Stay Up Late
@gigbuddies.bsky.social
A small but mighty charity calling for active social lives for people with learning disabilities and autistic people.
Home of #GigBuddies, Nesta New Radical, the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service, and the #NoBedtimes #OurRightToParty campaigns.
Home of #GigBuddies, Nesta New Radical, the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service, and the #NoBedtimes #OurRightToParty campaigns.
Back to our roots for #StayUpLateWeek with a night of loud guitars, big energy and even bigger grins ⚡
For one buddy, it was their first ever rock gig—and they absolutely loved it. A powerful reminder of why inclusive, accessible spaces matter.
We hope your Stay Up Late week is going well! 🎸
For one buddy, it was their first ever rock gig—and they absolutely loved it. A powerful reminder of why inclusive, accessible spaces matter.
We hope your Stay Up Late week is going well! 🎸
May 9, 2025 at 10:54 AM
Back to our roots for #StayUpLateWeek with a night of loud guitars, big energy and even bigger grins ⚡
For one buddy, it was their first ever rock gig—and they absolutely loved it. A powerful reminder of why inclusive, accessible spaces matter.
We hope your Stay Up Late week is going well! 🎸
For one buddy, it was their first ever rock gig—and they absolutely loved it. A powerful reminder of why inclusive, accessible spaces matter.
We hope your Stay Up Late week is going well! 🎸
#StayUpLateWeek has officially started! 🎉🕺
This week is about choice, freedom, friendship – and making noise about the right to have a real social life.
Let’s make this the loudest, funnest and most joyful #StayUpLateWeek yet.
Let’s party with purpose.
This week is about choice, freedom, friendship – and making noise about the right to have a real social life.
Let’s make this the loudest, funnest and most joyful #StayUpLateWeek yet.
Let’s party with purpose.
May 8, 2025 at 7:47 AM
#StayUpLateWeek has officially started! 🎉🕺
This week is about choice, freedom, friendship – and making noise about the right to have a real social life.
Let’s make this the loudest, funnest and most joyful #StayUpLateWeek yet.
Let’s party with purpose.
This week is about choice, freedom, friendship – and making noise about the right to have a real social life.
Let’s make this the loudest, funnest and most joyful #StayUpLateWeek yet.
Let’s party with purpose.
📅 5th–11th May 2025 is Stay Up Late Week – and everyone’s invited.
You can join in too:
💜 Plan your own night out
💜 Share your photos and stories using #StayUpLateWeek
💜 Tell us why you think it’s important
Let’s show the world that a good life doesn’t end at 9pm.
You can join in too:
💜 Plan your own night out
💜 Share your photos and stories using #StayUpLateWeek
💜 Tell us why you think it’s important
Let’s show the world that a good life doesn’t end at 9pm.
April 25, 2025 at 9:03 AM
📅 5th–11th May 2025 is Stay Up Late Week – and everyone’s invited.
You can join in too:
💜 Plan your own night out
💜 Share your photos and stories using #StayUpLateWeek
💜 Tell us why you think it’s important
Let’s show the world that a good life doesn’t end at 9pm.
You can join in too:
💜 Plan your own night out
💜 Share your photos and stories using #StayUpLateWeek
💜 Tell us why you think it’s important
Let’s show the world that a good life doesn’t end at 9pm.
A huge THANK YOU to the brilliant team at @resident-music.com for raising money to support our work! 💙
We’re so grateful for your generosity—and for choosing to back a charity that believes everyone should have the right to a fun social life, full of music, no matter their support needs!
We’re so grateful for your generosity—and for choosing to back a charity that believes everyone should have the right to a fun social life, full of music, no matter their support needs!
April 22, 2025 at 3:35 PM
A huge THANK YOU to the brilliant team at @resident-music.com for raising money to support our work! 💙
We’re so grateful for your generosity—and for choosing to back a charity that believes everyone should have the right to a fun social life, full of music, no matter their support needs!
We’re so grateful for your generosity—and for choosing to back a charity that believes everyone should have the right to a fun social life, full of music, no matter their support needs!
Partners Day 2025 👏
Thanks to everyone who came along and made it such an interesting day! We feel excited for what’s to come…
We did forget to take a photo with the full group, so this was a last minute selfie to save the day (Thanks Sorrel)!
Thanks to everyone who came along and made it such an interesting day! We feel excited for what’s to come…
We did forget to take a photo with the full group, so this was a last minute selfie to save the day (Thanks Sorrel)!
April 17, 2025 at 11:29 AM
Partners Day 2025 👏
Thanks to everyone who came along and made it such an interesting day! We feel excited for what’s to come…
We did forget to take a photo with the full group, so this was a last minute selfie to save the day (Thanks Sorrel)!
