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Articles in BuDDies

A young woman in a powered wheelchair sits in front of a grey wall with plants on top. She is smiling towards the camera, and is holding a mobile phone in her left hand

Temporary Pause of the BuDDies Scheme

Ben Clark

We are sorry to have to inform our community that the BuDDies Scheme at BuDS is currently on hold. Due to ongoing challenges facing charity funding across England, we have had to make the difficult decision to temporarily pause the scheme while we seek further funding.

We understand that this news may be disappointing, and we sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused. Supporting your wellbeing remains extremely important to us, and we are committed to helping where we can during this pause.

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Covid infection risk still at historic low. Covid risk level now Moderately Low at 1 in 1052. Spring Covid boosters still advised.

Covid-19 Risk Assessment: Week Ending 19 April 2026

Ben Clark

Covid infection levels in England have fallen to the lowest levels recorded since the pandemic began. The risk level is now Moderately Low, with 1 in every 1052 people in England infected. The risk from respiratory viruses, including Covid, in the community remains at its lowest ever level.

This estimate is based on highly reliable data, and the downward trend of infection levels is independently confirmed by all other available data. As a community of disabled and highly Covid-cautious people, BuDS is satisfied that Covid infection levels in England are indeed at unprecedented lows at present. However, Covid has not vanished and there is still a risk of catching the virus in high-risk indoor places.

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A coloured atlas-style map of the Gulf States with a magnifying glass over Iran

The US & Israeli Conflict With Iran

Freya Clark

Post updated 10 Aoril 2026

There is now a fragile ceasefire in the US, Israeli and Iranian war, and we have taken this opportunity to update our information. Although the fighting is partly stopped, the economic impact of the war is still affecting people all over the world, including here in the UK. Disabled people, as always, are hit hardest by these impacts.

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Covid infection risk still lowest ever. Covid risk level remains Moderate at 1 in 735. Everyone recommended to get vaccinated.

Covid-19 Risk Assessment: Week Ending 5 April 2026

Ben Clark

More Covid good news, as infection levels in England continue to fall. The risk level is still Moderate, with 1 in every 735 people in England infected.

This week’s NOIDS data was collected over the first Easter holiday weekend, and may be revised next week. For this reason, we are only tentatively reporting a 1 in 735 incidence. However, even if this incidence is later slightly increased, it is certain that, overall, infection levels in England have remained at their lowest level since 2021.

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Screenshot from the BBC News website showing the headline "Assisted dying bill will not now become law, say both sides" over a picture of both pro- and anti-assisted dying demonstrators.

Assisted Suicide Bill In Westminster Falls

Ben Clark

More great news, as the Assisted Suicide Bill in the Westminster Parliament also falls, joining the Scottish Bill which was voted down last week.

The multimillionaire lobbyists behind these Bills are spreading an untrue story that the Westminster Bill failed because it was ‘talked out’ by opponents in the House of Lords. This story is objectively untrue for the following reasons.

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A blue and yellow infographic. On the left is a picture of a disabled woman in a power wheelchair. She is laughing into the camera. On the right is the headline "Timms Review", and the following text in white: "BuDS has stepped in to help make sure that the voice of ordinary disabled people is heard loud and clear by the Timms Review". Below the text is the blue and yellow BuDS logo.

Responding To The Timms Review

Ben Clark

The Government have decided to review Personal Independence Payment (PIP). This page is designed to help disabled people understand this Review and contribute to it.

Why Is This Review Happening?

In the summer of 2025, the Government introduced legislation to cut PIP so that fewer disabled people would be able to claim it. However, many MPS said they would not support this plan and so the Government said that no cuts would be made to PIP until after PIP had been ‘fully reviewed’.

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More good news as Covid risk lowest ever. Covid risk level falls to Moderate at 1 in 638. Other respiratory viruses nearly back to baseline.

Covid-19 Risk Assessment: Week Ending 15 March 2026

Ben Clark

More Covid good news, as infection levels fall to their lowest level since 2021. For the first time, we have reduced the risk level to Moderate, with 1 in every 638 people in England infected. In other good news, other respiratory viruses are mostly now back at baseline levels. Overall, the risk from respiratory viruses, including Covid, in the community is at its lowest ever level.

Because of the lag in publishing other Covid data, we are basing our risk assessment this week entirely on NOIDS data. However, this data historically has been reliable, and we are confident as clinically vulnerable people ourselves that our assessment is accurate.

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