For many people, a visit to Celtic Park is all about the noise, atmosphere and excitement of being part of a matchday.
For others, the sights, sounds and crowds can be overwhelming. That’s why Celtic FC Foundation’s Lions’ View Sensory Room, sponsored by Scot Hoist Ltd, provides a calm and welcoming environment for those who may benefit from a quieter experience at the stadium.
The Sensory Room was introduced in 2019 and, since then, has welcomed more than 700 attendees (excluding parents/carers), giving children and young people with additional support needs the opportunity to experience Celtic Park in an environment tailored to their individual needs.
The room features a range of sensory equipment and activities, providing a safe environment where users can take some time out, regulate and relax when they need to.
Having a sensory room within a football stadium can make a significant difference to families who may find the intensity of a matchday challenging. Through the Sensory Room, families are given the opportunity to experience a match at Celtic Park in a way that takes their child’s individual needs into consideration.
For some parents, being able to bring their child to a football match and share that experience together is particularly special – creating memories at Celtic Park that they may previously have been unsure would be possible.
The benefits of the room extend beyond children and young people, too. Adults living with dementia who attend Celtic FC Foundation’s Lions’ Lunch Breaks project have also made use of the facility.
Lions’ Lunch Breaks brings people living with dementia together at Celtic Park to socialise and enjoy spending time in a place that holds special significance for many. The Sensory Room offers a quieter setting where participants can relax, and for those with a long-standing connection to Celtic, perhaps spark memories of past experiences, encourage conversation and reminiscence.
The continued development of the Sensory Room has been supported by new sponsors Scot Hoist Ltd, whose backing will help Celtic FC Foundation maintain this important facility and its role in making Celtic Park more inclusive.
The demand for the Sensory Room highlights just how valuable the facility has become, with a significant waiting list due to its limited capacity. The room can accommodate a maximum of 14 people at a time, including parents and carers, with places also limited by the number of home matches across the season. Children are generally invited to attend weekend matches, while adult participants from projects such as Lions’ Lunch Breaks and our 18+ Ability Counts sessions may attend evening fixtures.
While these limitations mean that families may face a significant wait, Celtic FC Foundation will continue to do its best to accommodate as many participants as possible, helping more people experience the welcome of Celtic Park in a way that takes their individual needs into consideration.
Families interested in using the Sensory Room can still register their interest to be added to the waiting list. For further information, please contact us at [email protected] or call 0141 551 4321.
