Real stories

Read or listen to real stories from people affected by visible difference, their parents and families, as well as Changing Faces staff and volunteers. Inspired to share your story? We’d love to hear it – share your story now.

All stories

Heather Blake, a woman with shoulder length brown hair and a fringe, standing in front of some bushes

Heather introduces our new strategy

23 February 2022

Our Chief Executive, Heather, shares how we developed our new strategy and ambitious goals.

A man wearing glasses and a patterned black and white top smiles at the camera against a black background.

Ryan on the importance of mental health and wellbeing support

23 February 2022

Our campaigner Ryan shares his views on why support and awareness raising are key to our new strategy.

Nicoya, a white woman in her 30s, who has brown hair and right sided facial paralysis. She's looking at the camera.

Nicoya’s story: “No one should fear being seen”

16 February 2022

Talking about Ramsay Hunt Syndrome and her facial paralysis online has helped Nicoya build confidence and accept her visible difference.

Head of Wellbeing Sam Cheatle looks at the camera

Sam shares top tips for self-care and self-love

14 February 2022

Sam, our Head of Wellbeing Services, shares five top tips that you can try to help you feel positive, happy and resilient.

Rebecca, a woman who has curly brown hair pulled back from her face. She is wearing a floral print jacket and glasses and looking at the camera.

Rebecca shares wellbeing tips for parents

10 February 2022

Our wellbeing practitioner Rebecca shares five top tips for parents to support their child's mental health and wellbeing…

Campaigner Naomi is a white woman with a visible difference and long blonde hair. She is wearing a gold Christmas cracker hat and stood in front of a decorated Christmas tree

Naomi’s story: “You’re all beautiful!”

9 February 2022

Naomi reflects on how being involved with us as a child helped her cope with school and comments from strangers.

Campaigner Laura is a white woman with alopecia and is bald. She is wearing a black top with large white polka dots and has grass and trees behind her.

Laura’s story: “It genuinely changed my life for the better”

3 February 2022

Laura updates us on her visible difference journey so far, including a “lightbulb” moment she had.

Andrew is a white male with brown hair and a beard, with an eyebrow piercing and visible difference. He is wearing a blue t-shirt with a darker blue hoodie over the top.

Andrew’s story: “It’s going to be OK”

2 February 2022

Andrew wants young people to know that life with a visible difference can turn out well.

Campaigner Chrissie who is a Black women with a visible difference wearing a white and black scarf and black top, pink glasses and her hair in two buns on top of her head.

Chrissie’s story: “Talking openly about visible difference today, is a lot easier than when I was younger”

28 January 2022

Chrissie tells us what it was like to share her story online for the first time.

Campaigner Sophie is white with long dark brown hair and a facial visible difference. In this photo she wears a red dress with white flowers on it and the photo captures her head and shoulders.

Sophie on sharing her story with us

28 January 2022

Volunteer campaigner Sophie reflects on what it felt like to share her story with us.

Chloe, a white woman in her early 20s, who has medium-length brown hair and keloid scars on her chest.

Chloe’s story: “There is much more to me than my scars”

26 January 2022

Chloe shares how she learned to accept her keloid scars and why empathy is key when it comes to conversations around visible difference.

A close-up photo of a woman with shoulder-length brown hair, wearing a flowery top

Catherine introduces our new condition-specific resources

19 January 2022

Deputy CEO Catherine introduces our new condition-specific resources, explains why we created them and talks about how they can benefit you.