Gig Buddies Portsmouth is a free scheme funded by the Portsmouth City Council to match a volunteer and adult with a learning disability in Portsmouth; with the aim of making new friends and reduce social isolation. It was established in 2017 and currently has 35 matched pairs that go out and share their interests in and around Portsmouth. We have around 100 adults with a learning disability and/ or autism on the Gig Buddy database and they often come along to our numerous monthly group events such as bowling, club nights and live music events. 
 
During the current Coronovirus situation, our buddies are staying in touch through a variety of ways, we have a number of messenger groups off and online and are staying in contact via telephone to keep positive and ensure our buddies have sufficient interaction with the outside world, whilst staying fit and healthy. One of our buddies has devised a quiz for the social media page and we have live music streaming each evening from gig buddies projects in different regions all around the globe. 
 
Gig Buddies Portsmouth has made a huge impact on the people we support in the community, we have had some great feedback by one of our Gig Buddies Mum; ‘Since our daughter has become involved with Gig buddies it has put her in touch with her peers, which is something she lacked previously.  
The main facilitators of this are Mike Harris, the Project Co-ordinator and Alison, the wonderful Gig Buddy, whose friendship and involvement with our daughter has, without exaggerating, made a very positive impact on her, and our lives.  Basically, our 46 year old daughter now has a social life that is not solely dependent and restricted to her parents activities, and she is a much happier person as a consequence.’ . 
 
If you would like to know more please contact our Project Coordinator, Mike Harris – mikeh@aldingbourne.org or visit www.aldingbournetrust.org/gigbuddiesportsmouth. You are welcome to suggest any ideas you have and be part of keeping people engaged during this difficult time. 
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The Gig Buddies Portsmouth team had another fantastic time at their bi-monthly club night event at Kingsley’s Bar in Southsea, Portsmouth. The theme this time was love being so close to Valentine’s Day, and the people who came along certainly knew how to get the night going with song requests being fulfilled by the DJ and Bar Owner Steve Kingsley, and his sidekick Arthur.

Gig Buddies Portsmouth had the pleasure of being invited to the Portsmouth City Council annual LD Celebration and Learning event at Gunwharf Quays on Friday, 24th January. We took our fantastic volunteer, Holli, to spread the word of what we do and how we can support Portsmouth-based adults with a learning disability to expand their social circle and enjoy leisure activities with a volunteer. The event was a great success, with lots of interest in the Gig Buddies project, so much so we ran out of signup forms.
 
Holli lead her first ever presentation and did a wonderful job in promoting Gig Buddies to the many Care Providers, Healthcare Professionals, Parents and Carers – well done Holli! We are looking forward to grow the project with the help of these events; to showcase the value of volunteering and making a difference in your local community.’
 
Mike Harris, Gig Buddies Portsmouth Project Coordinator