Harvey Price announced as new ambassador for UK charity Mencap

Harvey Price is the new Ambassador for the UK’s learning disability charity Mencap where he hopes he will be "a voice for young people like me".

The 18-year-old plans to use his new position as Mencap Ambassador to be a role model for young people with a learning disability and to help tackle stigma and online bullying.

Mr Price was born with Septic Optic Dysplasia, Prader-Willi syndrome, autism and a learning disability. His recent documentary, BBC One’s Katie Price: Harvey and Me, which follows Mr Price and his mum during a crucial year in his life as he turns 18, won widespread praise from viewers.

Speaking of his new role as Mencap Ambassador, Mr Price says: “I am so happy to be a Mencap ambassador. I want to do good things with the charity like stop online trolling and be a voice for young people like me.

"I can’t wait!”

His mum, Katie Price added: “Now Harvey is 18, he is becoming a man and growing in confidence and independence. It has been Harvey’s dream to be a role model to young people with complex needs across the UK, and to use his profile to raise awareness.

“I am thrilled Harvey has become an Ambassador for Mencap. Mencap does fantastic work campaigning against inequalities, supporting people to live the lives they want to and bringing about change in attitudes towards people like my son. I am so proud to see him take on this role and I can’t wait to see what he will achieve with Mencap.”

There are one and a half million people in the UK who have a learning disability, and are often not treated like equals and face stigma and discrimination every day of their lives.

In 2017, Ms Price launched a petition calling for online abuse to be made a criminal offence and for there to be a register of offenders. This attracted 221,914 signatures, due to the horrific abuse directed at her son.

In 2019, MP’s on the Petitions Committee backed Ms Price’s petition calling to give disabled people protection under hate crime laws.

Edel Harris, chief executive of Mencap, said: “We are delighted to welcome Harvey Price as our Ambassador. Harvey is already doing some great work to tackle online bullying and raise awareness of what life is like when you have a learning disability.

“We are pleased to be working with him to help increase the visibility of people with a learning disability across the media and society to help transform attitudes and to do our bit to ensure that the UK is the best place in the world to live for people with a learning disability.

“We look forward to unveiling our exciting plans with Harvey very soon.”