The Whistle Foundation
Our Mission is to enable children with SEND (sensory needs) and children from disadvantaged backgrounds to watch professional sport by providing every sporting stadium with a sensory rooms.
Project Overview
Since the inception of our project to “bring sport to every child,” we have taken over 20 children into the sensory room at Wolves FC and provided match tickets for another 85 children. For many of these children, it was their first time attending a live sports match, representing a significant personal achievement for them. All of this has been possible due to the intervention and hard work of the charity.
In the 2023/24 football season, we provided over £500 worth of sporting equipment and nutritional support in alignment with our ‘Believing’ strategic objective to Amethyst 6th Form’s Football Academy. This support has enabled them to reach high performance levels, ultimately leading them to win their league!
Why Are We Crowdfunding?
At The Whistle Foundation, we are working tirelessly with various stakeholders within the sports and government sectors to deliver sensory provisions in all stadiums, supporting our ‘Seeing’ strategic objective. Our goal is to equip all 92 EFL football clubs and all 18 First-Class cricket clubs (one of which currently lacks a sensory room) with a dedicated sensory space, or at the very least, mobile sensory provisions. This initiative will allow children and young people with disabilities to experience sports.
We are utilizing crowdfunding to fund our sensory bag projects, enabling us to produce them quickly, efficiently, and on schedule for various organizations that have expressed interest. Each sensory bag will include a printed drawstring bag from The Whistle Foundation, ear defenders, sunglasses, fidget toys, and other sensory equipment. These resources will help children with specific needs to access sporting events, whether they are watching live sports or participating in coaching sessions.
Check out the live projects we're supporting
Derbyshire Children's Seaside Holiday Home
Derbyshire Children's Holiday Centre offers free seaside holidays in Skegness for children in Derbyshire who are experiencing poverty, trauma, or difficult circumstances. For more than 135 years, we have provided safe and enjoyable experiences that foster confidence, friendships, and hope giving children a chance to escape their daily pressures and create lasting memories.
Martin House Childens Hospice
Martin House Children’s Hospice provides free, specialist palliative care to babies, children and young people with life-limiting conditions across North, West and East Yorkshire. For almost 40 years, it has supported families through symptom management, respite breaks, emergency and end-of-life care, emotional support and bereavement services. In 2024–25, Martin House supported more than 550 children and young people.
