They will officially launch their new roles on Monday 16th June at a private view of ‘Me, Blue & You - Against Discrimination', an exhibition of artwork by people with a learning disability at The Prince's Foundation, EC2. The exhibition is travelling Europe as part of the European Year of People with Disabilities and Mencap are hosting the show during National Learning Disability Week (16-22 June). The ambassadors will each be welcomed in their new role by Mencap's president Lord Rix CBE DL.

Will Young says,
"I am delighted to be able to become an ambassador for Mencap, particularly in such a pertinent week for the charity. Being interested in education and having firsthand seen the work Mencap do through their colleges as well as the support they provide, it is a pleasure to champion a charity that ensures and promotes that every person should attain a necessary life of independence and fulfilment."

Lisa Scott-Lee, who has an uncle with a learning disability, says:
"Mencap is a charity that is very close to my heart, so I was really delighted when they asked me to become an ambassador for them. I think that people with a learning disability should have the same opportunities to enjoy life as everyone else, but because of prejudice and discrimination this is sadly not the case for a lot of people. I want to be a good role model and help change that."

Jo Whiley, whose sister, Frances, has a learning disability says:
"I'm really honoured and pleased to be asked to be a Mencap ambassador and am fully behind their Breaking Point campaign, the main focus of this year's National Learning Disability Week. Parents and carers of children and adults with a learning disability deserve a break. I see how utterly exhausted my own parents get looking after Frances and it makes me mad that they go no help from their local authority. Also, Frances loves socialising - she just wants to get on and live a normal life - but is constantly told that ‘there aren't the people' or ‘there isn't the money'. It's a big shame. Things really need to change."

Donal MacIntyre says;
"I first became involved with Mencap through a controversial TV programme I made about the abuse of a group of people with learning disabilities living in a care home. I'm delighted and honoured that Mencap has asked me to become an ambassador. I'm passionate about bringing learning disability issues to wider audiences and I'd like to do all that I can together with Mencap to ensure that people with a learning disability are treated fairly."

In addition, a number of celebrities, including Will Young, Lisa Scott-Lee, Daniel Bedingfield, Mark Owen and Busted have lent their support to Mencap and National Learning Disability Week (16-22 June) by painting self-portraits on canvas. The paintings are being auctioned on e-bay. See the paintings and get bidding at: www.mencap.org.uk/auction

A recent Mencap survey revealed that 2 out of 5 people with a learning disability don't get access to the arts they like because of lack of money, access or other people's discriminatory attitudes. Mencap want to change this.

The exhibition - Me, Blue & You - Against Discrimination goes on display at The Prince's Foundation, 19-22 Charlotte Road, London, EC2A 3SG from 17-27 June. 9am-8pm Mon-Fri. Entry is free.

Notes to editors
· For high-res jpegs of the celebrity paintings, please contact Neil on 020 7696 5554
· Mencap works with people with a learning disability and their families and carers, fighting to end discrimination and prejudice, and providing a wide range of quality services.
· There are around 1.5 million people with a learning disability in the UK.
· Learning disabilities have many different causes but are always lifelong. A learning disability can affect someone's life in many ways, causing difficulties in learning, communicating or doing everyday things. A learning disability does not prevent someone from learning and achieving a lot in life, if given the right support.
· For Information about learning disability issues please call the Learning Disability Helpline www.mencap.org.uk (England) on 0808 808 1111.

Monday 16 June 2003
Mencap
http://www.mencap.org.uk/html/news/news_press_archive.asp