Policy For Supporters With Disabilities

Policy for Supporters with Disabilities
Peterborough United Football Club operates a ticketing policy that recognises that supporters with disabilities may need assistance to fully enjoy the match day experience and offers a variety of reasonable adjustments based on individual supporters needs, not their ‘disability’. We encourage a person-centred approach at all times.

By completing a Reasonable Adjustment Form and submitting the appropriate supporting documentation, we can plan to meet the supporter’s needs, during their visit to Weston Homes Stadium and that accessible facilities and services are only used by the supporters that need them (each application is reviewed on a case-by-case basis).

If you require assistance with completing the Reasonable Adjustment Form, then please contact our Disability Access Officer. Alternatively, you can request a form over the ticket office counter, downloading here or by calling 01733 865674.

Personal Assistant Ticket
We take our responsibilities towards supporters with disabilities very seriously. We recognise that for some of our supporters to take advantage of all that we have to offer, they may need support from another person. As such, it is our policy that where this is the case, we make available complimentary tickets which will enable a disabled supporter to bring a personal assistant with them to support them with their needs.

It is important to understand that the Personal Assistant Ticket is not a concessionary ticket or ‘2-for-1’ deal but is a reasonable adjustment made by the club to enable a disabled supporter to access the full range of match day and event services more easily (in consideration of UK legislation as described in the Equality Act 2010).

The only criteria we have for offering a complimentary Personal Assistant Ticket is that you have to have another person with you to get the same quality of service as a non-disabled person for a reason related to your own disability. This does not apply to short-term conditions like broken legs.

Please note that a personal assistant, on their own, is not entitled to any benefits normally associated with a Season Ticket, this includes any renewal benefit or the purchase of match tickets during priority sale periods.

Requesting A Free Personal Assistant Ticket
Since this scheme is potentially subject to fraudulent misuse, we have to operate a system to check eligibility for a complimentary ticket. To apply, a Reasonable Adjustment Form will need to be completed and you will also be required to submit appropriate supporting documentation to our Disability Access Officer.

Please find below a list of supporting documentation that we might take into consideration when considering whether to allocate a complimentary Personal Assistant Ticket:

Receipt of the Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or War Pensioners' Mobility Supplement (or government standard equivalent).
Receipt of Personal Independence Payments (PIP)
Receipt of either the Severe Disablement Allowance or Attendance Allowance. War Pensioners' Mobility Allowance or War or Service Disablement Pension for 80% or more disability.
Blind or partially sighted registration certificate (BD8 or CVI Certificate) or evidence from an eye specialist, for example an optometrist, that the individual would qualify to be registered as severely sight impaired (blind) or sight impaired (partially sighted). Further advice can be found on the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) website.
A personal letter from the GP, community nurse or social worker that the individual has a long-term impairment or ‘disability' and requires assistance.
Confirmation in writing from Social Services that the individual is included on their Deaf Register, or a letter or report from an aural specialist confirming that hearing loss has been recorded at 70 – 95 dBHL or higher.

Visibility And Awareness Of Supporters With Disabilities
The club finds it helpful to be aware who has a disability or hidden disability. This is from our ticket staff, stewards, emergency services and others. We know that some supporters wear the ‘Green Lanyard’ to ensure those making contact are aware. We are, however, aware that not everyone wishes to wear this or share their personal information that they have a disability. Instead, the Club also accepts The Access Card as evidence, and all supporters requesting a Personal Assistant Ticket with the +1 symbol on their card will receive one without the need for any further information or evidence.

Please note this list is not exhaustive and consideration will be given to any other evidence that can be provided. For guidance, the club advises supporters to refer to the Level Playing Fields website.

The club reserves the right to seek additional proof of disability where there is an element of reasonable doubt, as to the need for a Personal Assistant Ticket.

The Role Of A Personal Assistant/Essential Companion
By accepting the complimentary Personal Assistant Ticket, the disabled supporter’s companion accepts responsibility for providing the support they need to attend a match. This includes being able to provide additional assistance during an emergency evacuation.

The stewards at the match are unable to provide assistance in excess of their typical role, therefore, it is important that, if the supporter with a disability requires help moving around, the personal assistant is ready and willing to support them with this.

When entering the stadium, the personal assistant must enter at the same time as the disabled supporter. Although a disabled supporter can enter the stadium by themselves, the personal assistant will not be admitted without being in the presence of the disabled supporter.

