Brandon Trust is staging a free photographic exhibition at Cornwall’s Truro Cathedral in May half term week which features the inspirational stories of 20 people with learning disabilities.

The charity supports more than 1,300 people with learning disabilities in southern England, including 186 people across Cornwall and Devon, and first organised the exhibition as part of its 20th anniversary celebrations.

‘Twenty’ documents two decades of positive and freeing change in social care and disability awareness through the eyes of individuals the charity has supported across its service areas since its creation in 1994.

It has featured successfully at Bristol and Gloucestershire venues and now heads to the South West close to Brandon’s Bodmin headquarters.

The 20 visual exhibits detail real, personal, success stories of independence, finding employment, education and happiness; life-changing moments with no barriers to freedom and no restrictions on choice.

Among those featured is Barbara Martin, 60, from Launceston who spent most of her early life in institutional settings. Now she lives in her own flat, she is able to manage her own medicine, money and safety.

Event organiser Matt Boyle said: “This has been a really exciting project to work on because those involved have some truly powerful stories, which I think are important to share with the public.

“The cathedral plays an active role in the community; it is a great venue and reflects our aims of getting people with learning disabilities to become more visible members of their local community. They have helped us keep the exhibition free but ask for a donation from visitors to support their work.”

The Rev Canon Alan Bashforth added: “This exhibition once again challenges our right to judge. It celebrates the freedom, liberation and worth of those people that past judgements have confined. It is inspirational.”

The free exhibition is at Truro Cathedral – 14 Saint Mary’s Street, Truro, Cornwall TR1 2AF. It is on from 23-30 May, and is open daily (10am-4pm) to the public.

For more information on Twenty or Brandon visit http://www.brandontrust.org/get-involved/our-events/twenty-exhibition/.