A disability organisation is looking for 100 ambitious disabled people to help become future leaders in the public, private and charity sectors.
RADAR’s new leadership programme will bring together aspiring disabled leaders and provide them with the skills and personal development training they need.
Government figures show that only one in 20 appointees to the boards of the UK’s 1, 200 public bodies is disabled or has a long-term health condition.
The government aims to increase this to nearly one in seven new appointments (14 per cent) by March 2011.
RADAR secured funding over three years for the new programme from the Department for Communities and Local Government following its previous leadership work with the Equality and Human Rights Commission and the Disability Rights Commission.
David Stocks, RADAR’s empowerment manager, who is a graduate of one of its previous leadership schemes, said it was “of the utmost importance” to “help disabled people realise their potential as leaders”.
He said: “Disabled people are not getting enough input into the way the country is run and their voice is not being heard.
“It is time to tap into the great pool of talent that is waiting to be realised within those living with ill-health, injury or disability.”
RADAR is particularly looking for applications from disabled people from black and minority ethnic backgrounds, and those with learning difficulties, neuro-diversity conditions and mental health conditions, as all four groups are particularly under-represented in leadership positions.
A senior civil servant from the Office for Disability Issues will mentor those in each of the four groups.
All 100 successful applicants will be invited to four leadership development days between January and April 2010 in Manchester and Birmingham, with coaching, mentoring and workshops, and additional telephone support between the four events.
To find out more, visit: www.radar.org.uk/leadership/downloads.aspx
The closing date for applications is Monday, 7 December.
10 November 2009
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