Welcome to Gig Buddies Central Coast
What is Gig Buddies?
There are three main parts to the Gig Buddies project.
1. Buddying
Building a one-on-one friendship between a participant and volunteer.
2. Events/Socials
Group social events run by the Gig Buddies team.
3. Volunteering
Catching up with a Gig Buddies participant once a month
Who is Gig Buddies for?
Who is it for?
A Gig Buddies participant is an adult with mild to moderate learning disability and/or autism, who wants to make new friends and go to events.
A Gig Buddies volunteer is someone who wants to expand their social circles, make friends and go to events.
Buddying
How "Buddying" works
The Gig Buddies team matches and pairs a volunteer and an adult with a mild to moderate learning disability and/or autism.
Buddies are paired based on mutual interests - such as music tastes, sport and hobbies - and other factors such as location and age.
Once paired, buddies go out together once a month for a year (or longer).
Testimonials
Tahli genuinely enriches my life. Never did I think I would have found such a lifelong friend.
I have enjoyed the freedom that Gig Buddies offers as a volunteer program - e.g. I am able to set up times with Jess independently to what suits our schedules best.
Andrew is chuffed to have a friend outside his peer group. Bosh is a wonderful person; we consider him a member of our family.
What do buddies do?
Buddied-up participants and volunteers catch up once a month and choose the "gigs" they both want to go to together.
A "gig" is whatever you want it to be.
It can be...
opera, theatre, sport, bushwalking, bowling, movies, having dinner, playing pool, surfing, food markets, musical theatre, go cart racing, horse riding, dancing, video games, train spotting, mini golf etc...
get involved...
the NDIS
Gig Buddies and the NDIS
The standard monthly charge to support the project is 3 hours per month from Core Support or Capacity Building.
The charge covers; recruiting, vetting, matching & training volunteers to partner with participants to build friendships & attend live music, sport and other events.
The monthly charge also includes access* to the many Gig Buddies hosted online and live activities and events.
(*some events have additional charges)
the "Soul Fly Buddies"
Gig Buddies is a
"user-led" project
In the UK and Australia, participants are involved in the running of the project.
In Australia this group of participants call themselves the "Soul Fly Buddies".
They meet once a month to talk about the project and help with ideas, planning and making the project as inclusive as possible.
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Do you have an idea for the project?
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Would you like to discuss something with the Soul Fly Buddies?
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Would you like to get involved and/or join the Soul Fly Buddies?
...then click the link below to send a message to the "Soul Fly Buddies"