Don signed up to the project very early on and became one of Gig Buddies with Thera Trust’s very first members. He’s been a very active member of the Gig Buddies community ever since. We recently sat down with him to find out why he joined Gig Buddies, and how it’s impacted his life over the past 10 years…
“Before Gig Buddies my life was a bit of a shambles. I couldn’t get out and do things I wanted to do. I wanted to see live music. Since I was young I’ve always loved music, my mum got me into it. Cliff Richard, Elvis, Shakin’ Stevens. Until I met Gig Buddies, I’d not been to much live music. They really opened that door for me in a big way. I want to go out and enjoy myself, instead of being stuck in the house all the time. The times my support work doesn’t allow me to do things like this. I usually only get support until 10pm. My support finishes at a certain time, and for what I want to do, they can’t do it. Gig Buddies helps me do what I want to do.
Gig Buddies have introduced me to a few volunteers over the years and they’ve all been great relationships. When I joined in 2016 I met Phil. Phil gave me a lot of confidence to start getting out to gigs. A few years later he had to move on and I was introduced to Michael. We shared a lot of musical interests, but also he was a musician, and through Gig Buddies we even played some gigs together. I liked performing for people, it was the first time any one had ever given me the opportunity to do that. I really enjoyed my time with Michael.
Around three years ago I was introduced to Kevin. I really enjoy my relationship with Kevin, we’re mates. It’s just the way things are, we get on really well. He understands me, I can talk to him about anything. He really helps me to understand things and I think he really opens things up for me. I can trust him. We see each other most weeks and we’re always at gigs. The kind of relationship I have with Kevin is very different from what I can have with my support team. I can make more choices around the time I spend with Kevin. We can do what we want when we want.
Kevin has the time for what I want to do. That means a lot to me. Through Gig Buddies I get out to so many things. I get out more with Gig Buddies than I ever have with anything else, and it’s given me so much more confidence. I’m in my 60s and I’m going to more gigs than ever! Going to gigs is now such a big and important part of my life, I couldn’t imagine not doing it. Gig Buddies have been amazing for me, it’s been amazing being part of this for 10 years. I’d always love to do more.”
Read more about a wonderful chat we had with Don’s Gig Buddy, Kevin here