Last weekend, The Guardian ran a comprehensive article introducing the world to Gig Buddies, a scheme set up by Paul Richards of Heavy Load aimed at pairing up those with learning disabilities and those without to attend a range of music events across the country. Richards noted that these opportunities were limited to some, due to strict shift restrictions on many carers.
The scheme regularly recruits new volunteers to attend these events with their “buddy”, and equally is available to those with learning difficulties. Currently it’s limited to the Sussex area, however as word spreads, there might be new initiatives popping up all over the UK.
According to the Gig Buddies website, you don’t need to have any particular experience, you need to be:
– Able to help a person with a learning disability to make decisions about what kind of events they’d like to go to.
– Able to commit to two days of training, to one event per month with your buddy, and to attending social meet-ups every two months.
– Friendly and kind, with a good sense of humour.
– Willing to get to know somebody well, and to have a good gig buddying relationship with them, based on mutual respect and shared interests.
– Committed to Stay Up Late’s campaign to ensure that people with learning disabilities are enabled to live active social lives and make their own choices about how they live.
– Proactive and reliable.
– Because gig buddying is all about getting to know somebody, we usually ask that you’ll be around for at least a year.
For more information on the Gig Buddies scheme, for both possible volunteers and those with learning disabilities, head to the official website.
Also, The Guardian article is well worth a read.