October 2026 Cover Story

Find your people at get2gether!

As the days get shorter and the evenings get darker, it can be harder to get out and about. But autumn can still be a good time to meet new people, with plenty of get2gether events to come along to, whether online or in person! However, we know that meeting new people for the first time can be overwhelming, especially when you don’t know anyone there. Sometimes, just having one familiar face can make all the difference when you are doing something out of your comfort zone.

This month’s cover features get2gether members and friends Erin and Iain sharing a hug at one of our Big Nights Out. Seeing friends at events is one of the things members tell us they enjoy about being part of get2gether. But sometimes, a friend can also be the person who helps you decide to come along in the first place. For our October cover story, we spoke to members Johnathan and Weronika about how they first found get2gether through friends who were already members, and what being part of the get2gether community has meant to them since.

Sophie and Johnathan

Sophie was already a get2gether member when she told her friend Johnathan about get2gether. Sophie and Johnathan are good friends and both used to go to a local hub to socialise before it closed. They both missed having somewhere to go together, and when we spoke to them, they told us that getting motivated to get out and about wasn’t always easy.

Sophie thought Johnathan might enjoy get2gether, so she told him about it and encouraged him to come along. When Johnathan decided he wanted to become a get2gether member, Sophie went with him to his first event so he already had someone he knew there.

Their first event together was Talking about Autism, where 9 get2gether members met up at a café. Johnathan was nervous about meeting new people, but Sophie remembers being really pleased to see him chatting to people and getting involved.

“I was really happy that Johnathan came and put himself out there. He was nervous, but he was chatting to people and getting involved. I was really proud of him.” – Sophie, get2gether member

Johnathan shared he probably wouldn’t have come along if Sophie hadn’t told him about get2gether.

“I wouldn’t have come to the events if Sophie hadn’t shown me that it would be a good thing for me. I wouldn’t have considered it otherwise.” -Johnathan, get2gether member

Since then, Johnathan has made new friends and regularly comes along to get2gether events. He has also started going to some events by himself, something Sophie says she is really proud of and this year, Johnathan took part in the Kiltwalk alongside 26 other get2gether members to raise money for get2gether.

“I’ve made more friends and found my own way.” – Johnathan, get2gether member

Sophie and Johnathan are still good friends and talk every day. What started with Sophie inviting Johnathan along to an event has become another part of their lives that they can share, while Johnathan has also found his own friendships and ways to get involved with get2gether.

Weronika and Nikola

Nikola also knows what it feels like to be nervous about getting involved. When she first found out about get2gether, she was very shy and wasn’t sure about joining. She decided to join online first, which gave her the chance to get to know people before coming along to events in person. As she became more comfortable, Nikola started going to more events and getting involved with the community. She then told her friend Weronika about get2gether. Weronika wanted to get out of the house more and meet new people, and having Nikola there meant she already knew someone when she came along to her first event.

“I wouldn’t have joined if Nikola hadn’t told me about it. Now I come along to lots of events and I’m not nervous anymore.” –Weronika, get2gether member

Nikola knows from her own experience that having someone you know there can make a big difference.

“Having someone you know at an event makes it easier. You don’t need to feel shy or embarrassed, and you can go with a friend that you trust.” – Nikola, get2gether member

Since joining get2gether, Weronika has become more comfortable meeting new people and getting involved in events.

Both Johnathan and Weronika’s experiences show how a friendship can sometimes be the starting point for trying something new. Having someone you already know there can make it easier to walk through the door, but once you’re there, there are opportunities to meet people, make new friends and find your own place in the community.

Bring a Friend!

At our Steering Group Away Day in July, members told us that having a friend encourage you to join get2gether can make that first step easier. So, we decided to do something about it! This October, we’re hosting our first Bring a Friend event.

If you’re a get2gether member, you can bring along a friend who you think might enjoy being part of the community. Come along together, meet other members, have a hot drink and find out what get2gether is all about.The event is open to adults with disabilities in Edinburgh and the Lothians who aren’t already get2gether members. It’s the only chance for someone who isn’t a member yet to come along to a get2gether event.

If you know someone who might enjoy get2gether but feels unsure about coming along, Bring a Friend gives you the chance to introduce them to the community and be there with them. Johnathan and Weronika both had a friend beside them when they first came along. Since then, they have made new friends, become regular members and found their own ways to be part of get2gether. Maybe Bring a Friend could be the start of something new for someone you know too.

For the details about the Bring a Friend event, please check your October 2026 Community Magazine or contact us at office@get2gether.org.uk to find out how to get involved!