David Bourroughs

I am David Bourroughs, a passionate advocate dedicated to transforming the lives of disabled individuals. As the founder of “Buddies for All” and “Dave Knows Disability,” I strive to combat social isolation and promote inclusivity through innovative support programmes.

Living with cerebral palsy, hearing loss, and speech impairment, I understand the challenges faced by disabled individuals. This inspired me to start my own community interest company.

Buddies for All CIC

Buddies for All connects volunteers with disabled individuals in Lewisham for enriching social interactions. We plan to expand to Bromley in 2024-25 and implement a peer buddying model to maximise community impact. Over two years, our small team has supported over 80 residents through phone, video chat, and in-person meetups. My goal is to involve friends and family of service users to help grow our initiative.

These experiences led me to start my YouTube channel, “Dave Does Disability,” where I share my personal story of living with a disability and how it inspired Buddies for All. A fellow advocate shared the following from this video, “It’s incredible, and I am so very glad you put this film out there – the ripple effect it will have for you, for ‘Buddies for All,’ and for other disabled people… Powerful storytelling.”

You can view the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPxcaf3Nc34

Building on these successes, I plan to introduce a coaching model where disabled individuals set goals to increase their independence. I have coached individuals on navigating the high street in a powered wheelchair and using communication aids to order drinks at a bar.

Dave Knows Disability

Launching in late 2024/early 2025, “Dave Knows Disability” will offer personalised mentoring, coaching, public speaking, and consultancy services. My lived experience enriches my work, making me a trusted authority in the disability sector. Services include:

• Mentoring and Coaching: Personalised guidance to help individuals build confidence, develop skills, and achieve personal growth.
• Public Speaking: Delivering powerful keynote speeches and workshops to raise awareness about disability inclusion and inspire inclusive environments.
• Consultancy Services: Offering customized inclusion strategies and training programs for organisations.

For more information, visit daveknowsdisability.co.uk.