the pitch. The group has been meeting every Saturday morning as part of a six-week pilot project for young people in Crawley and the surrounding area. The two-hour session encourages participation from autistic children and family members to help develop social skills and positive play within a family group.
Autism Sussex aim to provide a safe base for people with autistic spectrum conditions, where their special needs are recognised and from which they may take full advantage of community opportunities.
The Crawley Capers group encourages the development of partnerships and opportunities to enable its users to play as full a part in their community as appropriate to each individual.
Emphasis is placed on an enabling role to foster independence and self-determination. Working in partnership with Crawley Town FC Community Sports Foundation provides Capers users a safe base to play football, take part in art sessions, develop social engagement and for parents to talk with other parents.
Crawley Capers gives it participants the chance to take advantage of a weekly community based activity opportunity at a Football League club.
If you’re interested to find out more please call 01293 410 000 or email simonpearce@crawleytownfc.com or Autism Sussex on 0845 450 0060 or email enquiries@autismsussex.org.uk
