David Bourroughs

Founder and Director at Buddies for All CIC

Business and Finance

Buddies for All founder David Bourroughs has a First Class BA (Hons) degree in advertising and digital marketing communications from the University of Greenwich. Additionally, with a professional career surpassing a decade, extensively covering all sectors of commerce – Private, Public and Charitable, he has expertise in operational management, business communications, content management systems, supporter development and editorial direction.

His ability to operate across multi-disciplinary projects stems from the wearing of many hats during his professional career – researcher, data analyst, marketer, campaign management and the implementation of social care plans and budgets. These achievements are despite David being born with cerebral palsy, using a wheelchair, and having hearing loss and speech impairment.

These experiences have equipped him with key attributes that are at the core thrust of his ambitious character making him highly motivated, hugely determined, a fast learner, with excellent communication skills and a strong team player. This showcases his undoubted ability to run a community-led business and social enterprise.

David founded Buddies for All in 2021 shortly after the second Covid lockdown after his own personal struggles with social isolation. Buddies for All is a buddying scheme that supports disabled people to overcome social isolation or loneliness in Lewisham and across London. Buddies for All offer in-person face-to-face support to disabled people who wish to access their local community with the support of another buddy.

Social activities could include going for a walk, meeting for a coffee, going out to eat, going to the cinema/theatre or attending a football match or other sporting event together. We are funded by local government and have recently been awarded £10,000 by the National Lottery Community Fund to continue this work.

“Being dismissed because of your disability is the greatest motivation to want to succeed.”

The Buddies for All logo - A black circle and the text Buddies for All with two white fist bumps underneath the text. Then the words Online. Telephone. Face-to-Face. All text is purple.

Disability Power 100 2023 profile information has been self-submitted by the profile subject. Shaw Trust understands and respects that disability and impairment descriptors and language use varies from person to person. Shaw Trust assumes no responsibility or liability for any errors or discrepancies in the content of this, or any other, profile page.

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