Gig Buddies Hull & East Yorkshire
A befriending scheme supporting people with learning disabilities to go to gigs
How Gig Buddies Works
Gig Buddies is a scheme which brings friendship and a love of music together. It helps people with learning disabilities to do the things they enjoy!
Gig Buddies matches pairs with and without learning disabilities together based on common interests. It aims to form long term friendships and connections.
It doesn’t just have to be gigs, some of our gig buddies go to the cinema, theatre, go for meals out and lots more!
Being a Gig Buddy is great fun and a true celebration of community and inclusion.
Gig Buddies was first started in 2013 in Sussex by the Charity Stay Up Late, and since then they’ve been supporting other organisations (like Hull Red) to run their own version of the project.
Click on the video to watch a short documentary about Gig Buddies from our friends at Gig Buddies Sussex
How to become a Gig Buddy
If you want to become a Gig Buddy or are interested in finding out more, it’s really easy. If you are interested, click on the button, fill in a few details, and Emily our Gig Buddies Project Leader will be in touch.
There will be a follow up “About Me” form where there are basic questions about your interests and what you’d like to do at Gig Buddies. You can do this online or in person with Emily who can talk you through it. You will also meet with Emily for a chat who will get you started and introduce you to some Gig Buddies.
If you’d like to find out a bit more right now, click on on the Frequently Asked Questions button.
Gig Buddies Monthly Music & Social Nights
Every second Tuesday of the month Gig Buddies host a social at Wrecking Ball Music and Books on Whitefriargate in Hull. The night is a chance for people to hang out, listen to music and grab a drink.
You do not have to be a Gig Buddy to come along to the Music & Social Nights at the Wrecking Ball.
If you want to come along or find out more, click the button and fill in a few details.
We start at 7pm and finish at 9pm and all music nights take place at:
Wrecking Ball Music & Books, 15 Whitefriargate, Hull, HU1 2ER
Tuesday 19th March 2024
Tuesday 9th April 2024
Tuesday 14th May 2024
Tuesday 11th June 2024
Tuesday 9th July 2024
Tuesday 13th August 2024
Monthly Music Nights - 2023 Dates
Gig Buddy volunteers make a difference
Through matching up a person with a learning disability with a volunteer who commits to at least
one gig per month, Stay Up Late’s evaluation showed that:
86% said they see their Gig Buddy as their friend
82% said they felt really able to make decisions about what they want to do with their buddy
76% said they’re more aware of other ways they can now spend their spare time
79% said they go out more in the evenings as a result of gig Buddies (not just with their buddy)
90% said that having a Gig Buddy makes them feel less lonely
78% said they’d made new friends in addition to their Gig Buddy volunteer