News – Page 8

Articles in Covid-19

1 in 265 people in England likely now infected. Covid levels remain static before Easter. Precautions still needed in higher-risk places.

Covid-19 Risk Assessment: Week Ending 20 April 2025

April 24, 2025April 24, 2025 Ben Clark

Covid infection levels in England have remained stable in the week to 20 April. The recent slow rise appears to have stopped, although this may be simply a reporting error. As of the week ending 20 April, around 1 in every 265 people were infected, and the overall Covid risk currently remains Moderately High.

A buff cardboard folder full of papers, the top one of which is the BuDS Annual Report for 2024-25

Annual Report & Accounts

April 16, 2025February 16, 2026 Ben Clark

Since 2021, BuDS has been required by law to publish an Annual Report and Accounts. You can download these reports and accounts by using the buttons below.

A BuDS volunteer talking to members of the public.

Evolving BuDS

April 16, 2025April 16, 2025 Ben Clark

BuDS continues to grow and develop, and the charity has to have a legal form which is suitable for the future. This article explains what Trustees are doing to evolve BuDS to give it a secure future.

Moving Forward Together

BuDS carried out a public and member consultation in 2023, which overwhelmingly supported the changes listed below. The 2023 Annual General Meetings approved the changes, and gave Trustees the authority to put them into place.

Two BuDS volunteers talking and smiling with a BuDS flag in the background

BuDS’ Values

April 16, 2025April 16, 2025 Ben Clark

BuDS wants to be a charity which has strong, clear values which guide our work and everything done by our trustees, staff and volunteers.

BuDS first adopted formal values in 2020. We review them regularly, and the following values were adopted by the 2024 Annual General Meeting:

BuDS is an inclusive & diverse working community of and for all disabled people

BuDS is a strong, honest, voice for disabled people

BuDS is a proactive charity that lives the social model, removes barriers and finds answers

Fair4All is at the heart of all BuDS does

BuDS is an empowering, reflective, caring, supportive, kind and safe organisation

BuDS has an open culture and is committed to collaborative working

Twice each year, the BuDS Trustees will assess how well BuDS has kept to its values, and report back to the Annual General Meeting.

1 in 258 people in England likely now infected. Covid levels rise for fourth consecutive week. Precautions still needed in higher-risk places.

Covid-19 Risk Assessment: Week Ending 13 April 2025

April 15, 2025April 15, 2025 Ben Clark

Covid infection levels in England once again continue to slowly rise. As of the week ending 13 April, around 1 in every 258 people were infected. The overall Covid risk currently remains Moderately High, but we are tentatively predicting a return to High levels in May.

1 in 267 people in England likely now infected. Covid levels rise for third consecutive week. Precautions still needed in higher-risk places.

Covid-19 Risk Assessment: Week Ending 06 April 2025

April 8, 2025April 8, 2025 Ben Clark

Covid infection levels in England continue to slowly rise, but remain historically low. As of the week ending 6 April, around 1 in every 267 people were infected. The overall Covid risk currently remains Moderately High, but we are tentatively predicting a Covid wave in May.

1 in 273 people in England likely now infected. Covid levels rise for second consecutive week. Precautions still needed in higher-risk places.

Covid-19 Risk Assessment: Week Ending 30 March 2025

April 1, 2025April 1, 2025 Ben Clark

Covid infection levels in England have continued to slowly rise. As of the week ending 30 March, around 1 in every 273 people were infected. The overall Covid risk currently remains Moderately High, but we are tentatively predicting a Covid wave in late April or May.

1 in 293 people in England likely now infected. Covid levels rise for first time in 18 weeks. Precautions still needed in higher-risk places.

Covid-19 Risk Assessment: Week Ending 23 March 2025

March 24, 2025March 24, 2025 Ben Clark

For the first time in 18 weeks, Covid infection levels in England have risen slightly higher. As of the week ending 23 March, around 1 in every 293 people were infected, up 13% on last week. The overall Covid risk currently remains Moderately High, but we are tentatively predicting a Covid wave in April or May.

Stock photograph of an older Asian woman wearing a pink day-dress. She is standing up from a shower seat, and holding onto a rail.

Changes To Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

March 18, 2025March 18, 2025 Ben Clark

The Government have published a consultation paper (a “Green Paper”) about changes to disability and sickness benefits. One of the changes proposed is to make it far more difficult to qualify for Personal Independence Payment (PIP). This article explains how the Government proposes to make it more difficult to qualify, and how that might affect different groups of disabled people applying for PIP in the future.

1 in 331 people in England likely now infected. 17th successive week of low Covid infection levels. Precautions still needed in higher-risk places.

Covid-19 Risk Assessment: Week Ending 16 March 2025

March 17, 2025March 17, 2025 Ben Clark

For the 17^th week in a row, Covid infection levels in England have remained relatively low. As of the week ending 16 March, around 1 in every 331 people were infected, and the overall Covid risk remains Moderately High.

We have checked these figures against the only other reputable source available, the Scottish wastewater monitoring of Covid virus levels. While the figures aren’t directly comparable, both data sets show similar trends of a long period of static Covid levels. This makes us as confident as we can be that the Covid figures we give are credible.