Case Study Request Form

One of our aims at Facial Palsy UK is to raise awareness of facial paralysis. The more people know about this condition, the more we will be able to raise much-needed funds for research and treatment. The support of the media is essential to our campaigns: they can greatly help us by publishing articles about facial palsy, featuring personal stories of people whose lives are affected by facial paralysis on a day-to-day basis. We’re also looking for more personal stories for our website.

As a media volunteer:

Occasionally, journalists contact us to ask for media volunteers who would agree to be interviewed about their experience of facial palsy. Real life examples are what allow the reader, or the audience, to empathise with the issue developed by the journalist. These stories can also help other people affected by facial palsy realise that they are not alone. Facial Palsy UK media volunteers could be asked to appear on TV news or features, be interviewed on the radio, or quoted in a newspaper or a magazine article. We take confidentiality very seriously, and we will never send your details to a journalist without your permission. Media interviews might come up sporadically throughout the year so don’t be surprised if you don’t hear from our team right away.

Share your story on our website:

Sharing your story on our website will be a huge support for others affected by facial palsy: they will realise that they are not alone and that many other people experience, and can understand, what they are going through. As a guideline, you could try and include all or some of the following information when you write your personal story:

• Your name (we will not publish your real name if you don’t wish us to).
• Your age, or age range.
• The area you live in.
• Your occupation/hobbies.
• How facial palsy changed your life.
• How you have been helped by a particular treatment.
• Any advice you have for other patients, for the medical profession and for the general public.
• What your hopes are for the future – be it treatments, changing attitudes for the better, etc.

Important note: We are unable to name health professionals or hospitals where you have received treatment in your personal story on our website. For the website, please refer to someone by their job title, e.g. plastic surgeon. If you want to mention a hospital please write, for example, ‘I was treated at a hospital in the east of England’. If you are writing your story to be used in the media then you can name health professionals and hospitals.

Ideally, your story shouldn’t be longer than 1200 words. Don’t worry if spelling and grammar aren’t perfect, we can help you edit it. If you prefer to tell us your story on the phone this is also an option.

By ticking the checkboxes below you agree:

1. that Facial Palsy UK may use your story, images and/or videos in presentations, on our website, in publications (such as leaflets, posters, newsletters and other marketing materials), and on our social media channels including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok and LinkedIn.

2. your story, images and/or videos may be sent onto third parties for the purpose of media and other opportunities.

3. that the story, images and/or videos may be stored by Facial Palsy UK on their computer system, which may include storage in a virtual cloud.

4. that if you no longer wish us to use your stories, photographs and videos, you will notify us that you wish to withdraw consent by filling in our Withdraw Consent Form or by emailing info@facialpalsy.org.uk. Facial Palsy UK will do our best to ensure that the material is deleted so far as in our control.

5. that the material may be edited at the discretion of Facial Palsy UK.