• The Face Equality Campaign

Changing Faces Channel Islands is pleased to support the Face Equality Campaign started by Changing Faces in the UK. Changing Faces has 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

• Posters for Island Schools

Changing Faces Channel Islands have recently sent to every school in the Channel Islands a set of posters developed for use in schools by Changing Faces in London as part of their Face Equality campaign. The posters have been reprinted to show the local contact details, and are accompanied by a poster designed to help teachers introduce these posters to their pupils, and guidance notes for teachers to address the issues that are likely to arise. The posters are designed to challenge young people to discuss disfigurement and their reactions to seeing someone with a noticeable difference. The poster campaign aims to achieve fairness for all children and young people in education, regardless of the way they look.

Throughout their education, pupils with a disfigurement often experience lowered expectations, negative attitudes, increased attention, increased teasing and bullying. These may result in lower self-esteem and confidence, ultimately affecting their behaviour and academic achievement. We believe that teachers and other educational professionals have a vital role to play in creating an inclusive culture and ensuring the well-being and achievement of every child.

The posters aim to challenge some of the negative assumptions that people may hold about children with a visible difference. By displaying these in schools, preferably alongside other positive images of children, you can join us in sending out a positive message about disfigurement and promote “face equality” within a schools’ environment.

• Other work in schools

A number of visits to Guernsey have now been made by Jane Francis, an Educational Advisor and other colleagues from Changing Faces in the UK.  They have given talks to secondary school teachers and teachers in Guernsey involved with Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) education to raise awareness of how to deal with disfigurement in schools. In addition, guidance notes for schools produced by Changing Faces in London have been circulated to schools in Guernsey, and it is hoped to replicate this in the other Islands. We are seeking volunteers to assist in Jersey and Alderney to enable similar sessions to be held in those Islands : if you feel you could help, please contact any member of the committee.

• Medical Seminar

Following the successful Medical Seminar held in Guernsey last year in which the benefits of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) were discussed, a further seminar is planned for 2011. This is likely to be a similar format to last year’s event, held over two days, and will be provided by two clinical psychologists who are experts in CBT, and who use CBT in their everyday medical practice. CBT is one of the most useful non pharmaceutical therapeutic “tools” in the medical toolbox. It is 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. The course will show how CBT can help those suffering from disfigurement as well as other related medical conditions, and will build on the knowledge imparted last year. Changing Faces Channel Islands will be sponsoring the Seminar as it did last year, and further information on course content, times and venue will be posted in the near future.

• Training for Nurses

Following the successful presentation last November by Gemma Borthwick of Changing Faces, London to nurses in Guernsey arranged in conjunction with the Health and Social Services Department, and the positive feedback on the benefits of training for nurses in dealing with disfigurement and related issues with both patients and relatives, it has been decided to arrange another presentation during the course of this year. Changing Faces Channel Islands pays for the speakers costs in coming to the Island, whilst the course is provided free of charge to nurses as part of their ongoing training. The Health and Social Services Department are keen to repeat this for the benefit of those who were unable to attend the presentation last year.

• 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.