Meet up with your buddy roughly once a month to attend a gig or social event together.Help choose what to do and make practical arrangements (like transport).Build a meaningful friendship based on shared interests and mutual respect. You don’t need any specific experience, just the right attitude.

If you have a learning disability, are autistic, or have another disability that makes it difficult to go to social events on your own, you can join Gig Buddies Exeter as a participant. We’ll then help you find a Gig Buddy who is a good match for you.

If you’d like to join Gig Buddies, you can apply as either a participant or a volunteer by filling out the relevant form on this website. We’ll then contact you to arrange a meeting and discuss your application.

You’ll have an informal chat with one of our coordinators, who will talk you through what to expect and find out a bit more about you and the things you enjoy doing. This helps us find a good match with a participant.We’ll also ask about any previous experience you have. No previous experience is required – we just want to understand what support you might need so we can help you feel prepared.References and DBS check: We’ll ask you for two references and arrange for you to apply for a DBS check.Training: We’ll provide 2–3 hours of training covering Gig Buddies, our ethos, learning disability awareness, safeguarding and GDPR.Matching: We’ll then start the process of matching you with a participant who has similar interests in gigs and social activities.

We meet with all participants and volunteers to get to know their interests, preferences, and personalities. From there, we thoughtfully match people to ensure a good fit. Once matched, we introduce you and support your first meet-up.

Finding a suitable buddy can sometimes be quick or sometimes take a little while. It is different for everyone but our coordinators will be able to give you a rough idea once you've applied.

We recommend meeting at least once a month. We also organise regular social events where all buddies can get together, share experiences, and build a wider community.

It’s free to join Gig Buddies. However, you’ll need to pay for your own gig tickets and expenses. You won’t need to pay for your buddy’s ticket or expenses.For many events, your buddy may be able to get a free or discounted carer’s ticket.

No, you and your gig buddy will look at what events are on in the local area and find ones that you would both like to go to. A few times a year we will plan a Gig Buddies Exeter social evening, where everyone and their buddies can meet and have a chat.

You can join Gig Buddies if you live in Exeter or one of the surrounding towns or villages. Once you’re matched with a buddy, you can decide together which gigs you’d like to go to in Exeter or the surrounding area.

That’s okay! If either person feels the match isn’t right, we’ll talk it through and, if needed, find a new buddy. Our priority is making sure everyone feels comfortable and valued.