Learning Disability Wales is delighted to announce that our Gig Buddies Cymru befriending project in north Wales has been awarded major new funding from the National Lottery Community Fund.
The funding will help people with a learning disability and/or autism in north Wales to lead active social lives, whilst tackling loneliness and building inclusive communities through friendship, culture and fun.
We have been awarded £397,000 to support our work across the six counties in north Wales over the next three years. This will allow Gig Buddies Cymru to grow its reach and deepen its impact in regions where people with a learning disability often face barriers to social opportunities, independence, and visibility.
The funding will help many more people with a learning disability and/or autism in north Wales to enjoy friendship and a social life through culture, sport and other interests. 3 new roles – including a paid job for a person with a learning disability – will be created to deliver the work, in addition to our two project coordinators currently working across north Wales.
Gig Buddies connects people with a learning disability and/or autism with a volunteer gig buddy from their local community who shares the same interests. Together they attend concerts, theatre, sport, museums, restaurants, walks and other social activities, whilst building genuine friendships.
The concept is simple, but it has a significant impact on the lives of both participants and volunteers. Participants say that it greatly improves their independence, confidence, and self-esteem, whilst both participants and volunteers report that it improves their mental health and well-being.
The Gig Buddies initiative was started by Sussex-based charity Stay Up Late in 2013. Learning Disability Wales brought it to Wales in 2018, and we now cover Cardiff, Swansea Neath Port Talbot, and north Wales.
Why Gig Buddies is needed everywhere
Our own research has found a stark picture of loneliness and isolation experienced by people with a learning disability in their communities. Barriers include lack of support (particularly in the evenings), poor and confusing public transport, confidence, money, and most importantly a lack of genuine friendship.
Research by Stay Up Late has found that on an average Friday evening at 8.30pm, 70% of adults with a learning disability are either in bed or getting ready to go to bed, with only 7% out of their home enjoying social activities.
These barriers prevent people with a learning disability having the life they want. Over 70% of people with a learning disability told us they wanted a gig buddy, with this shared by parents/carers and service providers.
What the funding will enable us to do
The funding from the National Lottery Community Fund we will allow Gig Buddies in north Wales to:
- Expand our team.
- Reach more people with a learning disability and/or autism.
- Recruit more volunteers.
- Make more gig buddy matches.
- Work with buddies to put on social events.
- Broaden opportunities for buddies.
- Strengthen partnerships with local arts, music and sports venues to ensure accessibility and inclusion.
- Work collaboratively with stakeholders in the communities and raising awareness with the public.
Our buddies will be at the heart of everything we do.
Joy, belonging and shared experiences
Zoe Richards, CEO of Learning Disability Wales, said: “We are over the moon to receive this funding. The funding will be life-changing for the hundreds of people with learning disabilities and/or autism who’ll now get the chance to connect, make friends, and feel part of their community.
“At its heart, Gig Buddies is about joy, belonging and shared experiences, and this grant means we can bring that to so many more people. As a team, we’re incredibly proud – and personally, I’m grateful to see this support for a project we believe in so deeply.”
Recruitment
We will be launching a recruitment drive soon for the following new roles:
- A project coordinator – who will join our two existing coordinators in North Wales.
- A project support coordinator – who will cover project admin, comms, and help plan social events.
- A project ambassador who has a learning disability and/or autism – who will promote the project and assist gig buddies in planning their own social events.
Keep an eye on our social channels for when the vacancies go live.
For more information on Gig Buddies Cymru, including applying to become a gig buddy volunteer, please email gigbuddies@ldw.org.uk or phone 029 2068 1160.
We are always looking for new gig buddy volunteers in all our areas.
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