Changing Faces, UK

"The online group support I received from Changing Faces was fantastic. Each week, I joined a wellbeing practitioner and other people with a diverse range of visible differences, including skin conditions, birthmarks, scars and craniofacial conditions. "To meet people who understood how I was feeling was a breath of fresh air. I could say to the group: 'I went out yesterday and got stared at and it really upset me.' And there would instantly be four or five others sharing advice and saying: 'Yes, that’s happened to me too.' "A group member gave some advice about asking someone to come with you if you feel overwhelmed or less confident about going out in public. I never thought of that. Since the sessions, I’ve been doing my weekly shop with my mum and sister, and we have a nice lunch afterwards. Having someone act as a support buddy who is happy to give you a kick up the backside with a “get on with it” when needed is extremely helpful and necessary sometimes." For Dave and many other people with a visible difference, our online group support known as Peer Group Chat provides a safe, supportive space to share your experiences with people who understand what you're going through. 🤝 Our next Peer Group Chat sessions start tomorrow and we're excited to welcome the newest cohort. If you're interested in attending and meeting others with visible differences, learn more about Peer Group Chat: https://ow.ly/TgYC50UGgn9

“I’m Joti and in 1999, I noticed a small white spot that would spread like wildfire across my body and strip me completely of my confidence and identity. “Before I developed vitiligo, I’d been a bubbly and confident young person living life to the full, but the condition stole my 20's and 30's as I fell into major depression. Ashamed of myself, I hid my skin for 20 years. “Hiding my vitiligo patches in the summer months and when going on holiday felt particularly torturous. It was uncomfortable, but I felt I had to do it. I was nervous of the stares and comments I might receive. “I work as a teacher, and it was hard during my first few years of teaching to hide my vitiligo from my students and the staff that I worked with. However, as the years have gone on, I have tried to embrace my patches and my new skin colour. The more confidence I have, the less I notice people staring at me, because I am not making an issue of my skin in my own mind. “It is so important not to waste time worrying about what other people might be thinking and instead to focus on you and what makes you happy. “I am proud of being able to talk about my skin journey publicly as a campaigner, as well as having published a memoir called ‘Strong in the Skin I’m in’ where I share my highs and lows of living with vitiligo. “Don’t lose precious time guessing what others might be thinking about you. Embrace your differences, and don’t let them stop you from doing what you love.” Joti’s story: https://ow.ly/TJfZ50UFlJ6

Sebastian Stan, who won his first Golden Globe for best actor in film “A Different Man”, spoke up for the visible difference community in his speech, saying “Our ignorance and discomfort around disability and disfigurement has to end now.” Campaigner Oliver, who has Neurofibromatosis type 1, shares his thoughts on the moment, and representation in film as a whole: “As someone with the same condition as Adam Pearson, who stars in the film alongside Stan, it’s amazing to see a film about visible difference be recognised and celebrated at the Golden Globes. However, the entertainment world still has a long way to go in being truly representative. Hopefully, this paves the way for more films that show positive representation of people with visible differences. “As the awards season is now upon us, I look forward to Adam’s amazing contribution, as a star of the film, being appropriately recognised and publicly celebrated. When we know better, we do better." Congratulations Sebastian Stan for a well-deserved win. And, of course, to Adam Pearson for his incredible work on this important story. #ADifferentMan #AdamPearson #GoldenGlobes

2025 looks bright from here, if we believe in the vision of Crystal and Rob 🌟 Campaigner Crystal and ambassador Rob have teamed up to create a powerful "In and Out" list for 2025 -their take on the New Year's resolutions trend. From advocating for more visibility and representation to calling out outdated stereotypes, they’re highlighting the changes they’d love to see in the world for people with visible differences. Let’s work together to make 2025 a year of real change, where everyone’s differences are celebrated. 💪 #Inclusive2025 #VisibleDifferences #InclusionMatters #SocialChange #RepresentationMatters #BodyPositivity #DiversityIsPower

"Elphaba's green helps us feel seen." - Ryan. Have you seen the new Wicked film yet? Starring #CynthiaErivo and #ArianaGrande, the film reimagines the backstory of the witches from The Wizard of Oz and tells the story of Elphaba - born with green skin, who is misunderstood, shunned and branded the "Wicked Witch of the West." Today, former campaigner Ryan shares his thoughts: "From its opening scenes, I felt an almost visceral sense of recognition. Elphaba’s story is one of societal rejection, a mirror to my own experiences. Like her, I have faced stares, judgments, and the constant burden of proving my humanity in a world that sees my cleft lip and palate as flaws. For a campy story about a green witch, Wicked serves as a surprisingly powerful allegory for facial discrimination. "Elphaba doesn’t just represent feeling “different”; she embodies what it means to be culturally monstered. She is blamed for things beyond her control, demonised for standing out, and ostracised for daring to challenge the status quo. When the people of Oz turn on her, it is declared: 'Her green skin is but an outward manifestation of her twisted nature!' "This perfectly encapsulates how facial difference is treated. Popular culture perpetuates the idea that anomalous faces are synonymous with evil. It stems from the idea that our face defines who we are, so if our face is considered ‘unusual’ or ‘bad,’ then so are we. Villains are frequently 'monstered' through their appearance, reinforcing harmful stereotypes and creating real-world consequences for those who look 'too different.' "But Wicked also offers hope. Elphaba’s refusal to be diminished, her determination to rise above societal judgment, is a rallying cry for anyone who has been cast as 'other.' Her story challenges us to resist narratives of hate, reclaim our identities, and stand against the forces that seek to divide. It reminds us that strength lies not in conformity, but in embracing who we are. It urges us not only to question the systems that perpetuate hate but also to find the courage to defy them, and, like Elphaba, to rise above." Ryan's wonderful article continues: https://lnkd.in/esZczQQ3

