Leadership Academy April 2015 update

Tue,31 March 2015
News Employment

Great news! Friday 8th May 2015 will see the final day of the Leadership Academy cohort of 2014-15

The programme will culminate in a day of activity and celebrations with a Graduation Ceremony to recognise the delegate’s significant achievements and future contributions to the field of leadership through the experiences of an individual with lived experience of disability and/or a long term health condition.

We are able to confirm that Baroness Jane Campbell has agreed to give the ‘opening address’ at the Graduation Ceremony; this is a true honour and it will be rewarding for the delegates and recognise their success and hard work throughout the past year.

The Programme has seen the development and progression of many of the delegates and some of these stories will be provided in forthcoming newsletters, so please do look out for them, as we prepare for our next cohort of delegates and mentors.

However, we wanted to share some good news with you.  One of our delegates a Mr Ryan Bennett as part of one of the tasks from the programme, shared the latest version of ‘Barriers to Promotion and Progression work’ with relevant colleagues in his organisation.  He recently informed us that “As a consequence I have been asked to meet with colleagues within HR to consider how our work might help inform the way the organisation approaches Talent Management for staff with disabilities or long-term health conditions”.

We are particularly inspired by outcomes such as these from the Programme; as they are indicative of real development in this arena; as a result of employers sending and supporting their employees with lived experience of disability and long term health conditions, to really commit to their career aspirations.

At this juncture we would be amiss if Disability Rights UK, did not extend their gratitude to the hard efforts of their Leadership Academy executive Katrina Morris, who has worked tirelessly to develop and manage the programme, our trainers Danny West and Shamma Malik-Saggar, who have developed and delivered a truly innovative piece of Leadership Training, for people with lived experience of disability and/or long term health conditions and finally to Esmee Fairbairn who are funding this programme and making its delivery possible.

For further information or an application to become a delegate or mentor for next year’s cohort, please contact Katrina.morris@diabilityrightsuk.org.

About the Leadership Academy

The Leadership Academy was launched on 29 October 2014.  The aim of the Programme is to empower capable, confident disabled leaders in all sectors of employment and also address the need for greater equality in the workplace, to improve the employment position of employees living with a health condition or disability, whilst providing employers with access to a wider pool of talent. For more information go to http://disabilityrightsuk.org/how-we-can-help/leadership

Katrina Morris