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Glossop North End partners with tech startup to improve fan inclusivity

Glossop North End partners with tech startup to improve fan inclusivity

Glossop North End have agreed a partnership designed to improve fan inclusivity, especially for those with additional support needs.

It is common for fans with additional needs, such as autism, to experience significant anxiety due to large crowds, loud cheering, floodlights, sights and sounds during a match. The Visit with Picturepath app allows supporters to create personalised visual timetables.

Glossop North End’s Surrey Street is the latest of many sporting venues across the UK to improve its access and inclusivity to offer a fair and equal matchday experience for all fans.

Through dedicated visual visitor guides, hosted on the free Picturepath app, fans will be able to see, plan and prepare for each stage of their matchday visit.

Fans can create their very own visual timelines to plan their visit by using images from around the club, including transport, entrances, views from seats, toilets and catering.

Speaking of the partnership, Picturepath’s founder, Richard Nurse said: "We're really excited that Glossop North End, in conjunction with support from the Trident Community Fund, are the first non-league club to go live with visitor guides. The club's commitment to inclusivity and support for fans is a high priority, and we're excited to help provide that to people visiting Surrey Street."

Dan Bates, Club Secretary at Glossop North End said: “Inclusivity is something we take very seriously and this innovative app further strengthens our offering for fans, particularly those with additional needs on matchdays & outside events. It's fantastic to see GNE setting the trend and we're very proud to have become the first non-league club in the country to go live with the app.

"It really is a massive boost for our community inclusion and our commitment to make the GNE matchday experience enjoyable for all visitors. We're incredibly pleased that with help and support from the Trident Community Fund, we have been able to launch this new initiative that we believe will be beneficial to a wide variety of visitors."

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