Pursuing a professional career with a disability or long term medical condition can be a bewildering experience. Many large organisations now actively promote their diversity and inclusion programmes, but it is still possible to encounter a range of assumptions and prejudices that can be hard to deal with. Many professionals with disabilities will have been marginalised at work, at some time, and in one way or another. Meeting people with first-hand experience of the same issues is important: it helps to overcome feelings of isolation at work, and you can benefit from each other’s experiences.
We are not tied to any firm or institution. We have no agenda save to help others like us.
This is what we do:
We support each other
– We offer a free mentoring scheme to professionals from all walks of life, putting people with experience of dealing with disabilities or long term medical conditions in touch with those who will benefit from it.
We help the next generation of City Professionals
– We offer a free mentoring scheme to younger entrants to the City, supporting them through the process of job applications, interviews and beyond. Where possible we put them in touch with people who have first-hand experience of the professions and organisations that they might want to join.
We share our experience and information with employers
– We pool information from our mentors and mentees and share it with employers who want to develop “best practice” for working alongside employees with disabilities and work affecting medical conditions. We give talks at City employers aimed at increasing awareness and understanding, and we contribute to training and policy development.
Who we are
Robert Hunter (Founder and Trustee) is an experienced solicitor advocate. In the course of 30 years in the City, Robert has been a partner in a magic circle firm and is now a partner at a specialist litigation boutique. Robert is a speaker and mentor for City Disabilities (and is also profoundly deaf).
Kate Rees-Doherty, (Trustee) is a lawyer with over 20 years of experience in charity and private wealth law. She also has extensive experience of working with and enabling colleagues with disabilities.
Kayleigh Farmer, (Trustee) started her career as a legal PA and was promoted to Executive Assistant, before moving over to an IT Programme. Kayleigh has extensive experience of working with and enabling colleagues with disabilities.
Liz Dawes (Trust Officer), is General Counsel for a financial services firm and is also responsible for the day to day work of City Disabilities. Liz is also a speaker and mentor for City Disabilities and has extensive experience of mentoring and enabling colleagues with disabilities, particularly in the area of mental health.