We’re delighted to welcome Victoria Waller to the Learning Disability Wales team. We asked Victoria to tell us about herself and their new role as Ambassador for Gig Buddies in north Wales.

Shwmae pawb. I’m excited and thrilled to have joined Learning Disability Wales as the Gig Buddies Ambassador for north Wales, working alongside our project coordinators Sian and John, and the wider Gig Buddies team in south Wales. Diolch yn fawr iawn to the National Lottery Community Fund for funding my role.

My role includes:

  • Talking to people about how Gig Buddies Cymru helps adults with a learning disability and/or autism to lead active social lives. This includes organisations and groups who work with people with a learning disability, as well as organisations in the arts and sports sectors, such as arts venues and sports clubs.
  • Helping gig buddies to plan social events – including new activities, culture and experiences they haven’t been able to try before.

I will also be promoting Gig Buddies at gigs, conferences and other events, making videos for our social media, taking part in interviews for the media, and working with Stay Up Late Ambassadors to help people with a learning disability to enjoy their right to ‘Stay Up Late’.

If you would like me to talk to your group or promote Gig Buddies at your venue or organisation, please get in touch with me at gigbuddies@ldw.org.uk.

You may know me already as Gig Buddies’ Social Media Volunteer – and I’m happy to say that I’ll be carrying on with this role in my spare time.

Outside of work, I enjoy socialising and spending time with family and friends, photography, swimming, arts and crafts, gaming, travelling, using my laptop and going for a coffee at the many wonderful cafes near where I live. I am originally from Somerset but now live on beautiful Ynys Môn.

I have a learning disability called Partial Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum, which can be referred to as a brain injury since it relates to a part of the brain structure connecting the two hemispheres which is missing. While some connections are formed, there are not enough to fully link both sides.

Despite the fact I have a learning disability/brain injury, I will never allow it to define who I am as a person, prevent me from reaching my goals and ultimately, living my life to the full. I have achieved so much over the years, triumphed over adversities and overcome many obstacles but also gained a lot of lived experience. You can find out more of my story in this talk I gave to All Wales People First’s AdFest in 2024.

We are always looking for new gig buddy volunteers across north Wales. Get in touch to find out how spending a few hours a month doing the things you love can change the life of someone in your community. Phone 029 2068 1160 or email gigbuddies@ldw.org.uk.