How Dates-n-Mates helped Jean and Christopher connect
Christopher Buchanan can hardly wait for Valentine’s Day. He’s meeting his girlfriend, Jean Davidson, for lunch at a restaurant in Falkirk followed by a trip to a fun fair.
Dates-n-Mates describes itself as Scotland’s national dating and friendship project run by and for adults with a learning disability. By organising all kinds of get-togethers – everything from club nights and bingo to museum and cinema visits and speed dating events – it helps people with learning disabilities find friendship and, in some cases, romance.
Christopher and Jean weren’t complete strangers – they were friends at high school – but it took Dates-n-Mates to put them together as a couple. Their first date – a trip to an indoor swimming pool – was four months ago and they’ve been going strong ever since.
Jean said, “He’s friendly, he’s caring and he’s polite, just like me. We’ve been bowling together, and I’ve met his parents. I was really happy with his parents.”
This Valentine’s Day – their first as a couple – will be extra special. Jean, who lives in Hallglen on the outskirts of Falkirk, is looking forward to their lunch at the town’s Coppertop restaurant in particular.
Christopher, who lives in the Falkirk suburb of Camelon, is just as excited. He said, “Jean is really kind and helpful when you need help. I can talk to her, and she can talk to me. She’s met my mum and dad and my sister and they’re really happy for us.
“We go swimming and bowling with Dates-n-Mates. She only lives a bus ride from me. I catch the No.8 and we meet at Asda. I asked her if she’d like to be my girlfriend and she said ‘I’d love to be your girlfriend’. We’re friends as well as being boyfriend and girlfriend.”
Carolyn Dick, Dates-n-Mates regional lead, said Valentine’s Day would be the sixth anniversary of the project operating in the Falkirk area. She said, “Jean and Christopher got matched up and they’ve really hit it off. They’re really embracing the relationship by taking it slowly and getting to know each other.”
13th February 2025
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