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David Watson and Penny Pepper talk at a Sync event

Sync aims to energise, inform and ultimately change disabled and Deaf people’s relationship with leadership, by offering information and support, encouraging dialogue and designing leadership interventions.

But it also aims to energise, inform and untimately change generic leadership development - making it more open, accessible, relevant and applicable to all.

Sync aims to provide information and opportunities for leadership development in ways that are accessible, relevant and, where it’s important, consider the unique perspective of disabled people.

Woollen sculptures created by Sync members displayed in a seed tray

Who can join Sync?

Any disabled person interested in leadership in the cultural sector can join Sync and become a member. Joining will give you access to monthly e-bulletins, invitations to face to face training and events, and opportunities to apply for a bespoke training programme including personalised coaching and/or leadership placement activities.

Sync is about exploring different perspectives, and the more perspectives we have, the better. That means we want all disabled people and people with long term health conditions to get involved - whether your impairment is a fundamental part of you and your work, or simply a part of your life.

Anouk Perinpanayagam and Jo talking at a Sync event

Why ‘Sync’?

Sync comes from the idea of syncopation, defined as the 'emphasis on a normally un-emphasised beat'. So as Sync develops its thinking about leadership with disabled people and non-disabled allies, we are particularly interested in where we place our emphasis and why!

Sync is underpinned by coaching principles, placing the emphasis on personal development as well as on leadership knowledge and skills.

Flipchart sheet from a Sync event exploring leadership

Who is Sync?

The framework for Sync is held by Sarah Pickthall (Cusp inc) and Jo Verrent (ADA inc), both disabled woman with experience of working in both disability and mainstream cultural settings, in partnership with Mark Wright (People Create), an organisation focused on leadership development, responsible for the Leadership Development Days, LDD Plus and Leadership Unleashed.

Sync is commissioned by The Cultural Leadership Programme, a joint initiative between ACE, Creative & Cultural Skills and the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council.