Young Carers
It is the policy of the Weston Homes Stadium Ground Regulations that all children under the age of 14 are accompanied by an appropriate adult over the age of 18. We accept that young carers are a much valued and needed source of support, but we are only able to accept them under the free Personal Assistant ticket scheme where there is no risk of them being left unattended.

If your need for a Personal Assistant is something related to a potential deterioration in your condition, then a Personal Assistant ticket may not be authorised for anyone under the age of 14.

If You Lose Your Support
If it is felt that your Personal Assistant is not providing you with the support you need, we reserve the right to eject them from the facility at any time and refuse access under the Personal Assistant scheme for future matches.

We will endeavour to support you with the rest of your visit if this is the case but if we are unable to make appropriate reasonable adjustments to do this and it jeopardises your, or other supporter’s health and safety we may be left with no other option than to ask you to leave also. It is especially important that you choose the right support to come with you.

Abusing the System
If we feel that either the disabled supporter or their personal assistant is abusing the system, we reserve the right to treat the matter as fraud and look at bringing legal action. This may result in tickets for future games being confiscated. Every accessible space taken up by somebody that does not need it represents a disabled supporter missing out.

Personal Assistant tickets are transferable; however, tickets for the disabled supporter are not. Should any disabled supporter or personal assistant be found to be abusing this or any of the other terms & conditions within this policy, the club reserves the right to deny admittance and may take further action.

Upgrading A Personal Assistant Ticket
If the Disabled Supporter is unable to attend a match and the Personal Assistant would still like to attend, then you will need to contact the Ticket Office to upgrade your ticket(s). The free Personal Assistant Ticket cannot be used on its own.

Season Tickets & Matchday Tickets
Disabled supporters can purchase a season or a matchday ticket (subject to availability) at the appropriate age band price, which includes a complimentary Personal Assistant Ticket, if required, for their personal assistant (subject to qualification).

Please note that Personal Assistant tickets on their own are not entitled to any benefits normally associated with a Season Ticket including ticket priority.

If you require assistance purchasing a ticket due to have a disability or hidden disability, let us know and our ticket office will assist you.

Facilities for Supporters Using Wheelchairs
The club has 57 positions for wheelchair user supporters together with a seat for a personal assistant if required. These are situated in the Meerkat Family Lower Tier, North Stand E Block and the GH Display Stand.

A complimentary ticket will be provided for a Personal Assistant. Season Tickets are sold in the designated areas on the same basis.

Wheelchair using applicants should ideally be accompanied by a person who is capable of supporting their needs in the event of an emergency and for this reason Peterborough United Football Club strongly recommend that this person is sixteen years of age or above and of good physical and mental health.

Facilities for Supporters with Visual Impairments
The club works with Soccer Sight to provide facilities for Supporters with visual impairments. The device can be collected from Main Reception on matchdays.

The Club strongly recommends that a person who is fully able to support their needs in the event of an emergency should accompany each visually impaired person attending a match.

Guide Dogs are allowed into the Stadium but we would recommend that supporters with Guide Dogs contact the club before the match so that we can discuss with them access to the ground, facilities inside the ground and the welfare of the Guide Dog before, during and after the match.

Facilities for Supporters with Hearing Impairments
The Peterborough United Football Club Ticket Office has an induction loop at the Ticket Office and main Reception for supporters with hearing impairments.

Facilities for Supporters with Ambulatory Disabilities
Peterborough United Football Club recognises that there are considerable numbers of people in the community who use wheelchairs mainly for outdoors mobility purposes but do not always use a wheelchair. There are also many people with severe walking difficulties who may wish to watch a match.

For the purposes of this policy both categories of people will be termed 'ambulant disabled supporters' and those supporters with ambulant disabilities of a severe nature will have access to seating nearest the entrances/exits.

Eligibility to these areas will be dependent on providing proof of disability (as described above) or will be decided on individual cases based on information provided to the Ticket Office or the Club's Disability Liaison Officer; this information will assist in determining each individual's suitability for use of the facilities.

Facilities for Supporters with Medical Conditions
Supporters with physically restricting medical conditions can sometimes have difficulty in reaching seats in some parts of the stadium.

