Time to face up to prejudices
'Face Equality' is not a British government programme, but a campaign from a registered UK charity, Changing Faces.
Changing Faces is the leading UK charity that supports and represents people who have disfigurements to the face, hand or body from any cause. Today, we have a team of 25 professionals with expertise in psychology, education, employment, health, social care, media and campaigning.
One in every 111 people in the UK has a significant disfigurement to their face. Disfigurement can happen to anyone, regardless of age, ethnicity and background.
A public attitudes survey we commissioned earlier in the year found that nine out of 10 people were unaware that they had implicit negative attitudes to people with facial disfigurements.
Our aim is to raise that awareness and to reduce the prejudice and discrimination that currently exists.
We agree with Kevin Myers's analysis that society as a whole needs to learn to take a more positive attitude towards disfigurement, but we also believe that change needs to be enforced by policy and legislation -- even if the idea of an "equality industry" does make his heart sink.
To find out more about the work that we do visit www.changingfaces.org.uk.
DEBORAH CHURCHILL
CHANGING FACES
LONDON WC1E 6JN
