An East Suffolk Councillor has described her pride at completing a leadership programme tailored to support people with disabilities.
Council member for Western Felixstowe, Amanda Folley called it an honour to be among the latest cohort to take on the Disabled Councillors Leadership Programme.
The bespoke programme, delivered since 2022 by the Local Government Association (LGA) in partnership with Disability Rights UK, supports councillors to develop leadership skills alongside peers with shared experiences.
Cllr Folley joined fellow participants for their first in-person meeting in Manchester at the end of November, before completing a series of workshops across subsequent months and completing the programme in late March.
“Being able to further my councillor training around disabled peers has been so rewarding,” she said.
“The LGA has designed the course around all abilities. It is completely accessible.
“We have received the same leadership training as all councillors, just delivered slightly differently so we all can absorb the information at a pace that suits the individual.
“I was honoured to be selected as one of 20 disabled councillors to take part in the course. Nothing is impossible when you want it.”
Cllr Folley, who has fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis and ADHD, completed the programme alongside councillors from across the country with different disabilities and political allegiances.
They now join a growing network of peers from previous programme cohorts, trained in ways of using their disabilities as a leadership asset and advocating for disabled people.
“It’s been an amazing four months working with Disability Rights UK,” added Cllr Folley, pictured (right) receiving her certificate for completing the programme from Disability Rights UK Leadership Academy Executive, Katrina Morris. “I have learnt so much – and representing East Suffolk Council has been a pleasure.”