Gig Buddies(Aldingbourne Trust)

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.