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Individuals with autism, anxiety, dementia, PTSD or other similar conditions may face sensory sensitivities or experience challenges when attending events. One of the major barriers for these individuals is sensitivity to overstimulation and noise, which is an enormous part of the environment within our venues.

Therefore we have trained our staff so they equipped with the knowledge on how to recognise event attendees with sensory needs and how to handle a sensory overload situation. As a charity, we saw an opportunity to help make a lasting impact on our community through this training. Our goal is to better the comfort and enjoyment of our events for those with sensory needs so they do not miss out on parts of the event.

Our ‘Your Sensory Bags’ include noise cancelling headphones, fidget tools, lanyards (options to be worn), water bottle, stress relief and colouring kits. All these items are designed to help attendees relax and overcome a stressful situation. These are available to guests who may feel overwhelmed by the environment during an event.

These bags are available at no cost to customers, they are a resource for our customers to borrow whilst attending an event at Middleton Arena. Please speak to a member of the team at the kiosk or main bar when you arrive, or contact our box office on 0300 303 8633 to have one ready for your arrival. A security deposit of £10 will be taken either by cash or card, which will be refunded when the pack is returned at the end of the event. We have cleaning protocols in place to ensure all items are sanitary and ready to go for guests.