News / Exchange
The pioneering project bringing people together through live music
A project designed to bring people together, combat loneliness and make live music accessible for all is taking off in Bristol.
Gig Buddies is a nationwide scheme that pairs music lovers with autism or additional learning needs with a like-minded ‘buddy’ to chat about music and go to gigs together.
The partnership allows those with additional needs to experience live music with a peer as opposed to a parent or support worker.
Exchange, a community-owned venue in Old Market, first launched the scheme in the city in May and £10,000 of National Lottery Community Funds has enabled the training of six volunteers in the city, who are now organising their first meetings.
Six volunteers have been trained through the Gig Buddies programme in Bristol — photo courtesy of Gig Buddies Bristol
Iwan Best, Bristol’s Gig Buddies project lead and director at Exchange, explains: “Quite a lot of people we work with are able to go to gigs, but only with their parents or support workers. They miss out on independence and camaraderie. It’s so much better if they can meet people who also have their niche interests. We try really hard to match people up based on age, gender, music tastes etc.
“The project emphasises the importance of a good match, to put people together who have lots to talk about. Not only to make sure they are compatible, but to foster community and independence.”
The project boasts success, with 86 per cent of participants nationwide saying that they see their gig buddy as their friend and 90 per cent saying that having a gig buddy makes them feel less lonely.
While the Bristol branch is still in the process of establishing itself, they look to success stories across the country as a source of inspiration.
Iwan continued: “We’re too young a project to see this in action yet, but other Gig Buddies projects have seen people grow in confidence to the point where they are confident enough to go to gigs on their own or to go out and meet people on their own.”
If you are interested in volunteering with Gig Buddies or know somebody who may like a buddy, find out more here.
Main photo courtesy of the National Lottery Community Fund
Read more: Making events accessible for all through new buddy scheme
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