About Gig Buddies
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Include Me co-produced resources for the 2026 Senedd elections alongside people with a learning disability A learning disability is to do with the way someone's brain works. It makes it harder for someone to learn, understand or do things. in Powys.
With a new voting system and an increase in the number of Senedd Members, we felt it was important to ensure people with a learning disability better understood devolution, how we
vote
People vote in an election. In elections for councillors or MPs, you vote by putting a cross next to the name of the person you want to choose. In less formal elections, like in a small group, you might vote by putting your hand up. The person with the most votes wins.
and how the new system will work.
You can access and download our resources below.
Social get-togethers at Gig Buddies
As well as matching pairs of buddies and volunteers we also organise regular socials in Bradford like gig nights, coffee mornings, meals out and bowling. Through these group socials you can meet other like-minded people and make new friends.
Volunteering at Gig Buddies
"Everyone is friendly, professional and reliable. I love hanging out with everyone. It’s been nice to get to know Bradford as I’m not from here originally and learn loads of new skills. I like the fact we’re a small family and if we need any help or support we can get in touch"
- Vicky, a Gig Buddies volunteer
We’re always looking for new buddies and volunteers
Let us know if you are interested in being part of Gig Buddies either as a buddy or a volunteer or for additional information, please email our Gig Buddies coordinator, Andy Warren or telephone him on 07970 962 652
Volunteering in your community A community is the people and places in an area. is your chance to make a difference locally to the lives of people with a learning disability. With Gig Buddies you can connect with someone who shares similar interests while supporting them to get out and enjoy a full and varied social life.
Mencap will provide volunteers with:
- the opportunity to go to great events and meet new people.
- the opportunity to support someone with a learning disability to live a life like anyone else and make choices about how you spend social time together.
- expenses Expenses means the money you spend to buy things or pay for services. reimbursed up to £10 a month.
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Induction
An induction is when someone shows you where things are and what you need to know. You will get an induction if you start a new job at Mencap.
training - friendly ongoing support, mentoring and guidance Guidance means being given clear instructions to be able to do something well. from a local coordinator.
Yes - all Gig Buddies volunteers go through an induction training programme.
This generally takes a few hours and covers areas such as:
- an introduction to learning disability
- communication
- safeguarding Keeping people safe from being hurt, abused, or neglected is called Safeguarding.
- 'what to do if' scenarios.
All volunteers must complete an Enhanced
DBS check
A DBS check is a Disclosure and Barring Service check that looks to see if you have a criminal record.
and we also ask for two references.
We also recommend that new pairs of buddies come to a social for their first gig together, we're on hand to provide any support too.
If you become a buddy, you will benefit from:
- being supported to try new things
- going out in the evening and feeling safe
- getting to know new people
- making new friends.
Gig Buddies is aimed at people with a mild to moderate learning disability, particularly those who get little or no funded support as there is a risk that this group of people will be most at risk from social isolation.
We typically aim to engage people aged 18-35. This is because we want to reduce loneliness for the next generation of people with a learning disability and support them to have lasting friendships and connections.
The Gig Buddies coordinator meets everyone who gets
involved
Involved is being included in something or taking part in something.
in the scheme (buddies and volunteers) and will conduct an initial
interview
An interview is a meeting where you talk to someone or a group of people about something. When you have an interview for a job, you have to answer questions and say why you would be good at the job. The person who gives the best answers is offered the job.
.
This enables them to make an informed decision about who to match with who.
The buddy and volunteer will then be introduced to each other at a matching meeting led by the coordinator.
It's totally fine if a pairing doesn't work out.
We believe it is important to ensure that the person with a learning disability is in control of who their buddy is.
If it doesn't work out we'll offer support to see if there's something we can do to resolve the relationship, but on the rare occasions it doesn't work at all, we'll support you to find a new buddy.
Anything at all! We encourage people to say what their interest is. That could be playing or watching sport, walking, or going to the theatre.
Whatever your interest, we'll aim to find a match!
The support provided by our Gig Buddies
service
A service gives people what they need, like healthcare services that help people when they are ill, and support services that give people support.
is free, funded by Bradford Metropolitan District
Council
A council is also called a local authority. They are a group of people who make decisions about some of the things in the area where you live. These include: schools, social care (support for people), parks and dustbin collection.
. However, we expect participants to pay for tickets to events and other activities, and travel costs.
We do reimburse volunteer expenses - up to £10 a month.
Mencap’s Gig Buddies service is part of a wider Gig Buddies scheme funded by the City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council. Age UK deliver a similar service to older residents living in Bradford as part of the scheme.
Our Gig Buddies service benefits from training, peer support and resources from the charity, Stay Up Late who created the Gig Buddies project model on which the service is based.
The Gig Buddies project began from a
campaign
A campaign is when people work together to try to change something.
in 2006 to fight for the
rights
Rights are the things everyone should be allowed to do like have a say, or go to school.
of people with learning disabilities to “stay up late” and not be restricted by
support worker
Support workers are people who are paid to give care and support to people who need it.
shifts.
In 2013 Stay Up Late started Gig Buddies as a practical solution to this, matching volunteers and people with learning disabilities who shared interests around music to go to gigs together.
Stay Up Late now share the Gig Buddies project model with like-minded organisations Organisations are groups like companies and businesses. around the UK and even in Sydney, Australia.
The project has evolved over the years and now matches people to be "buddied" for a range of activities, not just gigs and music.
Our Gig Buddies service looks to support volunteers and their buddies to access whatever activities and events they are interested in at whichever times suit them best.
Mencap currently only has funding to deliver this service in Bradford.
However, there are other Gig Buddies projects around the UK.
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