Thanks to everyone who came along and made it such an interesting day! We feel excited for what’s to come…
We did forget to take a photo with the full group, so this was a last minute selfie to save the day (Thanks Sorrel)!
🌙 Safer in Sussex – we want to hear from you!
We’re planning a project to find out what helps people feel safe on nights out. It’s a big issue for many of our Gig Buddies, and we want to start some real conversations—with the community and those working in safety.
Save the date & come along! 💬👀
We’re planning a project to find out what helps people feel safe on nights out. It’s a big issue for many of our Gig Buddies, and we want to start some real conversations—with the community and those working in safety.
Save the date & come along! 💬👀
April 10, 2025 at 4:37 PM
🌙 Safer in Sussex – we want to hear from you!
We’re planning a project to find out what helps people feel safe on nights out. It’s a big issue for many of our Gig Buddies, and we want to start some real conversations—with the community and those working in safety.
Save the date & come along! 💬👀
We’re planning a project to find out what helps people feel safe on nights out. It’s a big issue for many of our Gig Buddies, and we want to start some real conversations—with the community and those working in safety.
Save the date & come along! 💬👀
Brighton and West Sussex Socials livening up your local pubs!
Our socials are a great opportunity to meet new people and get involved in the Gig Buddies community 🎉
#VolunteerOpportunity #LearningDisability #Friends
Our socials are a great opportunity to meet new people and get involved in the Gig Buddies community 🎉
#VolunteerOpportunity #LearningDisability #Friends
April 4, 2025 at 9:33 AM
Brighton and West Sussex Socials livening up your local pubs!
Our socials are a great opportunity to meet new people and get involved in the Gig Buddies community 🎉
#VolunteerOpportunity #LearningDisability #Friends
Our socials are a great opportunity to meet new people and get involved in the Gig Buddies community 🎉
#VolunteerOpportunity #LearningDisability #Friends
Rohan & Florence headed to @uniofbrighton.bsky.social to run a workshop for newly qualified #SocialWorkers, sharing insights on how to make care truly #person-centred — and what that actually means in practice! 👏🖤
April 1, 2025 at 1:23 PM
Rohan & Florence headed to @uniofbrighton.bsky.social to run a workshop for newly qualified #SocialWorkers, sharing insights on how to make care truly #person-centred — and what that actually means in practice! 👏🖤
We have some goodies for people!
First up, the Boominator – make a donation or come collect it for free. We’d like it to go to a home that rocks our values! #HeavyLoad
We also have some old t-shirts (in dif sizes so message us before) that you can come collect too!
First up, the Boominator – make a donation or come collect it for free. We’d like it to go to a home that rocks our values! #HeavyLoad
We also have some old t-shirts (in dif sizes so message us before) that you can come collect too!
March 26, 2025 at 2:06 PM
We have some goodies for people!
First up, the Boominator – make a donation or come collect it for free. We’d like it to go to a home that rocks our values! #HeavyLoad
We also have some old t-shirts (in dif sizes so message us before) that you can come collect too!
First up, the Boominator – make a donation or come collect it for free. We’d like it to go to a home that rocks our values! #HeavyLoad
We also have some old t-shirts (in dif sizes so message us before) that you can come collect too!
Our buddies had a riot at a Fat Freddie And The Queens' gig.
A perfect example of how to make people feel included however they like to party.
Read Malcolm’s bog to hear more about the night 🕺
gigbuddies.org.uk/dont-stop-us...
A perfect example of how to make people feel included however they like to party.
Read Malcolm’s bog to hear more about the night 🕺
gigbuddies.org.uk/dont-stop-us...
March 25, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Our buddies had a riot at a Fat Freddie And The Queens' gig.
A perfect example of how to make people feel included however they like to party.
Read Malcolm’s bog to hear more about the night 🕺
gigbuddies.org.uk/dont-stop-us...
A perfect example of how to make people feel included however they like to party.
Read Malcolm’s bog to hear more about the night 🕺
gigbuddies.org.uk/dont-stop-us...
Can you choose your bedtime?
We want to know how adults with learning disabilities &/or autistic adults spend their evenings & if they can choose their bedtimes!
If you have lived experience/support someone who does – please fill in our survey (online or easy read): stayuplate.org/the-stay-up-...
We want to know how adults with learning disabilities &/or autistic adults spend their evenings & if they can choose their bedtimes!
If you have lived experience/support someone who does – please fill in our survey (online or easy read): stayuplate.org/the-stay-up-...
March 11, 2025 at 2:14 PM
Can you choose your bedtime?
We want to know how adults with learning disabilities &/or autistic adults spend their evenings & if they can choose their bedtimes!
If you have lived experience/support someone who does – please fill in our survey (online or easy read): stayuplate.org/the-stay-up-...
