@gigbuddies.bsky.social
A small but mighty charity calling for active social lives for people with learning disabilities and autistic people. Home of #GigBuddies, Nesta New Radical, the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service, and the #NoBedtimes #OurRightToParty campaigns.
Gig Buddies sat outside the pub waiting for the rock gig to start.
Back to our roots for #StayUpLateWeek with a night of loud guitars, big energy and even bigger grins ⚡
For one buddy, it was their first ever rock gig—and they absolutely loved it. A powerful reminder of why inclusive, accessible spaces matter.
We hope your Stay Up Late week is going well! 🎸
The Stay Up Late team out clubbing last Stay Up Late Week.
#StayUpLateWeek has officially started! 🎉🕺
This week is about choice, freedom, friendship – and making noise about the right to have a real social life.
Let’s make this the loudest, funnest and most joyful #StayUpLateWeek yet.
Let’s party with purpose.
🚨 We want to hear from YOU! 🚨
Take five minutes to complete our survey and let us know if you can stay up late! We want to understand how people with learning disabilities and autistic people are spending their evenings.
forms.gle/wKoiDJXNP8ZL...
#SelfAdvocate #LearningDisability #NoBedtimes
A graphic that says 'Join us for this year's Stay Up Late Week - Fight for the right to party and stay up late in your local community. Whether you have a disability or not, anyone can get involved!
📅 5th–11th May 2025 is Stay Up Late Week – and everyone’s invited.
You can join in too:
💜 Plan your own night out
💜 Share your photos and stories using #StayUpLateWeek
💜 Tell us why you think it’s important
Let’s show the world that a good life doesn’t end at 9pm.
A prize winner at the Record Day Raffle collecting his prize.
A huge THANK YOU to the brilliant team at @resident-music.com for raising money to support our work! 💙
We’re so grateful for your generosity—and for choosing to back a charity that believes everyone should have the right to a fun social life, full of music, no matter their support needs!
A selfie of a few of the gig buddies partners after Partners Day.
Partners Day 2025 👏
Thanks to everyone who came along and made it such an interesting day! We feel excited for what’s to come…
We did forget to take a photo with the full group, so this was a last minute selfie to save the day (Thanks Sorrel)!
A great read from our partners up in Scotland:
www.theskinny.co.uk/music/interv...
Great day for a raffle 🖤
15.04.2025 08:49 — 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0DJ Dan on the decks 🕺
Dark Globe on next
And don’t forget our @gigbuddies.bsky.social charity raffle at 6:30pm!
This Saturday we have 3 turntables to be won in our annual charity raffle for @gigbuddies.bsky.social 🥳
You could get your hands on:
- Audio Technica LP60XBT (donated by @richersounds.com)
- Brad Retro MK II Turntable or a Solar Edition Turntable (donated by Gadhouse)
More info below 👇
Gig Buddies out at the pub at night.
🌙 Safer in Sussex – we want to hear from you!
We’re planning a project to find out what helps people feel safe on nights out. It’s a big issue for many of our Gig Buddies, and we want to start some real conversations—with the community and those working in safety.
Save the date & come along! 💬👀
Hope you had a great day Rohan!
10.04.2025 16:29 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0Calling all Brightonians (and further afield, it's worth it)!
Thanks @resident-music.com for never failing to support us AND smashing @recordstoredayuk.bsky.social every year!
Brighton Gig Buddies at the pub.
Gig Buddies in Crawley at a pub social.
Brighton and West Sussex Socials livening up your local pubs!
Our socials are a great opportunity to meet new people and get involved in the Gig Buddies community 🎉
#VolunteerOpportunity #LearningDisability #Friends
Rohan presenting at University of Brighton.
Rohan & Florence headed to @uniofbrighton.bsky.social to run a workshop for newly qualified #SocialWorkers, sharing insights on how to make care truly #person-centred — and what that actually means in practice! 👏🖤
01.04.2025 13:23 — 👍 2 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
A boombox speaker made out of paper mache.
Tape that says Heavy Load.
We have some goodies for people!
First up, the Boominator – make a donation or come collect it for free. We’d like it to go to a home that rocks our values! #HeavyLoad
We also have some old t-shirts (in dif sizes so message us before) that you can come collect too!
Two gig buddies with Fat Freddie from the tribute band.
Our buddies had a riot at a Fat Freddie And The Queens' gig.
A perfect example of how to make people feel included however they like to party.
Read Malcolm’s bog to hear more about the night 🕺
gigbuddies.org.uk/dont-stop-us...
We hear so many great stories from @ageukbradford.bsky.social and their Buddies project! Good luck with the book club and dinner club!
25.03.2025 10:54 — 👍 2 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0Just the book we were looking for 🖤
25.03.2025 10:51 — 👍 2 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Another massive shoutout to The Hope & Ruin for all the fundraising they do. Even when celebrating their birthday they managed to share the love and raised £250 ❤
10 years of great gigs and community – Here’s to 10 more!
www.brightonandhovenews.org/2025/02/17/t...
A bed that has "#No Bedtime" spray painted on it.
Can you choose your bedtime?
We want to know how adults with learning disabilities &/or autistic adults spend their evenings & if they can choose their bedtimes!
If you have lived experience/support someone who does – please fill in our survey (online or easy read): stayuplate.org/the-stay-up-...
Gig Buddies out at a social in Brighton.
A gig buddy playing pool at the pub.
A great Gig Buddies social at Neurotune - a sensory-friendly gig in Brighton! 🎶
We had an awesome time & especially liked being able to go to the quiet room and play pool! Can’t wait till the next one 👀
Gig Buddies chanting at a football match.
Gig Buddies wearing Seagulls football merchandise.
A polaroid of Gig Buddies in matching Brighton football shirts.
Our buddies have been having a ball at recent matches! ⚽🎉
(Of course, all football allegiances are their own… and we’re totally not biased… SEAGULLS! 😉)
Gig Buddies at a karaoke social being silly together.
Happy Friday from two of our fine Gig Buddies! Have a great weekend and don’t forget to STAY UP LATE!✨🎶🎸
28.02.2025 16:06 — 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Gig Buddies who are also members of our LGBTQ+ advisory Group the 'Wild Rainbows' at Pride in the Park for a day festival.
In our latest blog, Jaydog talks Pride.
From the power of representation to the joy of celebrating exactly who you are, Jaydog reminds us why we should all keep making noise! 🎤✨
Read the full blog here: gigbuddies.org.uk/stay-up-late...
#Pride #InclusionMatters #EqualAbleSexual #BeLoudBeProud
Jess and Tom match meeting.
Jess and Tom bowling.
Jess and Tom at a gig.
Jess and Tom at Thorpe Park.
Gig Buddies Jess & Tom have been matched for over a year 🎉
They started off with bowling & getting to know each other, building up to Tom’s first gig in 17 years and an unforgettable trip to @thorpepark.bsky.social 🎢
Our buddies make a difference, not just as volunteers, but as friends.
If you're unsure about how to bring the Stay Up Late way into practice, this is a great place to start!
18.02.2025 12:09 — 👍 5 🔁 2 💬 0 📌 0Pre order link included below. And all author profits to the very brilliant Stay Up Late mob via @gigbuddies.bsky.social
#NoBedTimes
#OurRightToParty
Big news: our Founder & Executive Director, Paul, is stepping down. Thank you for all you’ve done to make this charity what it is today. Your energy has made a lasting impact & we’ve no doubt you’ll keep making waves!
To stay in touch with Paul - follow www.linkedin.com/in/heavyload/
Get to know the the organisations and projects providing great personalised and community-based support for people from Black, Asian, and other underrepresented communities.
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