Meet 'N' Match

Aim

Meet N Match is a friendship & dating agency for people with a learning disability which reduces social isolation & improve mental wellbeing

"Relationships just make life better" 

- Lizzie Smart, Project Coordinator, Meet N Match

Meet N Match is a friendship and dating agency for people with a learning disability. It provides social activities for people to meet other people and have a night out; a dating service where people are matched and supported to go on dates with likeminded people and relationship training. The aim is to provide opportunities for adults with learning disabilities to have the same experiences as other members of society, to reduce social isolation and enhance mental and physical wellbeing of people accessing the project.

We offer:

• Social Events - Night Club, Pub Nights, LGBT support
• Relationship Training  - how to date, staying safe and keeping safe in a relationship
• Dating agency - we match people and provide a chaperone service to support them on dates

Over the past two years, with funding from the People's Health Trust, we have engaged with over 680 people. Our current funding is due to come to an end in May 2018, however there is still a demand for this service, from existing users in Lancashire but also from people from further afield.

Although we are able to continue some events and training, we do not have funding to continue the dating agency administration.

We would love to continue to offer the service to more people within Lancashire and further afield and need to raise funds in order to continue to employ staff to manage this part of the service.

We are looking to raise £3000 as part of this campaign, which will provide us with funding for a 5 x hours per week role, to work specifically on matchmaking.

People that have used our service tell us:

“I’ve more confidence and don’t rely on my parents as much”

“I have more opportunities to go out”

“I’ve made friends and now meet them regularly”

“I know how to better act with my friends”

”I can now travel to places outside of my town to meet my boyfriend”

“I’ve been on holiday with my girlfriend”

“We have moved in together”

”I have someone to care for”

Some of our couples at Valentines Ball 2018

Events

Our team is made up of staff and dedicated volunteers

This project successfully funded on 9th May 2018