“My heartfelt belief is that, through disability and disadvantage, you have an insight and an influence that can be far greater than other leaders.”

Oona Collins

The Bursary is for potential leaders who have a burning ambition to make a difference and to use their experience of disability or disadvantage in a way that can impact others and create change.

Potential candidates are invited to contact Potential Plus International for more information.

Bursary

I would like to tell you about a woman who inspired many people.

She was a beautiful woman who was struck with chronic rheumatoid arthritis at the age of 30 which for many years made her bedridden.

At the age of 36 she lost her husband, an entrepreneur, who had a sudden heart attack.

She was left with four children aged between six and twelve and, as her husband had put everything into his business and had no insurance, they were left penniless. She endured many challenges from eviction to persuading the authorities she was well enough to keep her family. Many years of hardship followed, and yet she remained determined and optimistic and instilled in her children a belief that they could do anything they wanted in life.

They have all achieved success as entrepreneurs in their own right. She was a remarkable gracious leader who had an impact on many people – her doctors, local authorities and those who supported her. She inspired them with her gratitude, wisdom and strength – and they listened.

That woman was my mother and in her honour, the Sheila Collins Bursary was set up in 2015.

The Sheila Collins Bursary is for potential leaders who have a burning ambition to make a difference and to use their experience of disability or disadvantage in a way that can impact others and create change. The bursary offers access to two people per year to Potential Plus International’s coaching programmes.

Potential candidates are invited to contact Potential Plus International for more information.

 

Oona is a mentor for the Leadership Academy Programme for Disability Rights UK and a member of their Advisory Board

 

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