• Annual General Meeting of Changing Faces Channel Islands

Jill Clark was re-appointed as the Chairperson of Changing Faces Channel Islands at the 2008 Annual General Meeting following her excellent work as Chairperson since the launch of the charity in April 2006. Jill experienced facial disfigurement after a boating accident in Channel Island waters in 1997 so has personal experience of the trauma caused by facial disfigurement.

Jill said “ The help I received from Changing Faces in London made an enormous difference to me following the accident, and I would like others to benefit as I did from the care and support that they provided. There are many young people and adults in the Channel Islands with a disfigurement to their face, hands or body. Common causes include congenital conditions such as birthmarks, cleft lip and palate, others have had trauma caused by burns or accidents, some have had diseases such as skin cancer, head and neck cancer or facial paralysis and skin conditions such as acne, vitiligo and psoriasis. The creation of Changing Faces Channel Islands enables those affected and their families to have access to the best support and advice which we provide in conjunction with Changing Faces in London where specialist counsellors are available to help. We have started training courses for health professionals and teaching staff in Guernsey, and hope to extend this to Jersey once volunteers can be found there to take our plans forward across the Channel Islands.”

As James Partridge, Founder and CEO of Changing Faces, the UK’s leading charity supporting and representing people with disfigurements said at the launch of Changing Faces Channel Islands, “There are many people in the Channel Islands living with a disfigurement who face a daily challenge. People’s reactions when meeting someone who looks “different” vary from curiosity and embarrassment to hostility, and often include teasing, bullying and ostracism. In today’s society, having a disfigurement can mean a low self-worth and confidence, problems getting work and making friends, social isolation, and unfulfilled potential.” The Committee of Changing Faces Channel Islands are determined to ensure that this need no longer be the case and that people know that there is effective help available. We aim to raise public awareness of the issues faced by people with disfigurements in the Channel Islands, and to reduce the stigma that can inhibit people from realising their full potential in the education, career and community.

• The Face Equality Campaign

Changing Faces Channel Islands is pleased to support the Face Equality Campaign started by Changing Faces in the UK. In January 2008 Changing Faces conducted independent research to investigate people’s attitudes toward disfigurement. When directly questioned the vast majority said that they did not discriminate against people based on their facial appearance. However an Implicit Attitude Test revealed that 9 out of 10 people had negative attitudes towards people who have disfigurements. Many of these attitudes are unintentional and unwitting but still result in prejudice and discrimination against people with disfigurements. Face Equality is about being treated fairly and equally irrespective of facial appearance. It is about creating a society in which everyone is valued for the unique contribution that they can make to society. Changing Faces are asking for your photograph to be added to a giant face collage on their website to show your support. To learn more please visit www.changingfaces.org.uk

Educational event for teaching staff

We are planning an educational event for secondary school teachers at Ladies College, St Peter Port on Wednesday 29 October 2008. Those present will hear from Jane Francis an Educational Advisor from Changing Faces in the UK who has an extensive background in education specialising in the areas where mainstream meets special. The course will

· address beliefs and attitudes around appearance and disfigurement,
· demonstrate how teachers can assess and boost self-esteem and social confidence,
· tackle appearance related ostracism and bullying, and
· show how to prepare all pupils for living positively in our increasingly inclusive society.

The course will be free of charge to teachers, and it is hoped that a course for primary school teachers and early years workers can be held in 2009. Further details can be obtained by emailing contact@changingfacesci.org.gg

• Medical Seminar

We are also planning a Medical Seminar to be held in March 2009. The subject will be Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), one of the most useful non pharmaceutical therapeutic “tools” in the medical toolbox used in the management of depression, panic disorder, social anxiety and isolation, low self confidence and self esteem; conditions often found in individuals with disfigurement and disability. It is hoped to provide a two day seminar for health professionals which will show how CBT can help those suffering from disfigurement as well as other related medical conditions. The course will be provided by two clinical psychologists experts in CBT, who use CBT in their everyday medical practice. Further information on course content, times and venue will be posted in the near future.

• Fundraising

The Committee of Changing Faces Channel Islands are grateful for the continuing fund raising being carried out for the charity by businesses and individuals. Please keep up the good work, as the more funds we raise the more we can afford to do !! Please see http://www.changingfacesci.org.gg/support us.htm for more information on what you can do to help.”