Posts

1 in 306 people in England likely now infected. Covid infection levels near lowest this year. Precautions still needed in higher-risk places.

Covid-19 Risk Assessment: Week Ending 6 July 2025

Covid infection levels in England have reduced to nearly the lowest level seen this year. Around 1 in every 306 people in England were infected in the week to 6 July, and the overall Covid risk remains Moderately High.

We recognise that many people feel this situation is “too good to be true”. However, all data sources support the conclusion that Covid infection levels in England remain at historically lower levels, and we are confident in the advice we are giving to disabled and clinically vulnerable people. We closely monitor the situation, and we will be the first to sound the alarm if infection levels start to rise.

Read More
1 in 261 people in England likely now infected. Covid infection levels remain historically lower. Precautions still needed in higher-risk places.

Covid-19 Risk Assessment: Week Ending 29 June 2025

Covid infection levels in England have slightly declined in the last week, and remain at historically lower levels. Around 1 in every 261 people in England were infected in the week to 29 June, and the overall Covid risk remains Moderately High.

There has not been a Covid wave in England since the beginning of 2025. This is unprecedented since the start of the pandemic. However, Covid has not gone away, and around 220,000 people have Covid every week. So far, no competitive new variant of Covid has emerged to drive a very large wave of infections, and there does not appear to be such a new variant on the immediate horizon. While Covid levels cannot be expected to remain at these historically lower levels forever, there is no sign yet of a significant new wave.

Read More
1 in 239 people in England likely now infected. Covid infection levels continuing to slowly rise. Precautions still needed in higher-risk places.

Covid-19 Risk Assessment: Week Ending 22 June 2025

Covid infection levels are continuing to slowly rise but, for the moment, still remain at historically lower levels. Around 1 in every 239 people in England were infected in the week to 22 June, and the overall Covid risk remains Moderately High.

Once again, there is no evidence in any data that there is a current Covid wave in England. The long-term trend is of a very gradual increase in infection levels. If this trend continues, infection levels will reach the same level as last summer (when we were in the trough between two waves) by August. For the moment, therefore, we are leaving our risk advice unchanged.

Read More

Heat Exhaustion & Heatstroke

The following information about heat exhaustion and heatstroke is taken from official NHS advice. It is designed to help people provide first aid to older and disabled people during the heatwave, because there is likely to be a very long delay before an ambulance or healthcare professional can reach you. This is only general advice, and you should follow any specific advice given to you by a healthcare professional.

Read More
A young black girl wearing bright pink trousers and headphones sits against a brick wall covering her face with her arms in a gesture of sadness or anxiety. Two other young students are seen walking by.

Online Launch Will Highlight ‘Devastating and Shocking’ Experiences of SEND Children and Young People in Bucks

So that as many people as possible can attend, the launch has been postponed to Thursday 24 July at 2pm. All current attendees who’ve already registered will automatically get registered for the new event.


New research by local disability charity BuDS has highlighted the ‘devastating and shocking’ experience of SEND children and young people in Bucks within education. The results of the three-year research study will dismay parents and teachers, and add to the pressure on Buckinghamshire Council to improve SEND* education in Bucks.

BuDS will be revealing the outcome of their research at a live online launch event on Thursday 24 July 2025, and disabled/SEND young people, parents and carers, and all education professionals are invited to attend. Journalists and reporters are also welcome. The charity will also be announcing a major new initiative to improve SEND education in Bucks at the event.

Launch Details

  • 24 July 2025, 2-4 pm (access from 1:45 pm)
  • Fully remote via Teams webinar
  • Accessible for all disabled people
  • Opportunities for questions and reactions

Registration is essential.

Read More
A screenshot of the Pathways to Work Green Paper homepage on the .gov.uk website.

Speak Out About Proposed Disability Benefit Cuts

The Government has proposed cutting £5 billion from disability benefits, such as Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and the health component of Universal Credit (UC).

The Government is still consulting about these changes, and there is a great deal of opposition to them in Parliament and the country. The voice of disabled people needs to be heard loud and clear about these proposed cuts.

Read More
The Palace of Westminster and Portcullis House (MPs offices) seen from across the River Thames, silhouetted against a stormy sky.

Find Your MP

We encourage disabled people and their families/carers to keep in touch with their local constituency MP. There are many key issues affecting disabled people at the minute, such as the proposed benefit cuts, the changes to the NHS and social care, and, of course, the Assisted Dying Bill currently going through Parliament. It is really important that constituency MPs know how disabled people feel about these changes. Disabled people make up about a fifth of all voters in the UK, so our opinions matter.

The table below gives you the names, constituencies, and websites of MPs in and around Buckinghamshire. The button below the table will take you to the Parliament website, where you can find details of your MP if they are not listed.

If you would like any help contacting your MP, or would like BuDS to get involved in anything that matters to you, please use the contact form at the end of this page.

Read More
1 in 262 people in England likely now infected. Still no sign of a Covid wave in England. Precautions still needed in higher-risk places.

Covid-19 Risk Assessment: Week Ending 8 June 2025

There is still no sign yet of a Covid wave in England. Covid infection levels in England have remained static in the week to 8 June. Around 1 in every 262 people in England were infected, and the overall Covid risk remained Moderately High.

You will have seen a lot of social media chat about new variant NB.1.8.1, nicknamed Nimbus, and also another variant called XFG. It is said that these new variants are driving another wave of Covid in England. However, as we say above, Covid infection levels in England have actually remained static.

Read More
1 in 261 people in England likely now infected. Infection levels remain historically low. Higher-risk places still need precautions.

Covid-19 Risk Assessment: Week Ending 1 June 2025

Despite talk of a Covid wave, Covid infection levels in England remained at historically lower levels in the week to 1 June, although there has been a week-on-week rise. Around 1 in every 261 people in England were infected, and the overall Covid risk remained Moderately High.

As we say every week, it is important to recognise that ‘historically lower levels’ does not mean ‘safe’. With 1 in 261 people infected with Covid, the risk of meeting an infected person in your everyday life is still moderately high. This is why we still recommend Covid precautions are taken in higher risk areas, as explained below.

Read More