A SERVICE for adults with learning disabilities is launching a new art campaign to challenge stereotypes.

Project 49 is working with urban art group Street Art on Sea, part of Art Doesn’t Discriminate, to create a “Recognise Us” art installation in Southend.

The project has been inspired by the recent Mencap national campaign “Here I Am.”

The artwork, created in collaboration with Southend artist John Bulley, will be launched today.

It will utilise hoardings at a development site at 175 London Road, where new housing will soon be built.

Pete Shrimplin, community inclusion co-ordinator at Project 49, said: “Although the Mencap campaign was a very good one and has raised awareness on this subject, it also said that people with learning disabilities are often invisible. We wanted to challenge this as we feel that within Southend people with learning disabilities are very visible.

“The art installation is a collaboration and extension of the work that we have been doing in recent months with John Bulley and Street Art on Sea.

“The idea is to produce portraits of people with a learning disability who are active within their community.”

Lesley Salter, councillor responsible for health and adult social care, said: “This is another great idea from the team down at Project 49, and will really help to raise awareness and tackle the negative stereotypes that exist with learning disability. It will also brighten up this development site and we would like to thank Stephen Cook from Sandhurst Contracts for allowing us to use the hoardings.”

Project 49 is community-based resource run by the council and provides services for adults with learning disabilities in the Southend area. Their focus is on “putting people first” and providing a wide range of activities promoting healthy living and wellbeing.