Dates-n-Mates Scotland is excited to announce an amazing new partnership with Glasgow’s IncludeMe2Club, bringing together their resources, skills, knowledge and experiences to deliver a new monthly ‘Club LATE’ – an ‘Inclusive Clubbing’ event for adults with learning disabilities and other additional support needs.
The first monthly Club LATE night takes place at Glasgow’s G2 Nightclub, 480 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow, G2 3LW on Thursday 19th April 2018 from 7.00pm to 11.00pm and will feature a line-up of live DJs from the nation’s top radio stations, clubs and projects. The night will see Clyde 1’s Breakfast Show host Cassi Gillespie, GBX Team Member Macca (Stephen McArthur) alongside Include Me 2 Club’s own Disabled DJs and Young Big Music Champions performing the latest and greatest sets.
A recent survey among young people (aged 18-35) with a learning disability revealed that one in four reported having been bullied by members of the public at nightclubs or concerts, and a third said they had been afraid of staff at music venues.*
Inevitably this leads to further isolation by closing off opportunities for young people with disabilities to have the same kind of social interaction that other young people take for granted. Dates-n-mates established the original Club LATE six years ago in order to open up mainstream nightclub gigs to a fully-inclusive audience.
All the evidence shows that opportunities to build friendships and relationships can significantly improve quality of life and independence for all who are able to enjoy a typical night out.
Sheryl Walker, Project Manager at Dates-n-Mates Scotland said:
“Back in 2012 we worked in partnership with The Arches and the Stay Up Late campaign to introduce LATE as Scotland’s first club night for people with learning disabilities, fully inclusive and open to all. We learned from our members that many had never been clubbing as they didn’t know where to go and where they would be made to feel welcome.
“When The Arches closed in 2015 we were determined it would not be the end of Club LATE. It’s been a struggle at times, but we have worked with other venues in Glasgow and have continued to run several events a year with around 200 people attending.“
Capital FM DJ Garry Spence, a long-time supporter adds:
“I’ve been playing for LATE since the very start and I’ve loved it since that first night. I can’t overstate the impact this has on the lives of people who’d otherwise be excluded from night venues in Scotland. It’s always a brilliant turn out, always a feel-good event and allows access to clubs for everyone regardless of their ability or mobility.”
Paul McIlvenny, Chairperson of Include Me 2 Club said;
“It’s a really important partnership, bringing together two like-minded organisations and projects that are trying to create fantastic opportunities for their members. The combined approach will allow the event to run more often, bringing new capacity to organise monthly events and special events for the members, both existing and future to enjoy.
“The partnership builds on the previous successes of Club LATE and IM2C Club Nights and we are really excited to see where this new adventure leads us. The most important thing is that our members are able to access new, regular and exciting club events in an ordinary club, on an ordinary night that everyone would usually go out, where its safe and accessible, where they feel comfortable and the best available DJs and entertainers are there to perform for them.”
Further information is available from the Club LATE Facebook page and the dates-n-mates social media pages.
* Survey conducted by Mencap (January 2017)
