From now until 9th December at midday, every donation you make will be automatically doubled, helping us reach twice as many people living with a visible difference.
PLEASE DONATE
Meet Jono and William
Jono Lancaster was born with Treacher Collins syndrome and left at the hospital at birth. In our Christmas film, he shares a powerful message to his younger self:
You’re going to experience stares. People are going to say unkind things and it’s going to be hard because that held us back for so long. The one thing I need you to do is meet others with visible differences, because seeing somebody that looks just like you is game changing.
Kate’s seven-year-old son William also has Treacher Collins syndrome. When Jono and William met, it was transformative. Jono describes the joy and happiness he saw in William as “incredible” and “very contagious”, but then adds: “I just hope the world doesn’t take it away from him.”
Knowing that Changing Faces is here to support us through this often-overwhelming season gives me space to breathe. We’re not alone in this.
That is exactly why Changing Faces matters. Children like William don’t have to grow up feeling alone, but there are so many more who still do.
1 in 5
children and adults in the UK are living with a visible difference
42%
of children with a visible difference feel left out or like they don’t belong
Only 20%
of children say they’d like to be friends with someone who looks different
2x
Children with visible differences are nearly twice as likely to be unhappy because of how they are treated
For parents of children with visible differences, Christmas can bring extra challenges. More public outings, from shopping trips and school events to seeing Santa or attending festive gatherings. This can mean increased stares, intrusive questions, and unwanted reactions from people outside the family bubble. Many parents feel the constant pressure to protect their children and stay on guard.
On top of this, there’s the expectation that Christmas should be perfect and magical. From family photos and social media posts to the idealised images in films and TV, the festive season often overlooks children with visible differences, leaving families feeling excluded or under pressure to conform.
William is a happy seven-year-old who loves school, his big sister Alex, building things from Lego, and especially gorillas.
At Changing Faces, we recognise these pressures and provide guidance, support, and reassurance to help families navigate the holidays with confidence, joy, and resilience.
What your donation could achieve
£16 becomes £32 – which could help us be there at the end of the phone and provide vital support to a parent who needs a listening ear.
£50 becomes £100 – which could help us provide counselling to a young person who needs help with building confidence and resilience.
£100 becomes £200 – which could help us run workshops to bring families together who are facing similar challenges.
