News

Rangers Manager Graeme Murty today (Friday 6 April) helped the Rangers Charity Foundation promote our National Charity Partnership with Scottish Autism ahead of Saturday’s match against Dundee.

Prior to kick-off and at half-time, a specially created short film will be shown on the big screens in the Stadium, depicting the journey made by Jack, a young autistic Rangers fan, as he comes to see his favourite team play at Ibrox.  

Based on the real life experiences of autistic people and their families, the short-film, which features a cameo by Rangers legend Mark Hateley, aims to portray how a simple journey for some, can be more challenging for an autistic person, with all its accompanying sights, sounds and other sensory challenges.

Graeme commented: “The players and staff really appreciate every fan who comes to support us and it is great that the Charity Foundation and Scottish Autism are working together to make it easier for people with autism to do that. I hope all supporters will enjoy seeing the video on Saturday.”

The short film is just one of the results of our National Charity Partnership with Scottish Autism, which has seen the Foundation pledge to raise £20,000 this season to help fund the charity’s Autism Advice Line and to create a social area within its new residential service, Founders House.

Last week, we also launched a new football programme for children aged between nine and 12 who are autistic. The youngsters will take part in 90 minute training sessions once a month at The Rangers Football Centre with Rangers community coaches, who have undergone autism awareness training from Scottish Autism.

Rangers Charity Foundation Director Connal Cochrane commented: “Together with Scottish Autism we hope to raise awareness and understanding of autism among supporters. Although the short film depicts a trip to the football it shows some of the obstacles autistic people face every day.

“We are looking forward to showing the video and welcoming staff and volunteers from Scottish Autism to Ibrox on Saturday. As well as showing the video, we have arranged for representatives of the charity to be in the Fan Zone before the game to speak to supporters, the players will warm up in Scottish Autism branded T-shirts and Broxi Bear will be joined for the day by the charity’s mascot Wallace the Bear.

Scottish Autism’s Fundraising Manager, Karen Wilson added: “We are delighted to work in partnership with the Rangers Charity Foundation to increase accessibility for autistic people and their families attending a football match, whilst helping to raise public awareness and understanding of autism.

“We are also hugely grateful to the Rangers Charity Foundation and their supporters, for pledging to raise £20,000 for our Autism Advice Line, which provides emotional and practical support to autistic people and their families, and to create a social area within our new residential service, Founders House.  This donation will help make a huge difference to the hundreds of autistic people across Scotland who access our services daily.”

Saturday’s game coincides with More Than Football Action Weeks. The #Morethanfootball Action Weeks, organised by the European Football for Development Network (EFDN), are part of a campaign for the European football community to showcase the impact of their investment in community and social responsibility activities and programmes.

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