News – Page 25

Articles in Covid-19

Some better Covid news this week, as the latest wave of Covid looks to be reaching its end. But there remains a lot of Covid in the community – as of 9 November, 1 in 62 people in the county were still 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 still be five people breathing out Covid for you to catch.

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.

Guide & Assistance Dog Refusal

November 11, 2022November 11, 2022 Ben Clark

As a community of disabled people, we are well aware that assistance dog refusal happens frequently and is deeply distressing and damaging for disabled people who rely on the support of an animal. There is no excuse for refusing an assistance animal and it is of course illegal to do so. We are aware that disabled people with assistance dogs are often verbally and sometimes even physically abused when they try to exercise their legal right to take their dogs with them, and we unreservedly condemn any rudeness or abuse. Anyone who abuses a disabled person in Buckinghamshire for any reason can expect to hear from us!

As a charity, we have worked for over a decade to stop assistance animals being refused in Buckinghamshire. Our pre-pandemic project Fair4All Taxis successfully ended most assistance dog refusals by taxi drivers and our rapidly-growing Fair4All Card helps disabled people who use an assistance animal to assert their legal rights.

The Times They Are A-Changin’…

November 10, 2022November 10, 2022 Ben Clark

A blog for Trustees Week 2022 by Andrew Clark, Chair of Trustees, Buckinghamshire Disability Service, BuDS.

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.

The times they are a-changing, sang Bob Dylan nearly 60 years ago, and he’s still right. One verse of his famous song reads:

If your time to you is worth saving, then you better start swimmin’ or you’ll sink like a stone, for the times, they are a-changin’
Bob Dylan

As a user-led disability charity, BuDS has been swimming hard for 13 years. But the last three years have perhaps seen more change than ever. When Covid arrived and lockdowns started, BuDS Trustees refused to let the charity ‘sink like a stone’. With charities closing all around us, unanimously we decided to go instead for rapid growth to meet the surging needs of disabled people who were most affected by Covid.

About BuDS

November 8, 2022October 16, 2024 Ben Clark

Buckinghamshire Disability Service (BuDS) is a user-led disability charity operating in Buckinghamshire and across England. We are a successful, dynamic and influential charity, focused on supporting disabled people by fixing the biggest issues facing them. We aim to build a world which is Fair4All, including disabled people.

BuDS works by permanently removing barriers facing disabled people and finding answers to the big issues facing them, alongside helping individuals. Our projects and partnerships deliver unique and lasting change and effective support that helps tens of thousands of disabled people in Bucks and across England.

Covid-19 Risk Assessment: Week Ending 4 November 2022

November 4, 2022November 4, 2022 Ben Clark

The Covid wave in Bucks has dropped slightly, but the risk of meeting an infected person when out and about remains EXTREMELY HIGH. As of 2 November, we estimate 1 in 34 people in the county were infected with Covid-19. In your average busy supermarket, there will now be nine people breathing out Covid for you to catch.

Winter Cost of Living Payment (EasyRead)

November 2, 2022November 2, 2022 Ben Clark

The Government made a list between the 26^th of August 2022 and the 25^th of September 2022 of the people who could have the winter cost of living payment.

A BuDS Access & Inclusion survey taking place at Chiltern Open Air Museum, Bucks. A group of disabled people are seen leaving the "Tin Church"

How Accessible and Inclusive is Chiltern Open Air Museum?

November 1, 2022November 1, 2022 Ben Clark

On Sunday 25 September, a BuDDy tour of 10 disabled people made an escorted visit to the Chiltern Open Air Museum (COAM) to assess its disabled accessibility¹ and inclusion.² They also looked at Covid safety, particularly for disabled, older and clinically-vulnerable (CV) people.

The BuDDy tour captured the experiences and views of a wide and mixed group of disabled and CV people on a typical tourist visit to the site, and flagged up areas for future action. Although the BuDDy tour was escorted by COAM staff, it was completely independent of the Museum.

The Tour followed a preliminary escorted reconnaissance visit on 15 September.

BuDDy Tour of Chiltern Open Air Museum Assesses Disabled Accessibility

November 1, 2022May 9, 2023 Ben Clark

Ten disabled volunteers from disability charity Buckinghamshire Disability Service (BuDS) have spent a day at the Chiltern Open Air Museum near Chalfont St Giles, helping to improve accessibility for disabled people.

The trip, called a BuDDy Tour, is one of several taking place to Buckinghamshire tourist destinations and visitor attractions as part of the charity’s new Fair4All Visitor project. This project, backed by Buckinghamshire Business First and Visit Buckinghamshire, aims to help Buckinghamshire businesses become more successful by improving and publicising their disabled accessibility and inclusion. Learn more about the Tour here.

The BuDDy Tour is part of Visit Buckinghamshire: Boost programme of support being delivered in partnership by Visit Buckinghamshire, Buckinghamshire Business First and Buckinghamshire Council, and funded by the UK Government through the UK Community Renewal Fund.

Child wheelchair user happily playing an outdoor xylophone

SEND: Choosing The Right School In Bucks

October 26, 2022October 26, 2022 Ben Clark

Every parent or carer knows it’s critical to choose the right school for their SEND child. But finding the information you need can be difficult and time-consuming, as you often have to trawl through school websites, go on visits, and talk to other parents. Two initiatives from BuDS’ Fair4All Education project will make it easier for you to choose the right school.

Covid-19 Risk Assessment: Week Ending 21 October 2022

October 21, 2022November 2, 2022 Ben Clark

The Covid wave in Bucks has jumped to CRITICALLY HIGH levels. As of 19 October, we estimate 1 in 20 people in the county were infected with Covid-19. In your average busy supermarket, there will now be fifteen people breathing out Covid for you to catch. All busy public places will have virus in the air.

Articles in News