Empowering Disabled Individuals for a Brighter Future
Transformative Solutions for Enhanced Inclusivity
I am dedicated to fostering an environment where disabled individuals can thrive. I have developed my skills and knowledge over the years. This enables me to offer a comprehensive range of services that are specifically crafted to empower and support disabled people, ensuring their full participation in society. With a focus on consultancy, I offer tailored solutions that address the unique challenges faced by disabled individuals. My expert guidance on systems change is pivotal in promoting inclusivity and accessibility across various sectors, whether it be in education, employment, transport, health, wellbeing, housing or community engagement. I work diligently to collaborate with organisations and policymakers, urging a shift towards more inclusive practices. My coaching services also equip disabled individuals with the tools and strategies necessary to navigate the challenges they face, advocating for their rights and enhancing their quality of life. By prioritising empowerment and advocacy, I strive to create a society where disabled individuals are not merely accommodated but valued and recognised for their contributions. Join me in my mission to drive positive change and celebrate the diverse abilities of every individual.
Join us Driving Change
The main focus is currently making the West Midlands an Exemplary Region for Disabled People.
This is a bold ambition and report that has been coproduced with disabled people and professionals to bring meaningful change for disabled people in the West Midlands by improving services, changing systems and processes and influencing societal attiutudes and behiours. This has been agreed by West Midlands Mayor, Leaders of the 7 constituent Local Authorities and spans across Housing, Employment and Skills, Transport and Health Social Care and wellbeing.
Together, we can create a more inclusive society by empowering disabled voices and advocating for necessary change. Take action with us and help influence positive transformations in the positive change..
Consulting
I offer a range of consultancy options to support you as an individual, charity, business or community groups across a wide range of sectors.
Services Available
Motivational Speaking
In my motivational speaking engagements, I draw on my own lived experiences and create a space so that others can relate in their own way. This helps to bring authenticity, connection and relevance to those that I speak to.
Having worked across a wide range of roles, competed at an elite level in three sports, supported a family, with significant life moments and my own lived experience of disability, I am able to explore many areas. These can include leadership, resilience, motivation, focus, teamwork work and many more.
Business Improvement and System Change
From supporting businesses to explore improvements that benefit their staff through to improving their reach, I can help you take your business to the next level.
I can help your organisation consider different approaches and styles that will fit within your cultures and behaviours as well as those that will help develop and evolve those areas.
Mentoring and Coaching
I use my own lived experiences and over 30 years in both elite sport and business across multiple sectors to support you. I very much focus on how you can bring your full self to every situation and become the best version of yourself. Whether it is through mentoring or coaching I can help you be a nice human.
Raising Awareness
There is a lack of understanding when it comes to disability.
Many people do not understand the challenges and systemic inequalities that disabled people face on a daily basis. I bring this to reality through a mixture of data, real-life examples from others and my own personal experiences.
I champion disability and advocate for change at every opportunity. Whether through motivational speaking, in meetings, consultancy work or informal exchange, I bring a supportive voice to educating people, helping them to think differently.
Empowering Communities
Never let the odds keep you from doing what you know in your heart you were meant to do.
I have always focused on using my platform to work towards enabling the voices of those often unheard.
Through my motivational speaking, system change interventions and passion for empowering others, I constantly advocate for coproduction.
I seek to influence thinking that empowers voices to be heard and worked with. That enables decision makers and leaders to understand the true benefit of diversity of thought.
Board Exeperience
Throughout my working life I have been a member of many different committees, boards and networks. My involvement within these has varied from an observer, general member, role spcecific member, advisor to board to chair of multiple boards.
As an example below are three examples of different structures for which I am the chair.
This experience gives me a broad knowledge of chairing different types of meetings.
Richard Whitehead Foundation
Chair of the Richard Whithead Foundation. A charity established in 2021 to use the power of sport to empower disabled people to achieve thier full potential. Involved since the beginning I have gone from vice chair of trustees to chair of trustees, helping establish the Foundation with it’s first CEO and staff team.
Pathway Primary Federation
From initially starting as a governor for Whittington Primary School in 2018, I soon progressed to vice chair and then chair.
In 2023 governors decided to form a soft federation with Morda Primary school to form Pathway Primary Federation. As chair I supported the transition process before taking on the role of chair of the Federation.
Disability Diversity Network
I joined WMCA in 2018 and soon disocevered that there wasn’t a disability staff network to support disabled members of staff. I worked with the EDI team and undertook the role of chair to establish and build the network. Since then the network has grown in numbers, provides input into decisions across the WMCA championing for positive change, provides information and education and has a safe and caring space.
Testimonials
As a people person, advocating for the voices of other, I really value the thoughts and views of people that I connect with. Feedback is how I can become better at what I do.
Paul Hopkins
Mark has been a great source of encouragement to me personally.
I'd met him variously both prior to and during the development of my own advocacy role at work.
He is a strong and consistent ally in the disability and inclusion space, communicating confidently, consistently and professionally at all times.
Mark also brings many years of lived experience to his role and doesn't silo what he knows.
Mark is committed to bringing disabled people together through his work with WMCA to create systemic and lasting change within our region.
Alice Hargreaves
A great connector who has so many links across the disabilities space in the West Midlands and beyond.
Mark is also fabulous to work with - he's been a fantastic advocate and supporter of my organisation for a good 18+ months and his support has no doubt impacted the growth of our organisation
Dr Shani Dhanda
I’ve enjoyed working with you and have always found you approachable and helpful when I needed support.
Looking forward to more opportunities to work together
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