Huddersfield actress Jodie Whittaker has taken on a new role.

She was one of the celebrities who joined inspiring young people with a learning disability to help launch a new Mencap campaign.

They took over London’s One New Change Shopping Centre and other centres across the country including Leeds and Portsmouth.

Skelmanthorpe-born Jodie, star of the acclaimed ITV drama Broadchurch, joined Kellie Shirley of Eastenders to help the Royal Mencap Society transform the One New Change shopping centre near St Paul’s Cathedral. The event marked the official launch of the charity’s new partnership with Land Securities, the largest commercial property company in the UK.

The celebrity supporters of Mencap were on hand to help promote Mencap and Land Securities’ “Looking beyond the label campaign”, which encourages people to focus on someone’s ability rather than disability.

Jodie and Kellie helped Mencap’s Young Ambassadors, people aged 16-25 with a learning disability who volunteer to go out into their local communities and challenge negative perceptions of learning disability, showcase their various talents of art, poetry and music, all of which the public were encouraged to engage with and enjoy.

In addition, the Mencap employment team were present to highlight the benefits of employing people with a learning disability and sharing information about Mencap’s ‘Employ Me’ programme.

Jodie, who has a nephew with Down’s syndrome, is a Mencap ambassador.

She said: “People with a learning disability inspire and amaze me everyday with their talents, however they rarely get recognised for these.

“Seeing the public engage with Mencap’s Young Ambassadors at One New Change makes me believe that this can change. Looking beyond the label of disability is a powerful message.

“It was a pleasure and privilege to support Mencap, meet their incredible Young Ambassadors and get involved with all the activities.”

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