Ambitious North East Autism Society development enters phase two
Part of our ongoing Growing Futures appeal, the second phase of development will see several new buildings erected – including a cider mill, a farm shop, and a café.
Football museum’s ‘outstanding’ teamwork earns gold acceptance award
A unique museum built around the North East’s passion for football has played a blinder in achieving a gold award for its “outstanding” support of autistic people.
The Fans Museum, in Sunderland, has been awarded the Gold Standard for Autism Acceptance by the North East Autism Society (NEAS).
The museum was founded by Michael Ganley as an outreach project in 2014, and it has been based in the former Monkwearmouth Railway Station building since December 2017 when he took on the lease of the listed building.
As well as a vast collection of international football memorabilia, the museum also features artefacts from other areas of local history, including the mining industry, shipyards, railways, and local breweries.
The museum’s community service includes a mental health hub, supporting 83 people, including 26 who are autistic.
It also has a group of regular autistic volunteers – known as ‘ambassadors’ – who help with a range of tasks, including meeting and greeting, digital skills, and being on hand to open and close the building.
One of the museum’s autistic ambassadors has since found paid employment at Beamish Museum.
Michael said: “When the museum was established, our aim was to be a beacon for autism, neurodiversity and other health conditions.
“We were already in a strong position when we started working with NEAS, but the training has enabled us to make tweaks to make what we do even better. Getting an accolade wasn’t our primary aim, the priority was to improve our care and support, but we’re proud to receive the gold award.
“NEAS provided us with a real spine, based on huge experience, and we were able to use that to build on the work we had already put in place. It has been a great partnership, and we look forward to it continuing.”
Kevin Richardson, Project and Compliance Lead at the museum, added: “It’s been such a pleasure working on this project with NEAS because it is such a supportive organisation that has helped us to enhance our reputation as a safe and inclusive place to come.”
Kerrie Highcock, Family Development Manager for NEAS, who leads on the training, paid tribute to the museum for its “outstanding” work in achieving the gold standard.
She said:
“While on the surface this may look like a museum of Sunderland Football Club memorabilia, but it is much more than that. It is about connection, friendship, and a space for people to feel like they belong.”
Kerrie added: “The group of autistic volunteers were central to the gold award process, taking great pride in showing me around every inch of the space, while an environmental audit was carried out.
“Throughout the whole team, there was a clear desire to understand the barriers to access and a commitment to making changes. I look forward to seeing what other joint working opportunities we can create together.”
The museum is now in talks to establish safe outreach hubs in Prince Bishops Place shopping centre, in Durham, and The Bridges Shopping Centre in Sunderland.
To learn more about the Fans Museum, visit fansmuseum.org
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