Headlines: November 12th, 2009

A charity is planning to help people with a disability or long-term health problem to develop their leadership skills. Radar, a disability campaigning network, is looking for 100 people to take part in a mentoring programme.

Radar hopes the Empowerment Leadership Programme will equip people to be leaders and influencers in public life, and to take up leadership positions in the public, private and voluntary sectors. The organisation is looking for people with ill health, injury or disability who are interested in developing their leadership skills and who have aspirations to influence the world they live and work in.

Radar’s Empowerment Manager, David Stocks, said: “It is time to tap into the great pool of talent that is waiting to be realised within those living with IID.” The programme will bring the group into contact with speakers, coaches and mentors so they can develop their skills and get opportunities to be successful leaders.

The chosen delegates will be invited to four leadership development days early next year in Manchester and Birmingham. The sessions will feature inspirational speakers, professional coaches, diversity employment consultants and advice from disabled people who have experience in leadership and influential positions.

Although a fifth of the working-age population has a disability or long-term health condition, disabled people make up less than one in 20 of public appointees, according to Government figures. Radar believes its leadership programme will tackle this and place more disabled people in positions of influence and leadership.