Changing Faces is the leading UK charity that supports and represents people who have disfigurements to the face, hand or body from any cause. We were founded in 1992 by James Partridge OBE, Chief Executive, who was injured in a car fire when he was 18 years old. Today we have a team of 25 professionals with expertise in psychology, education, employment, health and social care, media and campaigning.

Our work involves:

Providing personal support for children, young people, adults and families

Working with schools, employers, health and social care professionals to ensure a culture of inclusion for people with disfigurements

Campaigning for social change by working with the media, government and opinion leaders.


There are over one million people in the UK who have a disfigurement (over 500,000) to their face) which affects their face, hands or body. There are many, many causes.


The causes
Some people are born with disfiguring conditions. These include birthmarks (for example, portwine stains, haemangiomas and moles), cleft lip and/or palates and unusual formations of the skull and other features of the face as a result of craniofacial syndromes like Apert and Crouzon syndromes.

Others acquire disfigurements through accidents such as scars from a road traffic accident or burn injuries as a result of a house fire; some from violence – scarring as a result of acid attacks, stabbings or shootings – or after treatment for a disease such as facial cancer; others still from illness e.g. facial paralysis after a stroke or from medical accidents such as mistakes in cosmetic procedures.

Disfigurement can also be caused by common skin conditions like acne, eczema, vitiligo or psoriasis, and by others which alter the texture of the skin such as neurofibromatosis and epidermolysis bullosa.

Surgery and other medical treatments
Modern reconstructive surgery and medical treatments can be effective in making some disfigurements much less noticeable but a disfigurement can rarely be removed completely. Some scarring, asymmetry or complexion change usually remains.

The psychological and social effects
Largely as a result of other people’s reactions and the culture in which we live, living with a disfigurement can be a major challenge for an individual and their family. People with disfigurements can experience serious problems in social situations, leading to high levels of social anxiety and depression, lowered self-esteem and self-confidence, and difficulties in getting employment. Many children at school experience name-calling and other forms of bullying as well as being ostracized because of their appearance. This can often lead to behavioural problems, poor academic performance and difficulties in making friends.

It doesn’t have to be like this
Overcoming these difficulties is possible. In 1992 James Partridge founded Changing Faces to address the psychological and social impact of living with a disfigurement. He pioneered a package of support which has enabled thousands of children, young people and adults to develop strong self-esteem and the confidence to get on with their lives in a positive way.

Our extensive research and experience in supporting people with disfigurements show that three factors are particularly important in enabling someone to adjust to living with an unusual appearance:

1. Getting realistic information about the treatment options available.

2. Learning how to manage other people's reactions in social situations of all kinds.

3. Getting quality support from family, friends, an appropriate professional or support group.

What is our vision
Our mission is to work for a better and fairer future for people with disfigurements.

Our aim is to support and represent the interests of people with disfigurement.

Our goal is a just and fair world where:

Everyone with a disfigurement will have high self-esteem and self-confidence
Every health clinic, school and workplace and workplace will address disfigurement with confidence.
Everyone in society will be able to face disfigurement with confidence whether or not they have a disfiguring condition.


If you are struggling to cope and you would like to speak to someone in confidence, please call 0845 4500 275 or email info@changingfaces.org.uk.