A rare opportunity to help shape the future of a dynamic disability charity as it grows from county to national status, working mostly remotely
BuDS is seeking Trustees to join our charity trustee team and use their lived experience of disability to shape the future of the charity. This role will give you the opportunity to support the growth of this unique, dynamic, and expanding user-led charity and disabled people’s organisation.
At least 75% of the BuDS Trustee Board must be disabled people within the meaning of the Equality Act 2010. We are therefore particularly seeking disabled people who can represent the interests and needs of an impairment group, including mental health, sensory loss, autism and neurodiversity, and long term conditions.
What Is BuDS?
Buckinghamshire Disability Service (BuDS) is a leading disability charity operating across England. It is an independent pan-disability organisation not tied to Government, NHS or council contracts. Our visionary aim is to abolish disability by building a world which is Fair4All, free of the barriers which disable people. We are led by disabled people and committed to the social model of disability. We are a working community of volunteers and staff, most of whom are themselves disabled people.
BuDS is evolving from a county charity to a national charity. This process began in 2020, when our work hugely expanded and became national in response to the Covid pandemic. Following approval from members in 2023, we aim in 2025-26 to change our name to ‘BuDS Disability Service’ and to formally re-brand ourselves as a national charity, alongside moving to Charitable Incorporated Organisation status. We are increasingly moving to multi-year project, core and development grants, expanding our opportunity to make a difference for disabled people. We want to cautiously take up consultancy and service-delivery opportunities when that serves our mission.
As a user-led charity, BuDS Trustees are expected to use their lived experience of disability alongside their skills and experience to shape the future of the charity and make the key decisions which will help it prosper. As a charity which embraces all disabled people, we seek to ensure that all the principal impairment groups are represented on the Board.
Trustees of BuDS need to embody our values and ethos. BuDS highly values diversity and inclusion and encourages everyone who meets the needs of the role to apply, regardless of their background or circumstances. We welcome adults of all ages including young people aged 18-25.
The Role of A Trustee
The role of Trustee is expected to involve a time commitment of around 2-3 hours per week. BuDS works remotely and flexibly using Microsoft Teams, so much of the work can be done at your own pace at times which suit you best. Meetings are kept to a minimum as all the Trustees are busy people.
Typical Trustee responsibilities are:
- Getting to know what BuDS does and meeting the people in our working community
- Responding to messages in the BuDS Trustee teams, usually calling for comments, advice or approval
- Attending monthly BuDS Trustee meetings (held by Teams)
- Optionally, attending BuDS events (mainly in the summer) or representing the charity
- Optionally, helping to support a project or other initiative where you have enthusiasm, skills or knowledge to contribute
Experience And Skills
These are the skills and experience we think are needed for this role. We are keen to develop people’s knowledge and skills through training and mentoring.
- Lived experience as a disabled person
- A positive, collaborative attitude and desire to help BuDS make a difference to disabled people’s lives
- Ability to participate remotely through Microsoft Teams (full support available)
- Commitment to the social model of disability and BuDS values
- Lives in England
How to Apply
To express a no-obligation interest, please e-mail volunteering@buds.org.uk with your CV or details of your experience and skills, and saying which of the 5 typical responsibilities you think you could help with. If you’d prefer an informal chat first, please contact Andrew Clark, Chair of Trustees, on andrewc@buds.org.uk. You can also leave us a voicemail on 01494 211179.
Prospective Trustees join the charity as safeguarded volunteers and shadow the Trustee Board for a period of 2-3 months before being co-opted. This allows both the prospective Trustee and Board to make a fully informed and considered decision.
BuDS is an equal opportunity organisation, and disabled people are particularly encouraged to apply for this role.
BuDS is committed to safeguarding all those with whom it works. This post will be subject to an enhanced DBS check on appointment. This will be arranged and paid for by BuDS. Character and professional references and a credit check will also be carried out.