We want to know how adults with learning disabilities &/or autistic adults spend their evenings & if they can choose their bedtimes!
If you have lived experience/support someone who does – please fill in our survey (online or easy read): stayuplate.org/the-stay-up-...
A great Gig Buddies social at Neurotune - a sensory-friendly gig in Brighton! 🎶
We had an awesome time & especially liked being able to go to the quiet room and play pool! Can’t wait till the next one 👀
We had an awesome time & especially liked being able to go to the quiet room and play pool! Can’t wait till the next one 👀
March 7, 2025 at 1:03 PM
A great Gig Buddies social at Neurotune - a sensory-friendly gig in Brighton! 🎶
We had an awesome time & especially liked being able to go to the quiet room and play pool! Can’t wait till the next one 👀
We had an awesome time & especially liked being able to go to the quiet room and play pool! Can’t wait till the next one 👀
Our buddies have been having a ball at recent matches! ⚽🎉
(Of course, all football allegiances are their own… and we’re totally not biased… SEAGULLS! 😉)
(Of course, all football allegiances are their own… and we’re totally not biased… SEAGULLS! 😉)
March 4, 2025 at 9:12 PM
Our buddies have been having a ball at recent matches! ⚽🎉
(Of course, all football allegiances are their own… and we’re totally not biased… SEAGULLS! 😉)
(Of course, all football allegiances are their own… and we’re totally not biased… SEAGULLS! 😉)
Happy Friday from two of our fine Gig Buddies! Have a great weekend and don’t forget to STAY UP LATE!✨🎶🎸
February 28, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Happy Friday from two of our fine Gig Buddies! Have a great weekend and don’t forget to STAY UP LATE!✨🎶🎸
In our latest blog, Jaydog talks Pride.
From the power of representation to the joy of celebrating exactly who you are, Jaydog reminds us why we should all keep making noise! 🎤✨
Read the full blog here: gigbuddies.org.uk/stay-up-late...
#Pride #InclusionMatters #EqualAbleSexual #BeLoudBeProud
From the power of representation to the joy of celebrating exactly who you are, Jaydog reminds us why we should all keep making noise! 🎤✨
Read the full blog here: gigbuddies.org.uk/stay-up-late...
#Pride #InclusionMatters #EqualAbleSexual #BeLoudBeProud
February 20, 2025 at 2:39 PM
In our latest blog, Jaydog talks Pride.
From the power of representation to the joy of celebrating exactly who you are, Jaydog reminds us why we should all keep making noise! 🎤✨
Read the full blog here: gigbuddies.org.uk/stay-up-late...
#Pride #InclusionMatters #EqualAbleSexual #BeLoudBeProud
From the power of representation to the joy of celebrating exactly who you are, Jaydog reminds us why we should all keep making noise! 🎤✨
Read the full blog here: gigbuddies.org.uk/stay-up-late...
#Pride #InclusionMatters #EqualAbleSexual #BeLoudBeProud
Gig Buddies Jess & Tom have been matched for over a year 🎉
They started off with bowling & getting to know each other, building up to Tom’s first gig in 17 years and an unforgettable trip to @thorpepark.bsky.social 🎢
Our buddies make a difference, not just as volunteers, but as friends.
They started off with bowling & getting to know each other, building up to Tom’s first gig in 17 years and an unforgettable trip to @thorpepark.bsky.social 🎢
Our buddies make a difference, not just as volunteers, but as friends.
February 19, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Gig Buddies Jess & Tom have been matched for over a year 🎉
They started off with bowling & getting to know each other, building up to Tom’s first gig in 17 years and an unforgettable trip to @thorpepark.bsky.social 🎢
Our buddies make a difference, not just as volunteers, but as friends.
They started off with bowling & getting to know each other, building up to Tom’s first gig in 17 years and an unforgettable trip to @thorpepark.bsky.social 🎢
Our buddies make a difference, not just as volunteers, but as friends.
Big news: our Founder & Executive Director, Paul, is stepping down. Thank you for all you’ve done to make this charity what it is today. Your energy has made a lasting impact & we’ve no doubt you’ll keep making waves!
To stay in touch with Paul - follow www.linkedin.com/in/heavyload/
To stay in touch with Paul - follow www.linkedin.com/in/heavyload/
February 14, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Big news: our Founder & Executive Director, Paul, is stepping down. Thank you for all you’ve done to make this charity what it is today. Your energy has made a lasting impact & we’ve no doubt you’ll keep making waves!
To stay in touch with Paul - follow www.linkedin.com/in/heavyload/
To stay in touch with Paul - follow www.linkedin.com/in/heavyload/
Welcome new Gig Buddies Maisie & Max, Bethan & Lauren and Ryan & Ellery! 🎶
Local gigs were on all their to do lists, with an extra side of vegan food-tourism for Ryan & Ellery, tasty!
