'Face Equality: innovative training in the health, social and volunteering sectors that will empower people with disfigurements to overcome social and psychological challenges in everyday life'

The partnership of healthcare professionals, hospitals, patient organisations and tertiary education establishments aimed to develop a training programme that would make a difference in a wider se...

The partnership of healthcare professionals, hospitals, patient organisations and tertiary education establishments aimed to develop a training programme that would make a difference in a wider setting than the immediate target groups – and have a knock-on effect in educating the general public, thus reducing social stigma and exclusion. The intention is that the immediate target groups will be empowered to cascade knowledge acquired through the training into the community. This will filter out to key workers such as social workers, hospital liaison staff, youth workers, teachers, schools and people with disfigurements themselves. To ensure this we have taken an innovative approach in not only developing training material that focuses on the challenges faced by people with a visible difference and how to address these challenges but also included a train the trainer package with full pedagogical handbook and also an educational programme around social activism with practical steps as to how to effect change in society, giving examples of successful campaigning in Europe and beyond. This is a unique approach that will ensure the project makes a real difference and has full impact.