Dates-n-Mates Scotland

We have important news about Dates-n-Mates. Please listen to the full announcement on our podcast: open.spotify.com/show/3hhvDZSNd… Due to the increasing costs of running Dates-n-Mates, we need to make some changes & restructure so we can continue to deliver events to our members.

We had an amazing time at our 4 Valentines parties across Scotland this month! Thank you to our wonderful volunteers, members, staff, venues and funders for ensuring there events are fun nights to remember! ❤️

Happy Valentines Day from just a few of the couples who have met at a Dates-n-Mates event. Our events are a much needed space to connect and find love! ❤️❤️❤️❤️

Today, ahead of Valentines day, we are celebrating love in other ways... by celebrating all the wonderful connections and friendships we have. Dates-n-Mates love to see friendships developing through our events. A good circle of friends is SO important for our wellbeing ❤️

@EM_TravelFreak Hope you had a great time! 😀❤️

Well, here goes nowt! I’m at the @datesnmates Valentine’s Day event and as nervous as I am, it should be fun I hope! 😅💛

The first of our 4 Valentines parties took place in Glasgow last night and what a fantastic night we all had! ❤️

Thank you to Euan Stainbank MP for Falkirk for raising the important issue in parliament of the discrimination and barriers that adults with learning disabilities face in employment opportunities. Watch here: fb.watch/xADvRNHae_/

We are looking forward to hosting 4 Valentines parties across Scotland next week for Dates-n-Mates members and other people in the learning disability communities. These open parties are always a highlight of our events calendar, bringing people together to connect!

We are delighted that our application to the #ruralfund in Falkirk was successful. This means we can bring more events to rural communities in the area, making it easier for people with learning disabilities to connect, make friends, and enjoy social activities closer to home.

We are delighted to confirm we have received a funding grant from the Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund in Aberdeen City. Thank you. This will help us continue to provide social opportunities and tackle social isolation for people with learning disabilities.

New podcast episode from Dates-n-Mates Falkirk Director, John, who is joined by Joanne and Vicky from Forth Valley NHS to discuss the "Making choices and keeping safe guidance" around relationships and sexual health for people with learning disabilities. open.spotify.com/episode/0UEV6Q…

We would like to say thank you To Euan Stainbank MP for Falkirk for taking the time to meet with us to discuss the recent Westminster Government’s unfunded Budget announcement regarding increases to National Insurance Contributions. Thank you for raising these concerns for us.

Every year, we crown a member champion in each branch. The Champion Points reward our members for a variety of ways they can participate in supporting the running of Dates-n-Mates, and developing their friendship and relationship skills. 2024 winners: datesnmates.org.uk/2024-dates-n-m…

Some of our Stirling and Clackmannanshire members and directors met up during the festive weeks for birthday and new year celebrations while most of our staff took a little break. That's what we love to see! 🥂🙂❤️

Dates-n-Mates Glasgow members enjoyed the Irn Bru Carnival again... a great fun way to kick of the new year of events!

Read our latest blog post about an internship we hosted at our Aberdeen branch in partnership with @ProjectSEARCHUA and @VIAScotland datesnmates.org.uk/project-search… Thanks again to Lorna for her valued hard work during the 10 week internship.

We're back and ready to host more fun events for Dates-n-Mates members across Scotland! The Aberdeen branch headed out to a January showing of the local Panto on Friday to kick start the new year!

@elizabeth__2004 Great photos!

@datesnmates Love this photos when I joined Dates n Mates for the first time with my support worker Chloe ☺️🫶

Lovely photos! Thank you for sharing!

Dates-n-Mates membership can help people with learning disabilities to achieve all of these new year goals! Find out more and get started: datesnmates.org.uk @SCLDNews @cchangescotland