Heavy Load are the UK’s only punk band made up of musicians with and without learning disabilities.

We play gigs all over the country and we have noticed that something strange happens at 8.45pm – people start to go home.

Heavy Load are fed up with people with learning disabilities leaving club nights and gigs early because their staff finish their shifts at 10pm.

This means they are missing out.

If this happens to you:
You need to talk about this with your friends, support workers, family and advocates.

Our ‘Stay Up Late’ campaign is to make managers and staff know that we want them to plan ahead and talk to us about what we want to do when they’re writing the rota.

Rotas need to be about what WE want. What do YOU want?

Our message to managers and staff is, be creative with your rotas - involve us when writing them. We know that staff don’t mind working late if they’re given enough warning.

“We want to stay up late - we want to have some fun”.

Valuing People White Paper says: "The Government’s objective is to enable people with learning disabilities to have as much choice and control as possible over their lives and the services and support they receive...A person-centred approach will be essential to deliver real change in the lives of people with learning disabilities." Heavy Load says: We want to stay up late We want to have some fun!