HIVE Directory: Advice

The CHAOS service provides services for young adults aged 13 - 75 with a learning disability or additional needs.

Running a COVID-19 Service including Telephone / Helpline Support, Walking Groups, Online and ZOOM as well as Video Calling

Dynamite believe that it is important that young people with a disability (including a special educational need) have their voices heard. They believe that services for young people are better when they listen to young people’s opinions and experiences.

Enham Trust is a disability charity based in Hampshire that supports disabled people to live, work and enjoy life to the full, as independently as possible.

Throughout our 100 year history we have provided vital care and support to over 250,000 disabled individuals with wide ranging physical and learning disabilities.

We also support 16-19yr olds who are not in education or work to gain the vital skills needed to get on track and further their careers and lives through our Skills2Achive centres in Portsmouth, Southampton, Eastleigh and Basingstoke.

The idea behind Gig Buddies is that we enable people with a learning disability and / or autism to enjoy everything great within their community.

To enable and support people to do this, we recruit volunteers from within the community who are then paired with individuals based on their likes and interests so they can attend events, socialise and enjoy a number of activities together.

By matching people with the same interests and passions this in turn develops into a genuine friendship and begins to diminish social isolation.

Each participant is matched with a volunteer and then plan to meet once a month to go to a gig, concert, theatre, football, cinema or a catch up in the local park or down the local pub. Group activities are planned monthly whereby everyone can get together and share their stories and make new friends.

By being paired with a gig buddy, not only are real friendships made but the experience increases self-confidence, teaches new skills, increases independent travel, expands social networks and enables people to have lots of fun.