Gig Buddies miss their live music but find new ways to keep in touch

Stay Up Late is a national charity supporting people with learning disabilities to see live music through their volunteering befriending service called Gig Buddies, have launched a virtual online music festival.

The charity, which has gone from strength to strength in Sussex, was set up in 2010 to support people with learning disabilities to access mainstream music, art and culture by buddying them up with a local volunteer with the same interests.

However, like many charities, and with live music event currently on hold, Gig Buddies has had to rethink its usual services.

Tim Cobb, is a businessman from Eastbourne and he has been a Gig Buddy with Robert for some time. They usually enjoy nights out at Open Mic nights. Robert would struggle to access online gigs and does not have any means of getting on line. However, their friendship has proved important during the current crisis. Tim said: “I try to chat to Robert twice a week to check he is okay and that he understands what is happening. It can be very confusing for people with a learning disability. For Robert, he is blind and wheelchair bound, so it makes it even harder on him.

“Keeping in touch is really important. People can feel very isolated and it can be tough understanding what is happening in the big wide world. A friend has managed to connect Robert with Alexa and downloaded many of his telephone numbers. It means that, whenever he is bored, he can ask Alex to call somebody. My phone has never been so busy!

“I sometimes tell Robert that I have to get back to work, which he understands. Robert lives in a block of supported flats, so he has regular contact with his next door neighbour.”

“The isolation that I now feel through lockdown has been a good lesson for me. It has reminded me what everyday must be like for Robert. Although a support worker helps him during the day, there are many hours when he is alone in his flat.

“Gig Buddies does a fantastic job pairing up able-bodied folk with people of all ages with a learning disability. Robert and I are counting down the days when we can once again go to the theatres, Open Mic nights or just a have a cup of tea on the seafront.

“His birthday is coming up, but I fear he will be spending it alone. He has reminded me about his birthday date half a dozen times, so I must make sure I pop round a nice card and a box of chocolates.”

With all pubs and clubs now closed due to the current lockdown and with social distancing rules in place for the foreseeable future, the charity has brought the music to their beneficiaries, supporters and wider communities, in the form of their @Coronavirusfest.

Paul Richards, director of Gig Buddies, said: “We are all now experiencing what it feels like to have social isolation imposed on us by the current lockdown. Sadly, this is quite an ordinary experience for the 1.5 million people with learning disabilities who live in the UK.”

Many people with learning disabilities spend everyday in isolation due to a range or factors, including lack of support, not being able to access public transport, being frightened of going out at night, not having anyone to go with and poor mental health.

Paul continues: “We’re doing a number of things to make sure we’re connecting with the many people we work with during this time, such as regular phone check-ins, group socials on video conferences and daily interactions with those that are on social media.”

While all this is important, Paul said many Gig Buddies were missing their live music.

He said: “We wanted to find a way to keep the gigs going.

“So, we came up with the idea of @Coronavirusfest. Three times a week (on Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings) musicians and DJs stream a live set from their homes across Facebook at www.facebook.com/coronavirusfest.

“It’s open to all and it’s a place where artists, with and without learning disabilities, can entertain us all and keep some sense of community going.”

The project has been a big hit with members of Gig Buddies.

Saskia, 30, from Worthing, has been involved with gig buddies for four years.

She has a volunteer buddy who she attends a BLAGGS weekly football group with - who are a local LGBT sports group.

The charity has supported We have supported Saskia to live out two of her dreams - march in Brighton Pride and go to Glastonbury festival.

Since lockdown, Saskia has been helped by the charity to join regular coffee mornings and the LGBT advisory group The Wild Rainbows via zoom.

Saskia said: “I love Coronvirusfest, because it’s fun, and I can chat to my friends.”

Victoria, 26, from Bognor Regis, has been involved in gig buddies for three years.

She has been to day festivals and one overnight small camping festival with gig buddies as well as many events and conferences.

During lockdown she has been supported to work from home and took part in a one woman show on the gig buddies coronavirusfest page tonight!

She said: “I love that it brings everyone together for music and performance!”

Jason, 24, from East Sussex, has been involved with gig buddies for three years.

Jason has been supported by Gig Buddies to become an ambassador for the charity to talk at conferences, host his own chat show during lockdown and be part of regular evening socials doing quizzes and watching music.

He has loved taking part in Coronavirusfest and said: “My favourite thing was probably the rock house takeover I because I like their music.

“I also enjoyed doing my own performance because I got to make people happy and laugh!”

As lockdown and social distancing continues, we are all having a taste of what isolation feels like. The people behind Gig Buddies hope this may help many of us to understand how someone with a learning disability can feel and maybe help to change life for the better.

The Gig Buddies director said: “What I’m hoping, when this lockdown is all over, and we all get back to our ordinary way of existing, is that we will all also have changed in the process and more of us will be aware of all those people who will not really notice that the lockdown has ended. For them a life of isolation continues.

“That of course doesn’t need to happen and we’ll be working hard to recruit even more volunteers to support our ongoing work to give everyone the opportunity to party, or live life as they choose.”

To support the work of Gig Buddies the public can join the audience at @Coronavirusfest, become a performer, sign up as a volunteer and/or donate to support the charity’s ongoing work.

For more information on Gig Buddies visit www.gigbuddies.org.uk/coronavirusfest.