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Last year, we held our first GAIN individual member get-together on a sunny rooftop garden overlooking the City of London before moving to the bar downstairs. We shared experiences, listened, made new acquaintances, and reconnected with familiar faces. It was invigorating, challenging, and refreshing all at once. We were immensely proud of everyone there, knowing how daunting such gatherings can be for neurodivergent people. The unknown surroundings, the journey, new people, sensory (over)stimulation and the fear of making a fool of ourselves…
But this is our tribe. We were there for ourselves and each other. No one needed to apologise, explain themselves, or follow social norms they only vaguely understood. There was no judgment. We could simply sit and talk, listen, or zone out.
We enjoyed it so much that we regrouped on May 30th, 2024. This time in the vibrant surroundings of the Barbican.
Photo taken at the last Individual members in-person gathering at the Barbican.
Once again, we had such a good time that we have decided to make the GAIN individual member get-together a recurring fixture in the GAIN calendar, but with a twist.
Our GAIN Lunch (online)
Our GAIN After Work (in person)
Once a month, GAIN individual members will have the opportunity to meet up online or in the City of London, alternating each month between an online lunchtime get-together and an in-person after-work timeslot.
Our GAIN Lunch aims to be online, informal, and relaxed. Enjoy your lunch, talk, or just listen, vent, or ask for advice. You can stay for your full lunch hour or just for ten minutes.
Our GAIN After Work will remain informal and relaxed, like previous in-person meet-ups, but after 5pm in a pub setting in the Square Mile. We have researched venues for discussions in less noisy environments. Allies are welcome!
Updates to follow. Like previous in-person gatherings, we want to shape these get-togethers around what works best for GAIN individual members. If you have any feedback or suggestions, we’re happy to take them on board!
Our GAIN (Stammtisch) Committee
Jonathan, Luke, Sam, Vina
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