BUD is an inclusive provision for young people with disabilities and specific/complex needs. It places young people front and centre, within a safe and supportive environment that enhances the limited educational and social opportunities; seeing the young person first and not their disability. BUD is pro-active, breaking down barriers normally faced by young people with disabilities, utilising a person-centred approach, involving stakeholders within the process and ensuring our staff team are trained to support our young people’s needs.
BUD was born 10 years ago from consultation with young people with disabilities from Ardnashee School & College. This raised the issue of a lack of safe and supportive youth provision to meet the needs of young people with disabilities across the City and District. BUD is the largest disability youth provision in the North-West, a key link for statutory agencies, engages with a variety of stakeholders and is a strong advocate. BUD Club currently has over 300 registered members aged 11-25 years old and our members come from all 7 DEA’s across Derry City & Strabane District Council Area.
BUD starts from where the young person is at in life; working together to build the scaffolding that address needs, facilitating change and growth whilst ensuring safety and stability within their lives. BUD has been described as a model of good practice by variety of funders/stakeholders, leading the way in addressing the gaps in current provision by being pro-active in our approach to adapt services to meet the needs of all young people. BUD utilises a strengths based approach, making reasonable adjustments to increase access and promote equality through our bespoke programmes.
BUD Club is currently delivered over 4 afternoons & 4 evenings per week, based in Northside Shopping Centre, we place inclusion at the heart of the community.
BUD Club is extremely excited to be the Mayor’s Chosen Charity and we look forward to working with the Mayor and Council in order to raise funds for BUD Club and continue to break down barriers to inclusion for our young people.
The funding raised will enable us at BUD Club to provide so many opportunities & new experiences for children and young people with disabilities, which will include stimulus activities that engage and support our members, hire specialised facilitator that help promote our young people’s overall mental health & well-being, whilst providing some of our members the opportunities to experience events/activities with their peers for the very first time. This will include attending their ‘first’ concert with their friends, going away on a residential weekend with their friends at BUD Club, and for many this will be the ‘first’ time they have ever been away from home or get the opportunity to share a room with their friends. We will also enhance our member’s social calendars by providing fun and youth led activities at evening and weekends of their choosing.