Warwickshire County Cricket Club is continuing its journey to create the safest and most welcoming environment possible at Edgbaston Stadium by developing new multifaith, sensory and accessible spaces within the venue.
Ahead of Thursday’s opening Bears men’s team game in the Vitality Blast, Edgbaston now has three multifaith prayer facilities, with new spaces developed behind the Selco Builders Warehouse Family Stand and within the Edgbaston Cricket Centre, alongside the existing facility in the West Stand.
Following the stadium’s work with the Shippey Campaign, new sensory rooms to provide a safe and quiet space to support those with Neurodiverse conditions have been opened in at both ends of the venue; one within the third tier of the South Stand and then within the RES Wyatt Stand.
Two new nursing rooms have been developed, to support mothers with babies and a new disability changing facility created with the support of Changing Place. To support match officials, a new female changing room has also been developed.
“This is a journey that will never stop for us at Edgbaston,” said Operations Director Claire Daniel. “Regardless of gender, sexuality, religion, ethnicity, social background, education or neural or physical ability, we want cricket to be the most inclusive sport, and Edgbaston will be at the forefront of work in this area.
“We already had some facilities in place but have been doing our utmost in recent months to learn how we can get better. With the support of the ECB, who have been fantastic, we now have these facilities that make a tangible difference to those who want to watch cricket at Edgbaston.
Claire Daniel, Operations Director
“Ultimately it is those who come here who will be our judges and we are hopeful that recognise that progress has is being made and that Edgbaston is for Everyone.”
Kate & Peter Shippey from the Shippey Campaign said: “Congratulations to all of the team at Edgbaston for leading the way, and being the first cricket venue to install sensory room facilities.
“We’re so proud that another sport, and major stadium have installed our initiative. Everyone’s equal, everyone should have the same opportunities in life, and this game changing development opens a door to cricket fans.”
Edgbaston For Everyone was launched in mid-February to drive inclusivity within cricket, regardless of race, religion, gender, sexuality, class, social mobility, neural or physical ability. Alongside it, Warwickshire CCC became one of the first sporting organisations in the country to launch a Multifaith Charter as a tangible commitment to understanding the needs of different faiths.
The multifaith charter was developed in conjunction with representatives from Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Jain, Judaism and Sikhism in the West Midlands. Alongside this, the Club’s leadership team has made visits to several religious centres to understand more about each religion and the day-to-day implications of people wanting to practice their faith at Edgbaston.
