Finally, we can reveal dates and details of our summer social gatherings.
Firstly, on Sunday 5 December we invite you to join us for the first ever Gig Buddies Central Coast face-to-face event!
Overlooking the beach at Toowoon Bay, pack your picnic blanket and join your fellow buddies as we finally host our inaugural social gathering at Swaddling Reserve.
Date for your diary number 2
Then, the following week we invite buddies to The Elanora Hotel in East Gosford for a bite to eat.
We head to ‘The Elly’ on Tuesday 14 December. Join us for the Gig Buddies Central Coast festive gathering: a night of good food, drinks and company.
Both events are free to attend. To register (and to find out more information about each gathering), load up the links below:
It's been a funny old year. Following the launch of the project in April we soon got held up by Covid, preventing us from hosting face-to-face events.
While we may have met some of you via the Gig Buddies Zoom shindigs, we want to bring our growing community together - and finish 2021 in style.
If you have any questions or would like more information about our December gatherings, send us an email: info@gigbuddiescentralcoast.org, get in touch with us via Facebook Messenger or call/SMS us on 0402 708 814.
Next stop, northern beaches
And if you can’t wait until December, here’s our final call for this forthcoming weekend’s picnic event in Palm Beach.
This Sunday (21/11) we bring together participants from both the Gig Buddies Sydney and Central Coast projects.
Come meet your Sydney contemporaries as we cross the Hawkesbury for a picnic on the beach.
To join us on the northern beaches click on the event listed below to reserve your place. The link includes details about ferry times, what to bring and meeting places.
If you have any questions or would like more information about our picnic on Palm Beach, send us an email: info@gigbuddiescentralcoast.org, get in touch via Facebook Messenger or call/SMS us on 0402 708 814.
We need you!
We continue to put the call out for more people to join Gig Buddies on the Central Coast.
Gig Buddies tackles social isolation, and we have volunteers based throughout the region who are waiting and ready to go! The benefits of joining our growing community include:
✅ Meet new people
✅ Try new things
✅ Expand your circle of friends
✅ Go out with someone who’s not a family member or support worker!
We match adults with disabilities with volunteers, both of whom share a mutual passion(s). Age, gender and location preferences are also taken into consideration - and once paired up, ‘matched buddies’ attend gigs and events of their choosing. These can range from music concerts, sporting matches, bushwalking or catching up for a coffee – the possibilities are endless, and are all determined on someone’s personal interests.
With lockdown restrictions beginning to ease, now is the perfect time to join the fun!
If you, or someone you know, ticks the boxes above, we would love to hear from you.
Feel free to send a text or call us on 0402 708 814. Alternatively, head to our website, www.gigbuddiescentralcoast.org, get in touch via Facebook Messenger or head directly to our sign-up page here.
The alternative rock party
Do you know your garage from your grunge?
On Wednesday night we'll be playing rocking tunes from alternative bands from the 60's, 70's, 80's, 90's, 00's and 10’s.
Expect a solid serve of fuzzy guitars, raw vocals, dirty drums and frenetic energy - all topped with a healthy dose of weirdness.
In addition to Wednesday’s event, we also invite buddies to connect with us later today (15/11) for our weekly chat. This takes place at 4pm. 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:
Wednesday 17 November
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.
Vax to the max
We recently shared news about how the NSW Government has mandated COVID-19 vaccination for all disability workers, including volunteers.
We appreciate it’s a busy time of the year, and that some volunteers may still be waiting for their second jab. However, we encourage all paired up (or soon to be paired up) volunteers to send us proof of their COVID-19 vaccinations.
Volunteers can share their vaccination certificate by texting us a screenshot (0422 061 990 - Gig Buddies Sydney or 0402 708 814 - Gig Buddies Central Coast). Via Facebook Messenger or email: info@gigbuddiessydney.org or info@gigbuddiescentralcoast.org.
Additionally, should you have questions about mandatory vaccinations for Gig Buddies’ volunteers, please get in touch by contacting us via one of the methods listed above.
A word from the pros
We continue to enjoy greater freedoms, but we’re going to carry on publishing information for those who may be struggling.
Mental Health First Aid Australia have issued the following guidelines on assisting someone distressed by the Covid-19 pandemic, and they’re also providing mental health first aid in the time of ‘social distancing. Additionally, the team from ideas.org.au have shared their ‘look after your mental health in the COVID-19 crisis’ list of ideas.
reachout.com have also released their 10 ways to take care of yourself during coronavirus guide, while for those of you now working from home, Black Dog Institute have put together the following checklist to support your mental health.
We’re here to chat
From our perspective, while we’re not trained professionals, we are available for a chat.
For anyone experiencing increased social isolation, send a text or call us at 0402 708 814 (Gig Buddies Central Coast) or 0422 061 990 (Gig Buddies Sydney).
Alternatively, feel free to get in touch via Facebook Messenger or connect courtesy of email: info@gigbuddiescentralcoast.org or info@gigbuddiessydney.org
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.