A RUNCORN woman with Down syndrome is hosting an motivational workshop.

Leah Jones, 34, will be celebrating the lives of people with the condition at The Brindley on Saturday, March 18 from 10.30am to 1.30pm.

Celebrate Me aims to inspire people with a learning disability to raise their aspirations and create bunting as part of a unique arts display.

The event is being held to mark World Down Syndrome Awareness Day on the Tuesday, March 21.

Leah has designed a creative course called Positive You which helps people with a learning disability to be confident and increase their self esteem.

Leah said: “When I went to school I didn’t have any confidence at all. I used to talk through my mum to answer for me.

“At the time I felt like I hid in a shell and that my opinions didn’t matter.

“I used to be shy at the thought of looking at people in case they didn’t like me. Thankfully, that’s no longer the case.

Leah joined Halton Speak Out which is a self advocacy group that helps people with learning disabilities speak up for themselves.

“I learnt how to do this with their help and learnt all about my rights,” added Leah.

“During my Positive You course you will learn all of this too.”

She works as an administer for the Ella Performance Group, a group of performers with and without disabilities with a wide range of ages.

They have stage a variety of different productions as a way to educate people and their mindsets about what people with disabilities can achieve.

Positive You is creative training which aims to transform attitudes and promote positivity about learning disability.

The event is free.