About us
It is estimated that over 1000 people in the Channel Islands have disfigurements to their face, hands or body.  Every year children in the islands are born with cleft lips and palettes, cranio-facial conditions and birthmarks.  Over 100 people are seen by our hospitals each year with burns and scalds and a similar number are sent to the UK for treatment for cancer of the head, neck, throat and skin.
If you have a disfigurement, you can face discrimination because of the way you look. You might be stared at, teased or avoided, especially at school or in public places. You may feel isolated and find it easier to avoid going out. You may believe that you have little chance of leading a successful life. Family and friends may not always know how to help while others may be unsure how to react when meeting you for the first time.
Changing Faces Channel Islands aims to support and represent children, young people and adults with disfigurements of all kinds, whether present at birth or as a result of accident or violence, skin conditions, illness or paralysis.  Our work complements medical and surgical treatments by addressing the psychological and social challenges posed by disfigurement.
How we help
By working closely with Changing Faces in the UK who have a team of counsellors and psychologists, as well as schools, employers and health professional consultants, we can direct you to professional counselling and advice to enable you to find ways of :
  • Coming to terms with a changed appearance
  • Cultivating self-confidence and self-esteem
  • Dealing with staring, public situations, teasing and bullying
  • Managing comments and questions about your appearance
  • Developing your child's self-belief and social skills
  • Preparing your child for changing schools or going to college
  • Forging close relationships
  • Improving career prospects
  • Talking to health professionals about treatment options
  • Contacting support groups for a particular condition
We also provide information and advice to health professionals, teachers and employers to help them understand and address the particular challenges experienced by children and adults who have disfigurements.
Our aim is to ensure that children and adults with disfigurements in the Islands have high self-esteem, access to the very best health and social services, and enjoy equal rights and opportunities throughout their lives.
You will find out more about how we can help Channel Island Residents by looking at our Resources page
 
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  Changing Faces (Channel Islands) LBG is a company limited by guarantee in Guernsey registered no. 44590    
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