West Midlands Safari Park (WMSP) in Bewdley, Worcestershire, will host their first ‘quiet morning’ in celebration of World Autism Awareness Month.
The animal park, have shared plans of their commitment to inclusivity, including an upcoming morning for guests with additional needs.
On Sunday 28th April, they will host their first ‘quiet morning’, welcoming guests who would like to explore the parks walk-through areas, with limited stimulation.
WMSP will open at an earlier time of 9am and for the first hour and a half, they will have no music or immersive sounds playing. Guests will also have the option for an open Safari Drive time slot, giving them more flexibility during their day.
Their Treetops Pavilion event space will be open as a quiet area, where guests can take part in some crafts, animal artefact talks, or just take some time out.
Head of Operations and People, Charlotte Stokes, said, “One of our company values is togetherness and it’s through embracing and respecting diversity in people that this is achieved.
“We are committed to continuing to develop an inclusive environment for all our guests and team members, and it’s been a pleasure to gain insight from a range of diverse voices to help us reach this exciting moment.”
As well as quiet mornings, which they hope to run more of throughout the year and for special events, WMSP have revealed further DEAI (Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, Inclusion) plans.
These include:
- A permanent quiet room in the Adventure Theme Park – a safe space for guests to visit when they feel like they need a calm break from all the fun.
- As part of the African Walking Trail development, which offers a more peaceful environment, a sensory garden will be created along the route.
- They already have a social story, which is a sensory guide for guests, informing them of what they can expect to see, hear and smell in certain areas, so this will be expanded to include a trail map of busy and stimulating areas, so guests can more efficiently plan their visit.
- Additionally, staff will be partaking in training sessions, including how to communicate with Makaton and they will be hiring out ear defenders, for guests that need them, for a returnable deposit.
The quiet morning and all the activities are included in the admission charge.
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