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Celebrating Our Future Leaders

“Just because you are disabled don’t be afraid to chase your dreams. Go out and show the world you’re a fighter, fight for a job and fight for your rights. A disability won’t stop me, and I have a voice and I will let it be heard.” – Derek, Our Future Leaders graduate 2024 

Derek recently graduated from the Our Future Leaders (OFL) course, a programme which is designed to help people with learning disabilities develop the skills and tools to make the choices that are going to help them live healthier, happier and more fulfilled lives. 

Since the course began in 2020, 52 people have graduated and used the learning gained to further their leadership journey is a range of different ways:  

• Breige took on a mentor role at Neighborhood Networks where she began supporting new members to use public transport.  
• Aileen-Marie became the leader of the ‘Green Youth’ project – an allotment project for young adults with additional support needs; to learn about gardening, the journey from seed to plate, and to improve their wellbeing. 
• Other graduates continue to support Our Future Leaders as Sponsors for participants going through the programme, by joining the evaluation or development group, or returning as a guest speaker to share their leadership journey.   

OFL is designed and delivered in partnership between Inspiring Scotland and the Scottish Commission for People with Learning Disabilities (SCLD).  

Visions and aims  

A key part of the OFL programme is giving space to think about their own aspirations and what being a leader will look like for them and they develop their own vision statement. 

Here’s what some of the graduates from the Class of ’24 had to say:  

Kris said: 

“My hope for the future is that I can get a permanent job, free from benefits, which involves travelling so I can meet people from other countries. I’ve got my passport ready!” 

Watch his full vision statement below:

Derek said:  

“I am passionate about getting things for disabled people done. If someone comes to me and wants me to help, then I can help and speak to the appropriate person. 

“I am also wanting to help people to know about health checks and encourage people to get the right diagnosis.

“I am also passionate about making sure doctors are diagnosing people with the right disabilities and diagnosis. 

“Just because you are disabled don’t be afraid to chase your dreams. Go out and show the world you’re a fighter, fight for a job and fight for your rights. A disability won’t stop me, and I have a voice and I will let it be heard.”

Animation 

To hear what more of the graduates enjoyed about the course and to understand the impact of the programme watch the animation below.  

Our Future Leaders 2024 on Biteable.

This animation was created by the group in collaboration with Third Sector Lab and uses the voices of past participants.  

Looking to the next generation of leaders 

We keep in touch with our graduates as they put in place their leadership plans and skills.  

Throughout 2023 graduates from the programme worked in a co-production team to review and discuss the course content and make recommendations for development.One suggestion is the course being accredited:  

“One of my main ideas I am wondering is could we credit it with an SQA leadership award at SCQF level 5. There’s two units to it the first unit takes around 20 hours and about the theory about being a leader and styles then the second unit practice where you do a leadership activity, so you get to do hand on stuff and can be able to do put theory into practice.” 

Inspiring Scotland and SCLD will take these recommendations and create a revised course outline and plan for delivery based on them.

Please help us share the word about Our Future Leaders.   It is helping to develop skills within the community of people with learning disabilities to ensure they are empowered to participate as equal and valued citizens. 

We have big plans for the course and need champions to help us make these real! 

If you would like to find out more about this work, please visit –  https://inspiringscotland.org.uk/what-we-do/our-funds/learning-disabilities/our-future-leaders-course/