£50k is music to Vanessa's ears

This year’s winner of the £50,000 Stelios Award for Disabled Entrepreneurs, Vanessa Heywood runs Tiny Mites Music, which offers music, movement and drama to pre-school children. She answers our ten questions and says why she wants more parking, more patience and definitely more music.

What made you want to set up Tiny Mites Music?

I went with my children to a music session when they were very young in 2004. I was excited but it turned out to be a few mums sitting round singing The Wheels on the Bus, while the children walked off!! I needed to do something to earn money as a single mother with multiple sclerosis. I decided from that moment I would create exciting interactive music and movement sessions for pre-school children.

What is your favourite song or piece of music of all time?

I love Dianne Schuur singing The Very Thought of You. This reminds me of my son Charlie, as this was the only track that would get him off to sleep when he was a baby. I also love the song Somewhere from West Side Story.

What do you like most about your job?

I love writing new songs but ultimately it is wonderful to see the reaction of children who are learning, creating and growing in Tiny Mites Music sessions.

What do you like least about it?

Doing the invoices, it has to be done, but it’s so tedious. Luckily I now have a wonderful P.A. who has set up a system for me.

How do parents and children react to you as a disabled person?

They are usually very understanding and helpful; children are so loving and accepting they don’t judge me at all.

What makes you angry?

When I am backing into a disabled parking space and someone starts hooting their horn or knocking on my window and pointing to the disabled bay sign and shaking their head at me! I think that because I drive an expensive looking convertible car, they automatically think I could not possibly be disabled, as I look too successful!!

If you were Prime Minister, what would you do to improve things for disabled people?

More disabled parking especially in town centres, more disabled loos, more schemes and encouragement for disabled people to find work and create their own jobs, more support.

Who’s your favourite disabled person ever?

Stephen Hawking – amazing, inspirational, awesome!

How do you sum up yourself in ten words or less?

My sister says, “Vanessa is professional, determined, creative, imaginative, hard-working, funny, generous and caring but on the rare occasions she loses her temper run for the hills!”

Do you have any special or hidden talents?

I’m quite crafty, I make rag dollies! I am also the one everyone asks to get the lid off bottles and jars!

• To find out more about Vanessa Heywood’s work visit tinymitesmusic.com