Articles in Author: Ben Clark

Articles in Disability Hate Crime

    Attitudes and Hate Crime Project: Police & Criminal Justice Liaison Co-ordinator

    Ben Clark

    Disabled people are sometimes subject to abuse, insults or physical violence because of their disability. BuDS’ Fair4All Attitudes & Hate Crimes project confidentially supports victims of disability hate incidents, helps them to report incidents to the police if they wish to do, and works to educate and campaign about disability hate crime.

    This voluntary role provides the essential link between the BuDS Attitudes & Hate Crime Project and criminal justice agencies, mainly Thames Valley Police and the Crown Prosecution Service. It will help make sure victims are supported properly and have the right support as they engage with the police and courts.

    This role would ideally suit someone with experience of working in the police or a criminal justice agency or who has experience of supporting victims in the criminal justice field. However, this is not essential. Disabled people are particularly welcome to apply.

    To view the role description, click here:Download

    To apply or express an interest, please email volunteering@buds.org.uk. To arrange an informal chat about the role, please e-mail simonec@buds.org.uk.

    Second Cold Weather Payment In Buckinghamshire

    Ben Clark

    A second cold weather payment was triggered this week in Buckinghamshire, covering the period between Monday 12th December and Sunday 18th December. This is an additional £25 on top of the existing cold weather payment, triggered in Buckinghamshire on Sunday 18th December. This is because the cold weather is expected to last for the rest of this week. 

    BuDS strongly recommends that disabled people keep their heating on and stay as warm as possible. Cold weather payments are intended to help you pay the cost of the extra heating that may be needed to stay warm in freezing weather. 

    It is recommended by the Energy Saving Trust that you set your thermostat at the lowest comfortable setting for you, which should be between 18°C and 21°C. The best temperature will depend on your overall health and your individual circumstances. It is essential that you stay warm in this cold winter weather. Remember that if you have to go outside, it is very likely to be icy which increases your risk of falling. 

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    Cold Weather Payments in Buckinghamshire

    Ben Clark

    A cold weather payment has been triggered in Buckinghamshire today, Sunday 11th December 2022, for the period between Monday 5th December and Sunday 11th December.

    A cold weather payment is made if the average temperature in your area is recorded as, or forecasted to be, zero degrees Celsius or below over 7 consecutive days. You will receive £25 for each 7-day period of very cold weather between 1st November and 31st March.

    To check whether your postcode is eligible for a cold weather payment, please type your postcode into the DWP’S, Cold Weather Payment Checker https://coldweatherpayments.dwp.gov.uk/search.php

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    Covid-19 Risk Assessment: Week Ending 9 December 2022

    Ben Clark

    The Covid risk in Bucks is still going up. As of 7 December, 1 in 38 people in the county were infected with Covid-19 and the risk of meeting an infected person when out and about remains VERY HIGH. In your average busy supermarket, there will be eight people breathing out Covid for you to catch. This is probably the beginning of the predicted ‘Winter Wave’ of Covid.

    Our advice remains to wear a FFP2 or N95 filter mask in public places (especially hospitals and GP surgeries), breathe clean air, avoid crowds and busy places, work from home if you can, and protect your older and vulnerable relatives and friends. These simple precautions will help save you and your family from serious illness or long-term disability.

    Remember, it’s scientifically proven that Covid has hidden serious effects for many people who catch it, even if they are not very ill immediately, including making it more likely that they will get seriously ill with common infections. This is why  we are continuing to stress that people should take precautions to avoid catching Covid.

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    Delays To PIP Payments

    Ben Clark

    We’ve confirmed today with the DWP that there is an ongoing issue with PIP benefit payments which started on Friday 2nd December, and persists today. Many people are finding that their usual PIP payment hasn’t reached their bank account. DWP insiders are telling us that Caxton House (DWP Head Office) have ‘declared a major incident’ over non-payment of disability benefit PIP, but they still don’t know how or when it will be resolved.

    We have consulted welfare rights lawyers, who confirm that disabled people receiving PIP have no legal right to be paid on any particular day and that the DWP cannot be held liable for any bank charges or other losses because a payment is delayed. The DWP have made themselves unaccountable.

    If the DWP end up making two payments into your account, report it to the DWP immediately. Do not leave yourself vulnerable to DWP recovery proceedings, as they can be very ruthless. More information here.

    As of 5 pm today (5 December), a lot of claimants are reporting money is arriving in their accounts. We do not know how many claimants have been affected, or how many payments are still outstanding, as the DWP is not accountable.

    As of 3.30pm today (5th December), the DWP are telling claimants that about a third of PIP claimants have been affected, and that all failed payments will be paid again using Faster Payments. There has, of course, been no official confirmation from the DWP.

    Covid-19 Risk Assessment: Week Ending 2 December 2022

    Ben Clark

    The Covid risk in Bucks continues to rise. As of 30 November, 1 in 48 people in the county were infected with Covid-19. The risk of meeting an infected person when out and about remains VERY HIGH. In your average busy supermarket, there will be six people breathing out Covid for you to catch. This is the beginning of the predicted ‘Winter Wave’ of Covid.

    Our advice remains to wear a FFP2 or N95 filter mask in public places (especially hospitals and GP surgeries), breathe clean air, avoid crowds and busy places, work from home if you can, and protect your older and vulnerable relatives and friends. These simple precautions will help save you and your family from serious illness or long-term disability.

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    Covid-19 Risk Assessment: Week Ending 25 November 2022

    Ben Clark

    The Covid risk in Bucks is going up again, after falling to its lowest level this year. As of 23 November, 1 in 55 people in the county were still infected with Covid-19 and the risk of meeting an infected person when out and about has increased to VERY HIGH. In your average busy supermarket, there will be five people breathing out Covid for you to catch. This is probably the beginning of the predicted ‘Winter Wave’ of Covid.

    Our advice remains to wear a FFP2 or N95 filter mask in public places (especially hospitals and GP surgeries), breathe clean air, avoid crowds and busy places, work from home if you can, and protect your older and vulnerable relatives and friends. These simple precautions will help save you and your family from serious illness or long-term disability.

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    My Self-Care Routine – Meditation

    Ben Clark

    Written by Janneke Elford

    Disclaimer: this is a personal blog by a BuDS member. The views expressed are personal and don’t necessarily represent those of BuDS or our Trustees.

    “I started meditation on and off years ago, when I started getting into Yoga, as they kind of go hand in hand. But it has only been in the last year I have really thrown myself into it, and what a difference it has made!

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    Have You Heard About The DecodeME Project?

    Ben Clark

    Written by Liz Hobbs.

    Disclaimer: this is a personal blog by a BuDS member. The views expressed are personal and don’t necessarily represent those of BuDS or our Trustees.

    A few months back it was Chronic Fatigue Awareness Day.  I really wanted to write a blog about it, but at the time my own chronic fatigue symptoms were so bad that I didn’t have the energy, focus or ability to do anything about it.  I promised myself that at some point I would write something.  This isn’t quite the blog that I was going to write – still not enough health to do that, unfortunately.  It was going to be all about how CFS has affected my life and how it impacts so many people in so many ways.  However instead, having just attended a webinar, on 16th November, I’m going to ask you a very important question:

    Have you heard about the DecodeME project?

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