Our ambassadors

Jessica-Jane Applegate

Jessica-Jane Applegate MBE, is a British Paralympic swimmer. She competes in the S14 classification for swimmers with intellectual disabilities. 

Jessica has learning difficulties, an autism spectrum disorder and many physical challenges. She qualified for the 2012 summer Paralympics and won gold on 2 September in the S14 200m freestyles, setting a Paralympic record.

Jessica-Jane became a Mencap ambassador in 2013 and had previously competed in Mencap swimming events such as the Mencap Championships. She is a great support of Mencap Sport and regularly attends and participates in competitions and events. She also supports some of our campaigning and media work, regularly sharing updates on her social media channels.

Find Jessica-Jane on Twitter: @Jessica_jane96

Find Jessica-Jane on Instagram: @jessicajaneapplegate

Kit Harington

Kit Harington is an English actor, best known for his role as Jon Snow in the HBO series, Game of Thrones. 

Kit has been a Mencap ambassador since 2014. He has a personal connection to the charity through his cousin, Laurent (pictured with Kit), who has Down's syndrome. 

Laurent attended one of Mencap's former colleges and his mothers (Kit's aunt) has cited Mencap as one of the great areas of support that she and Laurent have received over the years. 

Kit has been incredibly generous with his time over the past 5 years by publicly supporting some of our campaign work, featuring in the media, working alongside colleagues with a learning disability on short films, as well as participating in a high value fundraising campaign where he starred in a spoof video making a cup of tea.

Ayshah Tull

Ayshah is a reporter for Channel 4 News. She works on their Facebook Watch show Uncovered, having previously presented BBC Newsround, being a familiar face to 6 to 12 year olds.

She is incredibly determined about creating change for people with a learning disability and Autism, and raising awareness of the challenges they and their families face.

Ayshah grew up alongside her brother, Rob, who has Autism, which has led to her using her voice for a number of important issues, in order to raise much needed awareness, including the right to vote.

Ayshah became an ambassador for Mencap in 2019.

Find Ayshah on Twitter: @AyshahTull

Mikey Cobban

Mikey started working in the entertainment industry in 2015 when he joined a boyband. Since leaving the band in 2019 he has worked in presenting for companies such as Nickelodeon and the BBC.

Mikey has also launched his social media accounts, including Instagram and YouTube.

When he was 17, Mikey started working directly with people with a learning disability in Bristol. During his 3 years working there he had amazing time and learned a lot.

Mikey became our ambassador in September 2019, and in 2020 he will be running the Virgin Money London Marathon for Mencap, when we are the official charity partner.

Find Mikey on Twitter: @MikeyCobban

Find Mikey on Instagram: @mikeycobban

George Webster

George is well known in the parkrun movement and featured in his own episode of Jessica's parkrun heroes on Sky TV in 2019. 

George is currently part of the Talent Hub dance company, due to tour nationally later this year. He dances with Ability company, as well as his long standing group Me2 and has performed many times. He is also a student and enjoys working as a barista, as well as volunteering. George is also an actor and public speaker. He loves films (especially horror) and he is in to musical theatre.

George believes that people with a learning disability should have equal rights. He also believes people with a learning disability need to be treated the same as other people and can do anything if they are given the chance.

George became an ambassador for Mencap in 2019.