Fundraising Development Officer Katherine Hill, of Changing Faces, tells Donr Spotlight about her charity’s determination to improve the lives of more than a million people living with a visible difference in the UK today.
‘Changing Faces was formed in 1992 by James Partridge, who himself had facial scarring, following a car accident,’ Katherine explains. ‘It was set up to provide psychosocial support for people with a visible difference: a mark, scar or condition that makes them look different.
‘We provide advice, support and psychosocial services to children, young people and adults. We challenge discrimination and we campaign for Face Equality: a world that truly values and respects people who look different,’ she continues.
‘We want a future where everyone with a visible difference on their face or body has the confidence support and opportunity to lead the lives they want.’
As part of their work towards this admirable goal, Changing Faces recently launched its ‘I Am Not Your Villain’ campaign to urge the film industry — casting directors, film producers, production companies and directors — to stop using scars, marks or burns as a shorthand for villainy.
‘The BFI are one of the first organisations to sign up to our campaign and have committed to not having negative representations depicted through scars or facial difference in the films they fund,’ Katherine reports.
Changing Faces is also encouraging those with a visible difference to report any abuse or harassment they face to the police. As Katherine explains, ‘A Changing Faces survey of over 800 people with a disfigurement found that a third of people said they had been a victim of a hate crime, but only 30% of them reported it to the police, with many not realising that they can report abuse as a hate crime.’
Two years ago, the charity launched its very own awareness day: ‘We launched our first Face Equality in 2017,’ Katherine recalls. ‘The Face Equality Campaign aims to raise awareness tackle beliefs and attitudes, and help people learn new ways of thinking.
‘Face Equality Day 2018 was themed around the experiences of children and young people with visible different. We gave the public a unique insight into how young people feel about their appearance, whilst highlight appearance-related bullying and what needs to change to truly achieve Face Equality.’
There are 1.3 million people in the UK with a visible difference. Changing Faces wants to improve every single one of their lives and the charity is currently exploring ways to boost its funding to increase its reach.
Recently, Changing Faces signed up to work with Donr to allow its supporters to donate quickly and safely via text message. If you’d like to help the charity improve the lives of more people with a visible difference, please text ‘RANKIN 5’ to 70085 to donate £5*.
Other amounts that can be donated are any whole pound amount from £1 to £20. For instance, to donate £2, please text ‘RANKIN 2’ to 70085 or, to donate £17, please text ‘RANKIN 17’ to 70085. Texts cost the donation amount plus one standard network rate message.
