Connecting young disabled people with job prospects

Heather Lacey is a multi-award winning disabled activist, D&I writer and speaker. As a young woman embarking upon life at university, Heather became heavily involved in disability advocacy online and began to share her lived experience of disability online as a way to spread awareness of the barriers faced by disabled people in the UK. Her writing – though candid and oftentimes hard-hitting – illuminates yet celebrates the disabled experience and her lived experience cerebral palsy, cPTSD, OCD and the myriad of symptoms she lives with day-to-day.

Heather has worked with a plethora of organisations and charities including Scope, BBC, HuffPost, Recruitment Industry Disability Initiative and AccessAble, and is co-director of Inclusive Minds Collective CIC, working to ensure authentic inclusion in the publishing industry. Heather is actively involved in promoting disability rights in the workplace and chairs pro-manchester’s EDI sub-committee for Disability, Mental Health and Neuro Diversity. During her time at Eversheds Sutherland, Heather has promoted and contributed to the firm’s D&I strategy, acting as co-lead for Manchester’s Wellbeing and Ability network. Heather has featured on the Northern Power Women Future List, been recognised as one of the most influential disabled people on the Shaw Trust Power List multiple times, listed as one of University of Hull and Team GB’s ‘Extraordinary People’, and has been named on the Manchester Evening News’s The Rising Star list: The finest young female lawyers and barristers in Greater Manchester.

Jemma is passionate about supporting individuals to live, learn and work as independently as they choose whatever their ability.  With over 10 years’ experience within the charity sector, working nationally, overseeing multiple projects including Leonard Cheshire’s largest programme ‘Can Do’ which is delivered across the UK. Having extensive experience in managing large remote teams, promoting a culture of teamwork and innovation amongst staff.

Jemma’s role includes overseeing the portfolio of services and projects that Leonard Cheshire develops as well as identifying partnerships to work collaboratively with to increase engagement, diversity and inclusivity.

Jemma also enjoys being a member of the Skills committee and Equality & Diversity committee at pro-manchester.

Pete is a programme manager working in the third sector with substantive experience across a range of delivery in community, national and international settings with the essence of the social model of disability driving his passion to make change.

Pete currently leads on the delivery and development of national empowerment programmes for young disabled people at Leonard Cheshire including citizen reporting, employability and skills development.

Amber works as a Public Engagement Assistant at Venture Arts in Manchester where she does public speaking as an advocate for people with learning disabilities. Amber talks about how we need to celebrate difference and make sure that people recognise what great things people with disabilities can do.

Amber has taken part in many programmes and volunteering opportunities and looks at these as key opportunities for skill development that can enable employment opportunities for young disabled people.