Articles in Author: Freya Clark

Articles in About BuDS

    Evolving the BuDS Constitution

    Freya Clark

    BuDS continues to grow and develop, and our constitution needs to grow and develop too, so that
    the charity has a legal form which is suitable for the future. We’d like your views about a
    number of changes to BuDS’ constitution, our governing document.

    If you have any questions or comments about the proposed changes, please do get in touch
    with BuDS. You can e-mail info@buds.org.uk, leave us a voicemail on 01494 211179 or message us
    through a social media platform. You can also send us a message through this website by clicking the ‘Contact Us’ button at the bottom of this page.

    Here is a summary of the changes that BuDS Trustees would like to make to the Constitution. Members of BuDS (any disabled person from Bucks) have to approve the changes at the AGM on 13th January 2024, and some of the changes will also need to be approved by the Charity Commission.

    • Make BuDS’ legal ‘area of operation’ England rather than just Bucks. BuDS would continue to work principally in and around Bucks just as it does now, with some projects operating across the South East or Thames Valley, or nationally, when it’s right and possible.
    • Allow disabled people to join BuDS as members from anywhere in England. BuDS would continue to work as it does now, mainly in and around Bucks, but with the difference that any disabled person from anywhere in England who wants to join us would be able to do so.
    • Allowing BuDS Trustees to be disabled people from anywhere in England. BuDS would continue to recruit only the best qualified and most passionate disabled people to become Trustees, but from anywhere in England rather than just in Bucks.
    • Permit a small number of BuDS Trustees to be non-disabled people. BuDS has always recruited a few non-disabled people as Trustees if their skills and experience were vital for the charity and this change would allow this to continue, provided 75% of Trustees are always disabled people.
    • Allow Trustees to change the name of BuDS from ‘Buckinghamshire Disability Service BuDS’ to ‘BuDS Disability Service’. This gradual change over time would stop people being confused whether BuDS could help them or not.
    • Note that Trustees intend in due course to change the legal form of BuDS from an unincorporated association to a company limited by guarantee. This is a technical legal change which is recommended for all larger charities, and which would not affect what BuDS does and how it helps disabled people.

    You can find out more about these proposals, and why Trustees think they are necessary, in the full consultation paper. This can be downloaded by clicking the download button below.

    Evolving the BuDS Constitution – Consultation Paper 2023Download

    You can find the Constitution by clicking the download button below.

    BuDS ConstitutionDownload

    If you need the consultation paper or the Constitution in another format, please contact us:

    Contact Us

    BuDS is not attending Chiltern Open Air Museum’s Christmas Event

    Freya Clark

    BuDS always strives to make events in Buckinghamshire accessible for disabled people. However, we have recently been hit with a wave of illness within our events team. After lots of careful consideration, our Trustees felt that attending this event would put too much strain on the health of our volunteers, and we are therefore very sadly announcing that we will not be attending this event.

    If you have any questions or comments, please email info@buds.org.uk.

    Volunteer at the COAM Christmas Weekend

    Freya Clark

    Please note volunteer applications have closed for this event.

    Do you want to help support disabled people and get to attend an amazing event? BuDS is looking for event volunteers for the Chiltern Open Air Museum Christmas Weekend, on the 3rd and 4th December 2022.

    The event will show how Christmas was celebrated in the past and give you the opportunity to see some of the Museum’s historic buildings traditionally decorated for Christmas. There will be an artisan Christmas market and the Museum’s shop will be full of handmade products.

    We are excited to support this event to be more inclusive and accessible for all disabled people by providing an access information and support, and an emergency quiet space.

    Volunteers will get free time to enjoy the event and will be able to enjoy the demonstrations, or just have some chill out time!

    Strict Covid-safety protocols will be in place to keep everyone safe and every volunteer will be provided with a BuDS polo shirt and PPE face mask.

    If you’d like to be part of the volunteer team for this amazing event, please fill in the expression of interest form, and we will be in touch! Disabled people are very welcome to volunteer, and we have a wide range of roles to suit everyone.

    We are very welcoming, even if you can only commit to an hour during the weekend.

    Volunteer at the Towersey Festival

    Freya Clark

    Do you want to help support disabled people and get to attend an amazing event? BuDS is looking for event volunteers for Towersey Festival on the Claydon Estate, north Bucks, from 25th – 30th August.

    Towersey Festival is the UK’s longest-running independent festival, devoted to creating a ‘true community of music, creativity, friendship, and fun’. Established in 1965, the festival has grown to become one of the major arts and music festivals of the year. Headlining this year are Bill Bailey, Howard Jones, Del Amitri, Kate Rusby, Turin Brakes, and Anaïs Mitchell.

    We are excited to support Towersey Festival 2022 to be more inclusive and accessible for all disabled people by staffing disabled and Covid-safer viewing areas, providing access information and support, an emergency quiet space, as well as help in the accessible campsite.

    Volunteers will get free time to enjoy the festival and will be able to watch most of the acts and also take part in all the other festival activities, or just chill out.

    Strict Covid-safety protocols will be in place to keep everyone safe and every volunteer will be provided with a BuDS polo shirt and PPE face mask.

    If you’d like to be part of the volunteer team for this amazing event, please fill in the expression of interest form here Expression of Interest Form, and we will be in touch! Disabled people are very welcome to volunteer, and we have a wide range of roles to suit everyone.

    We are looking for volunteers who can commit to at least 8 hours spread over the event, or more if possible. Volunteering is organised in shifts, so you can choose the ones which suit your availability.

    More information is provided in the expression of interest form. If you have any further questions, please contact us on volunteering@buds.org.uk, 01494 211179 (voicemail), or on any of our social medias.