Friendship and dating options for adults with disabilities

A community organisation is hoping to bring together people with a learning disability through its dating and friendship agency.
Members of The U-Night Group enjoy Meet 'N' MatchMembers of The U-Night Group enjoy Meet 'N' Match
Members of The U-Night Group enjoy Meet 'N' Match

A community organisation is hoping to bring together people with a learning disability through its dating and friendship agency.

The U-Night Group, a community interest company, has launched Meet ‘N’ Match, which has received funding to expand its work into the Central Lancashire area and they are looking for people in Preston and surrounding areas who want to get involved.

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Meet ‘N’ Match aims to support and encourage people to form close friendships and relationships, through social events and its exclusive members only matching service and has appointed an events and project co-ordinator to develop this.

Lucy Hamlin said: “I’m really excited to be working with the U-Night Group to develop the friendship and dating agency, Meet ‘N’ Match. Having worked in this area for six years, I know there is a demand locally for people with learning disabilities to find friendships and possibly love. People have already stared to sign up and I’m hoping more people in the Preston area will want to get involved.”

Meet ‘N’ Match officially launched at an exclusive party at Preston North End last month and the team are currently planning local events.

Lucy added: “I’ve spoken to people about what activities they want to try out and people have suggested speed dating, comedy nights and quiz nights, so we are looking at how and where we can set these up, so that people with a learning disability can come along, meet new friends and have fun.”

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U-Night Group founder and chairman Sue Sharples said: “Generally, people with a learning disability have limited opportunities to meet their peers and to form lasting connections. Our current members have told us that this leads to them feeling lonely, isolated and depressed. We hope that this will be one way of improving peoples physical and mental wellbeing, whilst opening up possibilities for the kind of relationships that others take for granted. Meet ‘N’ Match is a great opportunity for some of the most vulnerable people to get together, with a view to finding anything from someone with a shared interest to true love.”

The next countywide event planned is the Meet ‘N’ Match Winter Ball, which will be held at Preston North End on Friday November 11.

To find out about joining Meet ‘N’ Match, contact Lucy Hamlin on 07762 964728 or e-mail [email protected]

More information can also be found at www.facebook.com/MeetNMatchLancashire