🎉 Happy New Year from Changing Faces! 🎉 A huge thanks to you - our amazing community, for your support in 2024. We’re excited for 2025 as we continue to challenge stigma and create a more inclusive world for everyone with a visible difference. Our campaigners are ready to raise awareness, push for positive change and create a world that celebrates difference. Here's to an exciting year ahead. 🦋

“I’m Rowan and I have acne. Acne has had an immeasurable impact on my life. “In our society, acne is intrinsically linked with not just "unattractiveness", but also implications of poor hygiene or care. It is hard not to internalise these ideas or at least be overly aware of other people's biases in this regard. “Stares and comments aren’t unusual. I try to ignore them as much as possible, which is of course easier said than done! The most upsetting incident was at A&E when I was in my early twenties. I had waited hours and was finally being seen by a doctor for an issue that was causing severe pain. The doctor diagnosed the problem and goes to type up the prescription. Then, out of nowhere, he hums in disapproval and says to me, 'You know you should really do something about that acne.' “I was too shocked to say anything at the time, but telling the story afterwards has become its own form of catharsis. I now know that people’s comments are a reflection on them, not on me. “I started creating YouTube videos full time in 2021. This has made me even more aware of the pressures, particularly on women, to maintain a particular ‘minimum’ standard of ‘beauty’. “Something I’m very proud of is a video essay that I produced on the representation of acne on screen - it's a topic that a lot of people thanked me for covering, whether they had acne or not, as it enabled them to realise the negative messages they were absorbing. “Having acne is never a linear journey. I’ve struggled to different degrees with the condition for as long as I've had it. “The thing that made the most impact was connecting with people who understood because they were also going through the same thing. It's a lot easier to treat acne as a neutral aspect of your appearance when you aren't the only person going through it.” Rowan’s story: https://ow.ly/9G3z50Usxql

The Christmas period can be a tricky time for children and young people with visible differences. Being out and about at festive activities can open them up to stares and inappropriate comments. That's why having a strong support network is so important. Our campaigner Andy talks about the confidence his family instilled in him from a young age, and why their acceptance let him have a wonderful Christmas throughout his childhood: "I count myself as extremely lucky in that I have always had an incredible support network. The magic of Christmas was never stolen by anxiety over family gatherings, as they were only ever something to look forward to. "My family built in me a deep internal confidence, telling me that I was worth something despite much of the world telling me otherwise. I always felt part of the tribe and was fortunate to be surrounded by inspiring family members like my Grandpa. My Grandpa was in the RAF and always had interesting stories to tell - like almost being hit by a mortar - he was "Mr Fitness" and was running marathons well into his 50s. He's also very old school and went off and built his extension after reading one book. "I can't tell you how important it was for my feelings of self-worth to be surrounded by these inspiring individuals and I was always made to feel just as much a part of the group even when I was different physically. "Children with a visible difference deserve to experience the magic of Christmas in a safe environment away from the stress and cruelty of the real world. It's also an opportunity to gather around as a family and let that child know just how loved, supported and appreciated they are." Your donations will help children with a visible difference get access to vital wellbeing support, so they can grow up loving themselves just the way they are: https://ow.ly/b3Yf50Usv62

🎄 Merry Christmas from Changing Faces! 🎄 A huge thank you to our wonderful community for supporting us this year. Your donations help us to continue providing support to families and individuals with visible difference, through our Skin Camouflage and Wellbeing services. Lucy, mum to Lola who was star of our campaign, shares her own Christmas message: "Your generosity has made a real impact to support families like mine. It's a comfort to know that Changing Faces will always be there to support Lola as she navigates a world that can be afraid of difference. Thank you, once again - and I hope you have a wonderful Christmas."

"When April was a baby, we noticed that she had different coloured eyes. Taking her to the doctors, to check her eyesight was ok, we soon found out that she had two rare conditions. The first, tuberous sclerosis, is a genetic condition that was causing benign tumours to develop on April’s heart, brain and face. The second condition, fibrous dysplasia, is an uncommon bone disorder where scar-like tissue develops in place of normal bone, causing the bone to become misshapen. This is what causes April to have a visible difference. "I've taught April that everyone is unique and beautiful in their own way. I’ve started to buy books and toys that reflect difference. I’ve bought Barbies that are bodily diverse, and other dolls reflecting different disabilities and different ethnicities. Glancing around my house now, I see lots of toys and items that celebrate difference and feel proud at our inclusivity. "This Christmas, I would urge parents to think about buying toys and books that celebrate differences, so that my daughter can grow up in a world that's more accepting and loving towards her unique features. "April is confident and outgoing, and I know that whatever the future holds, we have the support of a wonderful charity, and wonderful community of people with all sorts of visible differences." Supporting our Christmas appeal with a donation will help families and children with a visible difference get access to vital wellbeing support, so they can grow up loving themselves just the way they are: https://ow.ly/lJSX50UtvAB