Changing Faces (charity)
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If you haven't already seen their ground-breaking poster campaigns or read about them in the papers, Changing Faces is the leading pan disfigurement charity in the UK which supports and represents children, young people and adults (and their families) who have disfigurements to the face, hands or body from any cause.
As a result of other people's reactions and the stigma that exists around disfigurement, Living successfully with an unusual appearance isn't always easy. It requires confidence, courage and skill - and a lot of support. Changing Faces' long-term aim is to ensure that:
1. everyone with a disfigurement has high self-esteem and self-confidence 2. every health clinic, school and workplace addresses disfigurement with confidence 3. everyone in society can meet someone who has a disfigurement without awkwardness or prejudice.
An experienced team of counsellors, psychologists and school specialists provides personal support and advice over the phone, through face-to-face counselling, workshops and school visits. They can help people to find ways of: - explaining about their disfigurement - dealing with staring, name-calling, teasing or bullying - supporting their child at school or college - responding to comments or questions about their disfigurement - making friends and developing close relationships - applying for jobs and handling interviews successfully - discussing treatment options with health professionals
They also provide advice to health professionals, teachers and employers and run training courses and study days to enable professionals to develop effective clinical services, inclusive school curricula and clear equal opportunities and training policies.
Modern reconstructive surgery and other medical treatments can be effective in making a disfigurement much less noticeable but a disfigurement can rarely be removed completely. Some scarring, asymmetry or change in complexion usually remains. Changing Faces complements medical and surgical interventions by addressing the psychological and social challenges posed by disfigurement. All their services are underpinned by academic research and informed by service users including a Young People's Council.
The charity was founded in 1992 by James Partridge OBE, who was severely injured in a car fire when he was 18 years old. Their Patrons include Simon Weston OBE.
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