About BuDS
BuDS is a Buckinghamshire charity run by disabled people and carers for disabled people and carers. As a real user-led organisation living by the social model of disability, we tackle only the issues which matter to disabled people and aim to provide the services which disabled people and carers most need.
BuDS is non-political and non-partisan and is not tied to any council or government body.
Our History
BuDS was founded in March 2004 as an umbrella organisation for local charities and voluntary organisations involved in the NHS-funded Disability Resource Centre at what is now the Brookside Clinic in Aylesbury. When the NHS stopped funding this Centre in 2007/8, BuDS received a small three-year grant from Bucks County Council (now finished) to help it create a replacement Centre for Independent Living and to set up a User-Led Organisation for Buckinghamshire.
After much detailed planning, BuDS appointed a Project Manager in early 2009 for the creation of a major independent Centre for Independent Living in Aylesbury, but all work stopped in summer 2009 when Bucks County Council said that it now no longer wished to pursue this project. Work to create a user-led organisation went forward under a Development Worker and, in early 2010, BuDS was reconstructed under a new Board of Trustees to become a truly independent user-led organisation run by disabled people for disabled people, rather than the umbrella body run by and for other local charities which it had been.
In summer 2010, Bucks County Council issued a tender inviting companies and groups to create what it called a User-Led Organisation. BuDS examined this tender and felt that the so-called ULO sought by the Council was in reality no more than a ‘tick-box’ body designed to enable the Council to meet its obligations to central government to consult and involve disabled people. BuDS therefore decided not to get involved in this tender in order to avoid compromising its independence and ability to address disabled people’s real concerns.
BuDS Today
BuDS today is run by disabled people for disabled people. We are not tied to any council or government agenda and take pride in our independence. We aim to tackle issues which matter to disabled people and to provide the services which disabled people and carers most need. We aim to work in fair and equal partnership with other charities, companies and agencies that can help us progress our work.
Projects & Campaigns
BuDS has a group of education and awareness projects all dealing with the issue of ‘access by disabled people’. They cover: Access to the Town Centre, Access to Parking, Access to Work, Access to Advocacy, Access to Education, Access to Leisure and Access to Public Transport. If you would like to know more, contact us.
Services
BuDS intends to establish a social enterprise company to carry out a group of self-financing projects on the theme of ‘independence for disabled people’. These projects will aim to help disabled people in Bucks achieve real Independence of Choice, Independence of Income and Independence at Home. If you would like to know more, contact us.