Staff at North West law firm, Farleys Solicitors, took on the Tough Mudder challenge, raising vital funds for Changing Faces.

Earlier this year Farleys were welcomed to the growing movement of organisations signing up to Changing Faces’ Pledge To Be Seen campaign. We are the first law firm to do so, and as a business have committed to increasing positive representation of visible difference and disfigurement in our marketing and promoting the charity’s support services for those who may need them, as well as raising funds for Changing Faces.

Across the year, staff have taken part in a Changing Faces Lunch and Learn session to better understand our work and the significance of the Pledge –exploring how Farleys can honour their commitment. We hosted a Face Equali-Tea Party across our six offices in Lancashire and Greater Manchester to raise funds and encourage staff to talk and think more about visible difference.

Most recently, Holly Barnes and Jade Jump, solicitors specialising in clinical negligence and personal injury claims at Farleys completed the Manchester Tough Mudder - a series of obstacles and mud runs.

Holly and Jade were particularly keen to get involved in the firm’s efforts to raise funds for Changing Faces, having experience of supporting clients with visible differences through clinical negligence and personal injury claims.

Holly, Jade, and the Farleys team raised £724 through sponsorship for the Tough Mudder event and cake sales, which was generously match-funded by the firm’s charitable foundation, the Farleys Foundation – raising a total of £1,450 for Changing Faces.

We will continue to raise awareness of Changing Faces amongst staff, clients, and contacts.

Holly commented:

“In the work that we do, we recognise a need for support for our clients who have suffered a visible difference as a result of an accident or clinical negligence. We are really pleased to work closely with Changing Faces to ensure that we provide the best support to our clients, as well as committing to represent more people with a visible difference within our marketing. Jade and I are proud of the total we have raised as a firm – this made all the mud, sweat and tears worth it! We hope the funds will go towards helping Changing Faces continue with the fantastic work they do across the country”.

Almost one in five people in the UK identify as having a visible difference such as a mark, scar or condition that affects their appearance. Over the last 30 years, Changing Faces has helped thousands of people to access our mental health and wellbeing support services and skin camouflage clinics, to support them to live the life they want to live. These vital services wouldn’t exist without the generous donations received from a variety of funders, including companies, like Farleys

Pushpinder Gill, Director of Fundraising and Communications, Changing Faces says:

“There is so much more that we can and should be doing to ensure everyone across the UK with a visible difference or disfigurement has access to the support they need. Our work wouldn’t be possible without the generosity and support of our community and partners, and we’re looking to team up with ambitious companies and organisations, like Farleys, who believe in our mission as much as we do”.

To find out more about what Changing Faces do, make a donation, or discuss how your organisation could begin a partnership with them, email: fundraising@changingfaces.org.uk