Face Equality Day

On Friday 26th May join us to celebrate the first national UK Face Equality Day.

On 26th May, the University of Westminster took part in the first Face Equality Day.

Face Equality Day is a national event created by the UK charity Changing Faces to increase awareness of bodily disfigurement and challenge the stigma surrounding it.

Over 1 million people in the UK have a condition which causes disfigurement to their face, hands or body. People who have a condition affecting their appearance often experience bullying and discrimination. The University joined Changing Faces to support a vision of a society where all individuals with disfigurements are treated fairly, equally and with respect irrespective of their appearance.

Throughout the day, there were different events at Harrow Campus including:

– Stalls, information and give-aways on facial diversity in the Forum as well as a special book display in the Library.

– A public workshop with the burns survivor and campaigner Catrin Pugh on her experiences of media coverage of her own facial disfigurement.

– An exhibition at Gallery West featuring the portrait series Birthmark / Naevus Flammeus by the Danish photographer Linda Hansen. The exhibition runs from 26 May – 11 June.

The events were organised by Diana Garrisi and Jacob Johanssen and supported by CAMRI, UoW Harrow Library, the Corporate Social Responsibility team, the Disability Support Services and Gallery West. Our thanks go to Changing Faces for support and advice.