1. What is face equality?

There are over one million people in the UK who have a disfigurement.  These marks, scars, paralysis or unusually-shaped features may be present at birth or acquired from an accident, cancer surgery, a skin or eye condition, warfare or paralysis.

In 2008, Changing Faces commissioned a public attitudes survey which revealed that 9 out of 10 people unconsciously make negative assumptions about the lives and prospects of people with disfigurements.

People with disfigurements maybe judged to be sad figures, bravely coping, somehow less attractive, less capable than you – even less of a person.  You probably think this without even realising it.

These judgements and assumptions can result in unwitting facial prejudice and facial discrimination.  What we want is face equality.

Face equality is not about getting rid of noticeable faces but valuing and treating everyone who has one as an equal.

Find out more about face equality.

2.  What is the Children’s Face Equality Campaign about? 

The Children’s Face Equality campaign aims to challenge the assumptions that people may make about children with disfigurements and their lives and replace them with greater awareness and understanding so that childen are treated fairly and equally at school, in their hobbies, when looking for a Saturday job or simply being invited to another child's party.

The campaign is being fronted by Max, Lucas, Harry and Lauren who are all aged between 9 and 13 years old.  They are appearing in a series of adverts which challenge four very common assumptions about children with disfigurements:

• They are less able to achieve

• They are less socially skilled and confident

• They are shy and retiring

• They lead tragic, pitiful lives.

Read their stories - Max, Lucas, Lauren and Harry - and find out why these assumptions couldn’t be further from the truth.

3. Why is the children’s campaign important?

Although adults and other young people and children may not even realise they are making negative assumptions about children with disfigurements, these children are often treated differently as a result.  (Some examples).

Children with disfigurements are exposed to other people’s reactions to them on a daily basis and Changing Faces meets many children for whom these assumptions are in danger of becoming a reality.  It can take many years of support to help these children and their families believe that they can achieve anything they want, they can be confident in themselves and around other people, and that their lives can be as full and happy as they want them to be.  Find out more about our work with children and families, schools and policy makers.

But we are all influenced by the world around us and how we are treated in our everyday lives.  That’s why it’s vital to get people thinking about what they believe about the lives of children with disfigurements. This  means becoming more aware of the way they treat these children and how they talk about their lives with other adults and children they meet.  By challenging your beliefs and changing the way you react you will be supporting these children to thrive.

4.  Where do these assumptions and beliefs come from?

Click here to find out why so many people hold negative beliefs or assumptions about people with disfigurements.

5. Where can I see the posters?

The adverts first appeared at London Underground stations between Friday 8 January and Friday 15 January.

J C Decaux are going to put up 500 adverts as and when they have space on their billboards throughout the country during 2010.

Changing Faces is completely dependent on free space to promote the campaign so if you can offer us space please email Winnie Coutinho or call on 020 7391 9289.

You can also download the adverts here or email us for copies and post them up in your local café, school staff room, gym, community centre, library.

6. What else is happening?

BBC Children’s has filmed a 30 minute documentary about the making of the campaign with Max, Lauren, Lucas and Harry.  It will be broadcast on Saturday 6th March on BBC2 at 11.30am. 

8. How can I support the children’s face equality campaign?

• Download the adverts here and post them up in your local café, school staff room, gym, community centre, library.

•  Start a discussion with friends, family and colleagues about people’s assumptions and beliefs around disfigurements using the adverts.  Encourage people to think and act differently. 

•  Lend your face to join the campaign and show your support for face equality.  

• Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.