Peterborough United is conscious of a growing number of older people attending fixtures and wish to consider their needs in order for them to be able to continue watching matches whenever possible. With this in mind it is proposed that older people with a condition which prevents them climbing large numbers of steps should be able to request a seat in the most accessible part of the stadium (i.e. nearest the entrances/exits). Please advise the ticket office of this request at the time of booking.

Facilities for Supporters with Learning Differences
Supporters with learning differences can normally be accommodated in any part of the stadium in normal seating. However, if, for whatever reason, any person with a learning difficulty feels that ordinary stand seating would be unsuitable for them, they will be entitled to sit in the disabled areas and may qualify for a free personal assistant ticket.

Family Seating
Peterborough United Football Club recognises that disabled people have families who may wish to attend matches as a family unit in much the same way as non-disabled people would. The Club will try to accommodate such requests although this may not always be possible due to a limited number of suitable seats.

Please contact the ticket office for assistance in obtaining tickets as close as possible to the designated areas.

Car Parking Facilities
Peterborough United Football Club has a limited number of people with a disability parking places for home and away fans that are allocated to Blue Badge holders for £10 on a first come first served basis which need to be booked in advance via the ticket office on 01733 865674. There are also numerous disabled drop off points located around the ground.

There is also parking for blue badge holders in the Fair Meadow City Council car park opposite the stadium.

Drop Off/Pick Up Points
There are three drop off/pick up points with seats around the outside of the stadium located at Weston Homes London Road Terrace, North Stand adjacent to B Block and Meerkat Family Stand at Gate 22 for the use of disabled customers.

Lines of Sight
The club appreciates that the view from the wheelchair platforms may be restricted at times of high excitement however all supporters are reminded not to stand in front of the areas designated for disabled supporters.

Catering Facilities
Match day catering for disabled people is provided in the Meerkat Family Stand concourse. Due to the number of people using the concourse pre-game and at half time, the club's stewards will also offer assistance in getting refreshments.

Other facilities that come under the general heading of Catering such as the executive boxes, Executive Suite, Sponsors Lounge and David Seaman Suite are accessible to disabled people.

Disabled Persons Toilets
There are toilets specifically adapted for supporters with disabilities use adjacent to all designated areas. Club stewards regularly check these toilets but supporters are also asked to report any problems with their use to the nearest steward on the day.

Lifts
There is lift access to the following areas in the stadium:

The Kings Power Solutions Stand for access to the Alan Boswell Insurance Executive Suite restaurant.
The hospitality areas (Boxes and Club 75) in the Meerkat Family Stand.
The wheelchair platform in the GH Display Stand

On matchdays any steward or member of staff will help with this and outside of matchdays any member of staff will be able to offer assistance. Each lift has an emergency telephone in case of difficulties.

Access to Other Facilities
The club has many facilities available on match-days and non-match-days that aren't directly linked with actually watching the match. Such facilities include the club shops, lounges/suites and executive boxes.

Assistance in the Event of an Evacuation
Should you consider that you will require assistance in the event of an evacuation please make your location known to a steward when you arrive at the ground.

Accessible Websites
The official website is provided by Other Media who consistently monitor the levels of compliance with the Equality Act as well as working on an individual level with a number of disabled fans to deliver the best practice across the network of Official Football sites.

The site is constantly being improved and development plans include;

* Simplified registration form/process.
* Mandatory registration removed from non-news sections of the site.
* Creation of a fully compliant "accessible website" with better colour contrast, reduced graphics and no advertising.

A useful website for disabled supporters to find out about facilities at grounds around the country can be found on the Level Playing Field website - www.levelplayingfield.org.uk

Steward Training
Peterborough United Football Club stewards are trained in the FSQ modular system that includes a disability module. The Club aims to use the same stewards in the disability designated areas and stewards within these areas wear clothing that separately identifies them.

Each wheelchair area has a dedicated steward.

Staff Training
Members of the Peterborough United Football Club staff have undergone initial disability awareness training but an ongoing training programme will be instigated to ensure that everyone is aware. Peterborough United Football Club are committed to developing a "can-do" culture by introducing such training and it will remain the hub to the further development of this policy.

Audit
As part of its disability awareness, Peterborough United Football Club will undertake an annual audit of all of its premises for accessibility for disabled people. This is a key component of the Equality Act 2010, EFL and FA Guidelines.

Contacts
Disability Liaison Officer
Luisa D’Angelo
luisa.dangelo@theposh.com

Match Day Disability Liaison Officer
Chris Abbott
fans@theposh.com