Disabled Fans

Policy for disabled supporters visiting the Weston Homes Stadium.

Peterborough United Football Club fully supports the principle of equal opportunities and opposes all forms of unlawful or unfair discrimination on the grounds of disability.

The Club recognises that not all of its facilities are fully accessible to disabled customers and confirms that it is committed to making the necessary reasonable adjustments described by the Equality Act 2010 and its relevant Codes of Practice to ensure full compliance with the legislation.

Definition of Disability
As a fundamental principle the Equality Act 2010 states that disabled people should not be treated "less favourably, without justification"; and "reasonable adjustments should be made to make goods, facilities and services accessible". Peterborough United Football Club aim to fully comply with both the provisions and spirit of the Act.

For the purposes of this Policy only the definition of a disabled supporter is: "Any person who, because of their disability or impairment, is unable to use ordinary stand seating without contravening Health and Safety Regulations, Guidelines or Policy or where the club has provided a "reasonable adjustment" to enable that supporter to attend the venue. Any such person will be considered for use of the "designated areas" of the stadium in line with the procedures set out in this policy."

A "reasonable adjustment" in the context shall include (but is not limited to), the need to use a wheelchair area, the need to bring a "personal assistant" for either personal care or safety reasons, or the use of an auxiliary service (e.g. match commentary for visually impaired supporters)

A "designated area" is any area (including specific seats around the stadium) that the club shall, in its sole discretion determine as being available for the disabled.

A person has a "disability" if he/she has a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on his/her ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities.

Peterborough United Football Club reserves the right to request "proof of a disability". Such proof shall include: Receipt of the middle or higher rate of the Disability Living Allowance (mobility or care component). Receipt of either the Severe Disablement Allowance or Attendance Allowance

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 carer. 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 united 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 recognise 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/exists.

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 suffering from an 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/exists). 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 helper ticket.

Complimentary Carer/Companion Ticket

If you are requesting a complimentary Carer/Companion ticket (subject to qualification), it is important that the Disabled Supporter and/or Carer/Companion read the following terms and conditions regarding the role and responsibilities the Carer/Companion must adhere to at all times.

By accepting the complimentary ticket your Carer/Companion accepts responsibility for providing you with the support you need to attend the match. This includes being able to provide you with additional assistance during an emergency evacuation.
The stewards at the match are unable to provide assistance in excess of their typical role and general reasonable adjustments, so it’s important that, if you need help moving around, your Carer/Companion is ready and willing to support you with this.
When entering the Weston Homes Stadium, the Carer/Companion must enter at the same time as the Disabled Supporter. Although a Disabled Supporter can enter the stadium by themselves, the Carer/Companion will not be admitted without being in the presence of the Disabled Supporter.
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 Carer/Companion ticket scheme where there is no risk of them being left unattended.
If your need for a Carer/Companion is something related to a potential deterioration in your condition, then a Carer/Companion ticket may not be authorised for anyone under the age of 14.
If the Disabled Supporter is unable to attend a match and the Carer/Companion would still like to attend, then you will need to contact the Ticket Office to upgrade your ticket(s).
If it is felt that your Carer/Companion 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 Carer/Companion 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 ask you to leave also. It is especially important that you choose the right support to come with you.
If we feel that either the Disabled Supporter or their Carer/Companion are 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.
Please note that Carer/Companion tickets on their own are not entitled to any benefits normally associated with a Season Ticket including ticket priority.

Peterborough United Football Club reserves the right to seek additional proof of disability and age where there is an element of reasonable doubt relating to the age category and/or the need for a Carer/Companion complimentary 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 and 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 disabled persons 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 London Road Terrace, North Stand adjacent to B Block and South 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 South 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 disabled supporters 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 North 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 in the ground and ideally sit in a designated area.

Accessible Websites
The official website is provided by Other Media who consistently monitor the levels of compliance against the DDA 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 awareness and etiquette are observed. 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.

Conclusion
Every reasonable adjustment is being made to all the services provided by the different departments of Peterborough United Football Club. All Department managers and personnel have been made aware and instructed to comply with the provisions of the Equality Act 2010. Access to goods and services, as well as match day facilities, are being fully assessed and measures are in place to ensure compliance with all associated legislation.

Contact
A Twitter page has been set up @theposhslo and Chris Abbott is contactable via email at fans@theposh.com