Staff at Huddersfield Town AFC have taken part in specialist training from Guide Dogs to help create a more accessible and inclusive matchday experience for supporters with sight loss. Guide dog puppies also visited the stadium as part of their early socialisation.
The club welcomed Guide Dogs to the John Smith’s Stadium this week, where customer service, security and access teams received Sighted Guide training. They learned practical skills to confidently support people with sight loss in busy environments. The session was brought to life with a visit from guide dog puppies and their volunteer puppy raisers, who explored the stands, concourse and pitchside areas as part of their early socialisation, helping them build confidence in a stadium environment.
With around 250 people losing their sight every day in the UK, Guide Dogs is working with organisations like Huddersfield Town AFC to remove barriers and ensure people with sight loss can access the same spaces and experiences as everyone else. The activity also came ahead of International Guide Dog Day, an annual celebration of the difference guide dogs make to people with sight loss and an opportunity to highlight the importance of creating accessible and inclusive environments.
Kelle McParland, sighted guide training officer at Guide Dogs, said: “Football should be for everyone, and it’s fantastic to see Huddersfield Town taking proactive steps to make their stadium more accessible for supporters with sight loss. This training gives staff the skills and confidence to offer the right support, while also raising awareness of the barriers people with sight loss can face in everyday environments. Socialisation is a fundamental part of a guide dog’s training, and the visit gave some of our puppies the opportunity to explore the stadium - a brand new environment for them - helping to build their confidence through new experiences. It’s all about supporting people with sight loss to feel confident and supported in everyday settings, as well as enjoying hobbies and experiences like going to football matches.”
Huddersfield Town’s disability liaison officer, Marija Traynor, said: “We’re always looking for ways to improve accessibility at the Accu Stadium and are proud to have taken part in this training session. For the staff members who work closely with supporters, this was incredibly beneficial and we now know we can assist when needed. I would like to extend a huge thank you to Guide Dogs for making the journey to the Accu Stadium for the morning to deliver the session and we hope it was a great experience for staff and puppies!”
Guide Dogs is currently looking for more puppy raiser volunteers in West Yorkshire, who can provide a home for a puppy and support them in their early development. Organisations and community groups can also sign up for Sighted Guide training to help better support people with sight loss in their own environments. For more information on how you can support Guide Dogs, visit www.guidedogs.org.uk/how-you-can-help.
