Happy Holidays!
As 2019 draws to a close, we wanted to say thank you for all the support we continue to receive. Over the last year, The Vitiligo Society has continued to work hard to provide education and support for those living with vitiligo, raising awareness and promoting wider acceptance.
We have undergone a digital transformation, launching a fantastic new website and online magazine, The VitLife. We’ve continued to strengthen our partnerships with medical professionals and this has given our members the option to be a part of the latest research and trials.
We remain the primary UK charity and have expanded our reach by attending the US World Vitiligo Day conference. This allows us to influence the vitiligo community at a global level and report the latest news for our members and supporters.
Early in 2019, we completed a successful early private testing phase for Skin Deep, a new mobile app from The Vitiligo Society which is currently in development. It aims to provide therapeutic support for those living with skin conditions by providing tailored guided meditations to deal with difficult emotions. We received incredible feedback from our early testers and we look forward to moving forward with the project in 2020.
Overall, I loved the app and don’t have much to suggest or improve on. The audio and meditation content was amazing and spot on – it encompassed exactly how I felt as someone with a skin condition/vitiligo without being too condescending nor insensitive…
…I really love this app and the intention behind it. I look forward to using it more frequently once it is finished with development and truly appreciate what you have done.
If you’d like to know more, visit the dedicated Skin Deep website.
I’m also pleased to announce that this year we welcomed a new Trustee, John Dunster. By day, John is an HR Director for Centrica and brings a wealth of business operations experience to the Society. John has been a fantastic addition to the team and he’s equally as excited for the future of the charity.
The growth of vitiligo in the mainstream media grew astronomically in 2019 thanks to the brave models with vitiligo breaking into the industry. We’ve seen major brands such as Dove, Larsson & Jennings and Primark use models with vitiligo in their ad campaigns. Off the back of this trend, we’ve taken this opportunity to build relationships with media outlets in order to increase awareness and further educate the public on vitiligo.
Moving into 2020 and beyond, our aims are to further this progress, continuing our events, partnerships and education work, as well as looking into innovative ways that we can provide support to the vitiligo community globally, helping to inspire, encourage and promote a more inclusive atmosphere for those dealing with the condition.
Interested in volunteering in 2020?
Without our incredible volunteers, the Society simply couldn’t do what we do. They are at the very heart of our work. And we’d love you to join us.
Whether it’s raising money, increasing awareness, inspiring people to become a member or even with operational activities within the charity, we’ll find the right role for you.
In return, you’ll get to meet new people, gain new skills, boost your CV & LinkedIn profile – and feel good knowing you’ve helped people that are living with vitiligo on a daily basis.
If you’d like to know more about volunteering, please get in touch by emailing us at hello@vitiligosociety.org.
As a charity that is volunteer-led, with a small board of trustees, it is your membership, donations and support that keeps us going, we thank you again for this and wish you a happy and successful new year.
For and on behalf of the directors of the Society,
Yours sincerely,
Eyal Raveh
Chairperson, The Vitiligo Society
