Cerebral palsy sufferer is desperate to find a girlfriend to be his missing puzzle piece – Cornwall Live

A disabled man who is desperate for a girlfriend wants to find the 'missing puzzle piece' to his life.

Oliver Goulding, who lives in Feock in Truro, has had his fair share of girlfriends in the past - but for one reason or another - the relationships havent quite lasted.

Now the talented musician is eager to find that special someone that he can share his time with and who can help him reclaim some of his independence.

The 28-year-old was born with cerebral palsy, and whilst he has had a challenging life, he strives to not let his condition hold him back.

He says that his life is now rich in many areas - he is a talented musician and a keen artist, who loves a good adventure (wheelchair prohibiting) and even does some work at the Eden Project.

He has also made copious amounts of friends thanks to his musical endeavours and seemingly outgoing and go-getter personality.

But lately Oliver has found himself becoming increasingly frustrated at the disabled dating scene in Cornwall and even his dad says that he has become obsessed with finding a girlfriend.

Despite his friendly and outgoing demeanour, Oliver says that past experiences have made him a little shyer around the ladies than you would think when meeting him.

Combining that with trying to find someone in the first place, he is finding the whole concept of dating rather daunting.

He said: Sometimes I see a nice girl out in Truro in a wheelchair and then I will never see her again. I wonder where did she actually go? There has to be other disabled people out there like me but where are they?

Oliver had his first and last serious girlfriend during his college years, a decade ago. The couple were together for around two-years and he said that knowing what it is like to have a girlfriend makes being single all that more difficult.

Whilst he has had a number of less serious relationships over the last ten years, he misses having a real relationship.

Being in a relationship had its highs and lows. There were good times and there were bad times. he said.

We would go out and do things like normal everyday things. We would go to the pub and catch the bus. We shared great times.

When this relationship ended, despite it being Olivers decision, his father, John Goulding, said that his son had a really hard time coming to terms with that chapter of his life closing.

Oliver has known the relationship was not right for him, but still missed being with someone.

He said he missed the companionship and the romance but was also mourning for the independence he had lost and has been searching for love again ever since.

It was good to have that independence, be out and about and its not healthy for me to be around my parents all the time, he said.

I go out with my helper quite a lot but its not the same as having someone to do that with. My helper has got me in pubs to talk to a couple of girls and things. He tries to get me out and about meeting people but its not very easy to do.

Oliver has tried attending social events, various dating websites and meeting people in person to no avail.

Just recently he was out with his family when he spotted a girl in a wheelchair.

I had my eye on a very pretty girl in a wheelchair. She was there with a group of people and then she just disappeared.

We know she is around but have never seen her anywhere else and I couldnt just go over to a group of people and say hi Im Oliver.

I might do it, but it is scary to start a conversation that way. It isnt easy.

Oliver has also met a woman through a dating website for disabled people, but says that the relationship ended up being more of a friendship than a romantic relationship.

It is very easy to message people through your phone but when you meet them you can be nervous, he said.

I have a terrible time, I have been very upset and I felt really emotional for some time after my relationship ended and still now.

I have always felt like I am missing something. I have had a terrible time and still now I really want a girlfriend. There is like a piece of the jigsaw puzzle missing.

His dad, John said: He is so desperate he has been asking me to help him and go out and find one for him and Im telling him I cant go out and buy him a girlfriend but I am doing what I can.

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Cerebral palsy sufferer is desperate to find a girlfriend to be his missing puzzle piece - Cornwall Live