“Since joining Ashford Sensory FC, my daughter has made friends and feels so safe that she started talking. It has been life-changing for us.”
At school, seven-year-old Lilly-Rose was unable to speak, often hiding under her coat to block everything out. But after joining Ashford Sensory Football Club at the Stour Centre, something incredible happened.
A Miracle Breakthrough at Ashford Sensory Football Club
Lilly-Rose, who has learning disabilities and is in the process of an autism diagnosis, struggled to bond with other children. While she was full of energy and conversation at home, social anxiety left her silent outside.
That changed when her mum, Gemma, took her to Ashford Sensory FC, a club designed for children with complex disabilities and sensory needs. By the second session, Lilly-Rose was tugging on her coaches’ t-shirts, and by the third, she spoke her first words: “Come do this.”
Now, she confidently calls out to other children on the pitch, passing the ball and joining in ways Gemma never imagined. “She’s found a social activity she loves, and I wouldn’t have thought that was possible,” she says.
Inspired by her daughter’s transformation, Gemma now volunteers at the club’s younger session, helping other children experience the same joy and confidence.
“I would 100% recommend Ashford Sensory FC and the Stour Centre,” she says. “It’s been life-changing for us.”