September 2023 update: Our Pledge To Be Seen campaign is now integrated within our ongoing partnership work.
We are delighted to welcome the Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) to the growing movement of organisations committed to raising awareness and promoting equality in the workplace for those who have visible differences and disfigurements.
The SAS is the first health board in Scotland to have signed up to our Pledge To Be Seen campaign, committing to represent more people with a visible difference in their advertising and recruitment plans, as well as communicating about their pledge internally as part of their commitment to being an inclusive workplace.
Rory McGuire, Changing Faces Ambassador, says: “Living life with a visible difference can sometimes be tough. Far too often people who look different must deal with negative comments and staring, whilst never seeing anyone who looks like them shown in a positive way.
Changing Faces Ambassador Rory shares his support for the pledge.
“It’s brilliant to see the leadership shown by the Scottish Ambulance Service as they commit to Changing Faces’ Pledge To Be Seen. Knowing that their staff across Scotland are going to learn more about, and improve representation, of people who have a visible difference in their external communications, from job adverts to public information campaigns, is hugely welcomed.”
Pledge To Be Seen was launched to ensure that people with a visible difference are seen and heard in the workplace and across mainstream culture.
Chief Executive of the Scottish Ambulance Service, Pauline Howie, says: “We want the Scottish Ambulance Service to be an employer that is inclusive and welcoming to everyone who applies to join our team. I am delighted to join colleagues from across other organisations to sign up to the Pledge To Be Seen, so that we can celebrate difference and challenge stereotypes.”
We want the Scottish Ambulance Service to be an employer that is inclusive and welcoming to everyone who applies to join our team.
Our Head of Scotland, Angela Harris, has been working with the SAS, as well as Health Boards and the other emergency services across Scotland to raise awareness of the services and support Changing Faces can provide to their own workforces and the people they serve and protect.
Angela Harris, Changing Faces, Head of Scotland, says: “We are delighted that the Scottish Ambulance Service has committed to our Pledge To Be Seen campaign. They are the first public body in Scotland to make this pledge, and together we can ensure that there is more positive representation of those with visible differences and disfigurements.
“We’re going to be continuing our work with the Scottish Ambulance Service so their staff teams can better understand the challenges that people with a visible difference can face in Scotland today. We’re also supporting the other emergency services to join the ambulance service and sign our pledge.”