On Monday 14 January, Educationalist and Founder of ‘I Can & I Am’, James Shone, visited Bede’s to tell his inspiring story during two talks – one for the Sixth Form as part of their Bede’s Diploma, and the other for parents, staff and other members of the Bede’s community.

James spoke about his battle with a brain tumour in 2012, which left him unable to walk and legally blind, and the struggles of facing this alongside supporting a family of six during the years that followed. James encouraged attendees to never give up on their goals or underestimate their abilities.

Megan Hume, Lower Sixth pupil at Bede’s attended the talk.

She said: “Listening to James Shone speaking about his charity ‘I Can & I Am’ was overwhelmingly inspirational. James completely astounded everyone with his emotional and engaging stories, allowing us all to question and think about our own lives, what we can be grateful for and how we should proceed into the future, taking every day as it comes.”