Changing Faces

A better future for facially disfigured people

Changing Faces works with people of all ages who are disfigured in any way: birthmarks, cleft lips, burns, facial cancer and palsy, and skin conditions like acne, exzema and vitiligo are the most common causes.

Although plastic surgery and medicine can help to a certain extent they often cannot cure a disfigurement completely. Living with a disfigured face can be a lonely and difficult process.

Many facially disfigured people find social experiences intimidating, feel ‘different’ from those with ‘normal’ faces and have difficulty in coping with staring, teasing and curiosity. As a result, their expectations and opportunities can be limited - it can seem easier to withdraw from social contact.

Changing Faces helps facially disfigured people to express themselves with more confidence, and combat many of their anxieties and negative feelings. The aim is for them to lead fuller lives and fulfil their potential. Changing Faces also encourages other people to be more sensitive to the issues that facially disfigured people face every day.

‘I was more or less resigned to a life in the shadows but the future now looks far more hopeful and promising…’

What does Changing Faces offer?

Changing Faces provides free help, advice and information to adults and children (and their parents) who have a facial disfigurement. This service is available in person, by letter or phone and anyone who contacts Changing Faces can be assured of confidential advice and sensitive support from an experienced member of the team. We emphasise communication skills and help people develop a positive outlook.

For adults

In addition to individual help, out Adult Specialists organise regular workshops for small groups of facially disfigured people who can meet together in a safe atmosphere. Participants find that they are facing similar problems and work to develop practical ways to deal with stressful situations and feelings. As a result they gain much greater self-confidence and feel less anxious about social encounters and public places.

For children

Children with facial disfigurements have immense challenges to face, not only from surgery and medical treatments, but also in learning to cope with the way others treat them. Our Child Specialist provides advice and specific information in various ways on the difficulties related to a child’s disfigurement.

One to one sessions and group activities enable children and their families to explore new ways of tackling these difficulties and moving ahead.

'I found it inspiring to know that I was not alone.'

An information service

Increased knowledge about the issue is essential to learning how to cope with a facial disfigurement. Our Information Specialist is in the process of developing an comprehensive Information Service which will add to our range of quality written and audio-visual information about facial disfigurement. The Specialist is on hand to respond to specific enquiries on a wide variety of subjects.

Changing Faces enables people to get in touch with others who have had similar experiences to exchange information.

New Directions

Changing Faces is constantly looking to test new rehabilitative ideas and raise public awareness and understanding. For example:
'A good and long-overdue support organisation … it has a clear role to play in helping people with facial injuries…'

People in need of help are not charged fees but many feel that they want to make a donation. Further financial information is available on request and we welcome all new donations, grants and fundraising initiatives.

'I feel as though a millstone has been taken from my neck, and at last I feel I can be myself again.'

Changing Faces was launched in May 1992 to raise awareness and increase the resources devoted to the care and rehabilitation of facially disfigured people.

It has been welcomed by plastic surgeons, psychologists and health professionals in various fields who are increasingly referring their patients to Changing Faces.

Patrons include people who have personal experience of facial disfigurement such as Sir Christopher Benson (Chairman of Sun Alliance), Lord Cledwyn of Penrhos, and Simon Weston, the Falklands veteran.

Changing Faces is financed mainly by donations and grants from many generous individuals, charitable trusts and companies. It also has support from the Department of Health. We thank them all.

An experienced team works under the direction of James Partridge, the founder of Changing Faces who was himself burned in a car fire at the age of eighteen.

Changing Faces is a registered charity and has a Board of Directors, chaired by Sir Campbell Adamson, former Chairman of Abbey National.

If you would like to make a donation or receive further information, please contact:

Changing Faces,
1 & 2 Junction Mews
Paddington,
London W2 1PN

‘Phone 0171 706 4232
Fax 0171 706 4234
Email (general enquiries): info@changingfaces.co.uk,
Email (outreach): outreach@changingfaces.co.uk,
Changing Faces now have their own web site which is well worth a visit. Comments on that to webmaster@changingfaces.co.uk,

Registered Charity No. 1011222

'The skills I was taught made me aware of practical things I could do, even though it takes a lot of effort to put them into practice…'

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