gig buddies at a large outdoor concert with the crowd and stage in the distance behind themImagine if you had to leave every night out at 9pm?

This is reality for many people with learning disabilities. Volunteer as a gig buddy and use your love of music, sport, culture and fun to change someone’s life.

Being a gig buddy is easy. Whatever your interests and hobbies, you do what you love and you get a new friend to enjoy those things together.

How Gig Buddies helps to improve people’s lives

Gig Buddies Cymru helps adults with a learning disability and autistic adults to live their best lives.

Did you know that on an average Friday night at 8.30pm, 70% of adults with a learning disability are in bed or getting ready for bed? Only 7% are out with friends.

People with a learning disability often need support to help them live the life they want to live. But what do you do when your support isn’t available – especially past 9pm – or doesn’t share the same interests as you?

Gig Buddies has a solution: we pair up adults with a learning disability (and autistic adults) with a volunteer buddy who shares the same interests so they can enjoy social activities together. Simple and VERY effective!

People with a learning disability tell us that having a gig buddy has helped to improve their confidence, happiness, self-esteem and independence. Volunteers tell us that being a gig buddy has had a positive impact on their own well-being, helping them to meet like-minded people, discover new interests and form new friendships.

What does a gig buddy volunteer do?

You attend 1 event every month with a person who has a learning disability or is autistic and who likes the same things you do.

In between events you get together and help your buddy to choose and plan your next outing. This includes helping them find things they would like to do and practical/transport arrangements. We will give you training and ongoing support for this and we will cover some of the costs.

You can also come along to Gig Buddies socials. These are a great way to meet other volunteers and participants.

What is a gig?

Gig Buddies is about people with learning disabilities enjoying active social lives. So our definition of a ‘gig’ is very loose. It’s whatever you and your buddy say your ‘gig’ is.

It can be… musicals, theatre, sport, cinema, cafés, playing pool, concerts, wild swimming, drag shows, food markets, horse riding, museums, dancing, video games, clubbing, train spotting, comic cons, bird watching, mini golf, going to the gym, festivals, etc… 

What is the commitment?

You attend 1 event or social activity every month with your buddy, plus a catch-up in between to plan your next event. This works out at about 6 to 12 hours per month.

People with a learning disability are 7 times more likely to be lonely than non-disabled people. So we ask for a commitment of about 12 months to allow you and your buddy to get to know each other and build a friendship. We have some buddy pairs who have been buddies for years, while some volunteers step down after 12 months.

Being a gig buddy volunteer is flexible. As long as you can commit to meeting up with your buddy once a month for an event, it’s up to the both of you to choose when you do that.

You don’t need to have any particular experience…

But we ask that you are:

  • Friendly and kind.
  • Willing to get to know somebody well, and build a good gig buddying relationship with them, based on mutual respect and shared interests.
  • Proactive and reliable – part of the role is to help your buddy to find and arrange the events you go to together.
  • Able to meet up with your buddy once a month.
  • Willing to commit to being a gig buddy for at least a year.
  • Able to attend a 3 hour training course.

What do I get if I become a gig buddy volunteer?

We give you:

  • Free training
  • A free DBS check
  • Ongoing support and advice
  • Some expenses for each event you attend

Most importantly you will get a new friend!

How do I apply to become a Gig Buddy?

Complete this short form and one of our project coordinators will get in touch about meeting you. See below for the areas we cover*.

For more information email gigbuddies@ldw.org.uk or phone 029 2068 1160.

*South Wales: Cardiff, Neath, Port Talbot, Swansea. North Wales: Anglesey, Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Gwynedd, Wrexham.

5 steps to being a gig buddy volunteer

  1. Sign-up to be a gig buddy
    – Complete this short application form.
    – Meet your local project coordinator for an informal interview, with a chance to ask questions both ways. This takes about 1 hour.
  2. Training and DBS check
    – Attend a short training session to prepare you for gig buddying.
    – Complete a DBS check.
  3. We find you a gig buddy
    – We’ll think about the best gig buddy match for you, based on interests, personality, and if the person has any particular support needs.
  4. We pair you up with your gig buddy
    – We’ll introduce you to your gig buddy. Their support worker, family member, or friend, may join us.
    – Your project coordinator may attend your first gig with your buddy to give you both extra support.
  5. Enjoy regularly going to gigs with your gig buddy
    – It’s up to you to plan and enjoy fun evenings and days out with your gig buddy!
    – You can attend social events with other gig buddies.
    – Your project coordinator and the Gig Buddies Cymru team will be on hand to support you whenever you need it.