Local gigs were on all their to do lists, with an extra side of vegan food-tourism for Ryan & Ellery, tasty!
February 7, 2025 at 11:13 AM
Welcome new Gig Buddies Maisie & Max, Bethan & Lauren and Ryan & Ellery! 🎶
Local gigs were on all their to do lists, with an extra side of vegan food-tourism for Ryan & Ellery, tasty!
Local gigs were on all their to do lists, with an extra side of vegan food-tourism for Ryan & Ellery, tasty!
For years, we’ve been taking adults with learning disabilities and autistic people to festivals and showing the world that music & dancing are for EVERYONE! 🎶
Our Stay Up Late Assistant (and festival-pro) Rohan shares his thoughts on how we can do even better:
stayuplate.org/changing-tun...
Our Stay Up Late Assistant (and festival-pro) Rohan shares his thoughts on how we can do even better:
stayuplate.org/changing-tun...
February 4, 2025 at 3:48 PM
For years, we’ve been taking adults with learning disabilities and autistic people to festivals and showing the world that music & dancing are for EVERYONE! 🎶
Our Stay Up Late Assistant (and festival-pro) Rohan shares his thoughts on how we can do even better:
stayuplate.org/changing-tun...
Our Stay Up Late Assistant (and festival-pro) Rohan shares his thoughts on how we can do even better:
stayuplate.org/changing-tun...
Here’s our Manifesto for an Ordinary Life, a reminder of what we fight for.
Having a learning disability should not stop you having an ordinary and fulfilling life!
Having a learning disability should not stop you having an ordinary and fulfilling life!
January 30, 2025 at 9:50 AM
Here’s our Manifesto for an Ordinary Life, a reminder of what we fight for.
Having a learning disability should not stop you having an ordinary and fulfilling life!
Having a learning disability should not stop you having an ordinary and fulfilling life!
Paul’s at his first football match, Tom’s hanging out with lead singers of cool bands and Chriso’s watching Jazz at the Brunswick. Our buddies are awesome without a doubt and their friendships opens up new doors every day.
What would you do with your buddy?! #Volunteer
What would you do with your buddy?! #Volunteer
January 28, 2025 at 2:35 PM
Paul’s at his first football match, Tom’s hanging out with lead singers of cool bands and Chriso’s watching Jazz at the Brunswick. Our buddies are awesome without a doubt and their friendships opens up new doors every day.
What would you do with your buddy?! #Volunteer
What would you do with your buddy?! #Volunteer
Big Wonderful News - there is now a Gig Buddies in Penrith, Cumbria! Welcome to the fam Gig Buddies Eden! 🥳👋
We have 22 Gig Buddies projects around the world and are growing all the time!
Check out if there's a project near you: gigbuddies.org.uk/other-gig-bu...
We have 22 Gig Buddies projects around the world and are growing all the time!
Check out if there's a project near you: gigbuddies.org.uk/other-gig-bu...
January 23, 2025 at 8:59 AM
Big Wonderful News - there is now a Gig Buddies in Penrith, Cumbria! Welcome to the fam Gig Buddies Eden! 🥳👋
We have 22 Gig Buddies projects around the world and are growing all the time!
Check out if there's a project near you: gigbuddies.org.uk/other-gig-bu...
We have 22 Gig Buddies projects around the world and are growing all the time!
Check out if there's a project near you: gigbuddies.org.uk/other-gig-bu...
A successful karaoke-fuelled night out, full of awesome duets, soloists and group singalongs! 🎶
Pitch perfect signing (ahem) is the perfect way to wash away the January blues! ✨
Pitch perfect signing (ahem) is the perfect way to wash away the January blues! ✨
January 17, 2025 at 10:23 AM
A successful karaoke-fuelled night out, full of awesome duets, soloists and group singalongs! 🎶
Pitch perfect signing (ahem) is the perfect way to wash away the January blues! ✨
Pitch perfect signing (ahem) is the perfect way to wash away the January blues! ✨
Introducing Gig Buddies 👋 our befriending project which pairs up adults with learning disabilities and/or autistic people with volunteers based on their shared interests. This can be music, theatre, art, sport - anything you love!
This reconnects people with their community & combats isolation 👍👍👍
This reconnects people with their community & combats isolation 👍👍👍
January 10, 2025 at 11:16 AM
Introducing Gig Buddies 👋 our befriending project which pairs up adults with learning disabilities and/or autistic people with volunteers based on their shared interests. This can be music, theatre, art, sport - anything you love!
This reconnects people with their community & combats isolation 👍👍👍
This reconnects people with their community & combats isolation 👍👍👍