A post from Paul Woods – Managing Director
For many years I refused to acknowledge my disability.
I smiled at the right times when people asked “why I walked differently”
I always wanted nothing more than to fit in and contribute to society.
I partied hard as a youngster.
I worked even harder and just got on with things.
Over the last few years, I started to acknowledge that my disability is part of who I am.
The first spark for this acceptance was for me to start using a wheelchair to get around.
I was missing out.
The next part of the journey was being asked if I would share my journey with the team at Small Business Britain
My experiences along with others was then put into something called the Lilac Review which has now evolved into the The LILAC Centre, which is committed to removing the barriers to entrepreneurship for disabled people.
I then entered the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation Disabled Entrepreneur of the year awards where I was over the moon to get third place in 2025.
The last few years have been the time for me to accept my disability and for me to realise that it is a part of me.
I would not go as far as to say I am grateful for my disability but….
My disability has forced me to be resilient.
It has given me grit.
It has given me a problem-solving mindset
It has made me want to shine as bright as possible.
However, the best part of this journey is that I have got to meet some amazing people.
Last week I met the wonderful Geoff Holt MBE founder and Trustee of Wetwheels Solent CIC
Geoff had a spinal cord injury when he was 18 years old.
However, he has still achieved so much, including a solo sail around the British Isles and crossing the Atlantic unassisted as a wheelchair user.
More than that he now enables disabled people to have access to the sea, something without people like Geoff and his team would be virtually impossible.
I had the privilege of going on a Wetwheels boat last week, it was absolutely brilliant.
I will be collaborating with Geoff in this year and hopefully I have found a new friend.
Thanks Geoff, Kate and I really enjoyed ourselves
If anyone would like to find put more about Geoff and Wetwheels the links are below: