Leadership skills for disabled young people

The DFN Foundation has a key focus on tackling the disability employment gap by creating more opportunities for young disabled people through high quality education and internships to improve their career prospects and transform life outcomes. 

Philippa Charles, OBE, Director of the DFN Foundation said: 

“Disabled people are significantly under-represented in leadership positions and are often not included or consulted when high-level policy decisions are made. Our inclusion agenda is about social justice and prosperity, and we anticipate that the talented individuals who attend the programme each year will build into a cadre of powerful leaders who inspire others and improve employment prospects and progression for other disabled people”.

During the week-long programme, the 'students' attended lectures, talks by business leaders and interactive workshops. 24 year old Harry Patient, from Kent, was one of eleven participants who took part. Harry is an aerospace engineer for BAE Systems having completed his Master’s at the University of Bath.  

He says there have been tangible benefits in terms of leadership skills he’ll be able to take back to the workplace. 

“I think the big thing that I’ve taken away is what I’ve learned about the intersectionality between academic and professional settings. A lot of the lecturers we heard from over the week have been saying things that I’ve already started thinking about. They’ve opened up an entire body of research that we can take away and learn from. This will help me implement new ideas when I return to work…it’s been really eye-opening.”

The programme’s academic director is Dr Jennifer Martin of the Judge Business School. She says companies and institutions gain from drawing on a range of experiences and skills:

“Delivering the Disabled Leaders Programme at PACE, University of Cambridge is far more than meeting a social responsibility or fulfilling a moral imperative. It is a strategic investment in the future of leadership. Through Inclusive Leadership, we are developing a diverse pipeline of exceptional talent, ensuring that the next generation of leaders reflects the breadth of perspectives, experiences, and capabilities needed to succeed in a rapidly changing world.”

Dr Kirsty Allen, Interim Director at PACE, said:

“We are delighted to be working with the DFN Foundation and the Snowdon Trust to deliver this leadership programme, equipping talented disabled professionals with the skills to become visible role models and agents of change. It aligns closely with our mission to provide accessible Cambridge education to adult learners and reflects our shared commitment to inclusion, social justice and developing leaders of the future.”