Autism-friendly grotto offers calmer experience

The Bodmin-based autism-friendly event includes quieter music, a sensory area and calming colours

A sensory Santa's grotto created by a mother from Cornwall is getting ready to welcome visitors for the festive season.

Katherine Blight's son was diagnosed with autism in 2018, and after being unable to find a grotto suitable for his needs, she organised one herself.

The Bodmin-based autism-friendly event includes quieter music, a sensory area and calming colours for users.

Ms Blight said previous iterations of the grotto had received "some amazing feedback" and the experience made her "very emotional".

'We shouldn't judge'

She said: "Since having our son, it's a big reality check actually not all children are just naughty.

"There are other things going on and we shouldn't just look and judge.

"We had a non-verbal gentlemen come two years ago and he said his first word, which was 'amazing'."

Ms Blight said her son struggled with the queuing process at previous events.

"A lot of children cannot stand in queues," she said.

"They cannot cope with the noise, different voices, different smells or that kind of thing, so we needed something that was more laid back."

'Affordable event'

Ms Blight said her charity, Austism Friendly Events Cornwall, had been approached to branch out and hold a grotto in Plymouth this year, she added it was dependent on funding.

The charity predominantly relies on its own fundraising and donations.

Ms Blight said she tried to keep the events "as affordable as we can", with tickets including a gift, crafts and unlimited access to the sensory area.

The Santa's Grotto in Bodmin would be running on the 7 and 8 December with tickets available online.