We’re excited to reveal our plans for the month of April.
On Friday 8 April we’ll be browsing the streets of Wyong as we take in this year’s Love Lanes Festival.
This one-day festival is a “combination of colours, sounds and smells with the buzz, hype and vibe of an outdoor community street festival, encompassing the theme of ‘love'. Guests will enjoy live music, roving entertainment, food and market stalls, a kids zone, circus performances, plus more!”
To join us in Wyong load up the link below:
South of the river
As for the team in Sydney, they’re inviting Coasties to join them in Ryde, Marrickville and Mona Vale.
We kick things off with a night of punk, hardcore and metalcore courtesy of Elision, who will be taking to the stage at Marrickville’s The Factory Theatre.
Mona Vale’s Park House is the next stop. We invite buddies to join us for a night of trivia. And we round the month off with a visit to Ryde-Eastwood Leagues for Jellybean Jam - an evening of ‘deliciously tasty, full-flavoured hits of yesteryear combined with scrumptious servings of current chart-fillers’.
To join us at any of our events load up the links below:
And If you have any questions about April’s outings, get in touch: we can be reached via Facebook Messenger, email: info@gigbuddiessydney.org or via text or phone call on 0422 061 990.
Share your thoughts
We’ve had an encouraging response to our social event survey - thank you to everyone who has taken the time to fill out our form.
To those who haven’t shared your thoughts, we want to hear from you.
It’s easy for us to go into solution mode rather than ask for the views of those who directly benefit from being part of the project. We can only make improvements or come up with changes if we hear back from you.
What motivates you to attend our events? What puts you off? How far would you be willing to travel? Do you only attend free gigs?
We want to hear from buddies, their support networks and volunteers. This survey is aimed at those based in Sydney and on the Central Coast. You are not required to share any personal information.
Help us improve Gig Buddies by filling out the following survey. Load up the link below to share your thoughts on our social gatherings.
Survey link: https://bit.ly/3Il2VfS
If you have any questions or would like more information about our survey, send us an email: info@gigbuddiessydney.org or info@gigbuddiescentralcoast.org
By the river
On the subject of our social catch ups, we’d like to say thanks to everyone who joined us yesterday.
We headed to Brooklyn, stopping off at the Anglers Rest for a bite to eat. Overlooking the Hawkesbury River, it was great to bring Sydney and Central Coast buddies together.
To see more photos from Sunday’s catch up, click here.
Pens and paper at the ready
As for this week’s online get-together, we invite buddies to get arty with us.
Join us on Thursday as we create two visual masterpieces. Have your texter, colouring pens and A4 paper at the ready!
In addition to Thursday’s event, we also invite buddies to connect with us at 4pm today (Monday 28/3) for our weekly chat. To attend get in touch via text: 0422 061 990 or Facebook Messenger.
And to find out more about this week’s online offering (and to sign up), load up the link below:
Thursday 31 March
All online games will take place via Zoom. For information on how to use Zoom, load up the following easy read guide written by Learning Disability Wales. Alternatively, click here to check out our 'how to use Zoom' video.
If you have any questions or would like more information, send us an email: info@gigbuddiessydney.org or info@gigbuddiescentralcoast.org or call/SMS us on 0402 708 814.
Moving forward
The Gig Buddies team have made a decision to hold Gig Buddies online events on a fortnightly basis.
Following this week’s (31/3) for art class, our next online catch up will take place on Thursday 14 April.
All Gig Buddies Zoom events will take place at the permanent time of 4-5pm.
Our online calendar
You asked and we’ve delivered.
We’ve created an online Gig Buddies calendar, making it easier to keep abreast of what events we have coming up.
Our calendar includes dates for all chats, online socials and face-to-face gatherings. To access it using a desktop / laptop head to our website, www.gigbuddiescentralcoast.org and hover the cursor over the ‘what’s on’ tab (see image above).
"Being part of Soul Fly Band has put me in the right place”
We’re honoured to share the latest news from Alex, a member of our user-led team, Soul Fly Band.
“Oh hello, I'm Alex Cohen… You may remember me from last year’s segment of The Buddies Series, which featured myself along with my gig buddy, Taylor. I am in my late twenties and I have been with Gig Buddies for the past seven years.
It wasn’t until I was on a Gig Buddies Zoom call in late 2020 when a participant mentioned Soul Fly Band. It may have taken me a while - six months to be exact, but I feel that being part of Soul Fly Band’s family has put me in the right place.
I would like to think that contributing my ideas while helping the Gig Buddies project grow is my second unpaid job that merges into my first unpaid job, which involves bringing joy to people living with a learning/physical disability.”
Extra, extra! Read all about it!
Be sure to check next Monday’s newsletter as we have some excited Vivid Sydney news to share.
Matthew Collins
Gig Buddies Central Coast coordinator
Would you like more information about Gig Buddies Central Coast? You’re only a click away. Connect with us via the links below.
Fancy revelling in legendary status? If so, please support us in our cause to get more people out to live events in Sydney.
Donations over $2 are tax deductible and all are gratefully received.
Gig Buddies Central Coast is an initiative of ACL Disability Services.