Family Days

Family Days are a wonderful opportunity for families affected by Facial Palsy to come together, relax and enjoy a day of fun in a supportive and understanding environment. Meeting others who share similar experiences can help reduce feelings of isolation, build confidence and create lasting friendships and memories.

This year, we spent the day at The Mill Adventure Base in Sutton-In-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire: an exciting outdoor activity centre packed with fun experiences for all ages. Children and adults alike were able to try a variety of activities like climbing and kayaking as well as group games and crafts, while getting to know other families and Facial Palsy UK’s friendly and knowledgeable staff and volunteers.

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Previous Facial Palsy UK Family Days

How do Family Days help?

Some children with facial palsy may feel isolated because it’s unlikely they will have met another child affected by the condition. They may be the only child in their school with a different smile and this can at times feel quite lonely. Meeting another child who also has the condition can really improve self-esteem.

When you are the person with facial palsy, the only image you have of yourself is your mirror image or what you see in photographs or video. You don’t see what other people see, your animated face with your whole personality shining through. People will often say to someone with facial palsy that they don’t really notice it but it’s only when you meet another person with facial palsy that you begin to understand why this is actually true. Meeting others with the condition really helps to build confidence.

On meeting other children with facial palsy for the first time, a 9 year old girl said:

Thank you, this was the best day of my life.

Our family days are also an opportunity for parents to meet other parents and benefit from mutual support. They may wish to discuss different surgeries, school issues or simply make new friends who share experiences. We also include siblings because often when a child has a medical condition all the family are affected because there will be hospital visits and other pressures.

In recent years, we have been able to open up these events to include adults with facial palsy and their families too, as meeting others with the same condition and being part of a supportive community is just as beneficial for adults.

Mandy Brailsford

Since 2023, our Family Days have been renamed to Mandy Brailsford Family Days in memory of Mandy Brailsford, who sadly passed away in January 2023. Mandy was a founding volunteer, later became a trustee, and was serving as the Chair of trustees at the time of her passing. Born with facial palsy, she understood the feelings of isolation it could bring. Mandy recognised the immense value these Family Days provided, enabling children with facial palsy to meet others who looked like them and shared similar experiences.

You can read Mandy’s story here.