Masterclasses provide a supportive and uplifting environment, teaching women practical skills to help combat the visible side effects of cancer treatment.

Why we care: Confidence and wellbeing can be ruthlessly shattered through cancer treatment with visible side effects robbing women of control and their sense of self.

How we’re solving this:  Providing free confidence-boosting Masterclasses led by volunteers throughout the UK in areas of high cancer incidence and not already reached by Look Good Feel Better (LGFB).

Each year 165,000 women in the UK receive the devastating news that they have cancer. As well as being daunting and life changing, the added stress of the appearance-related side effects of treatment can be extremely demoralizing and very hard to cope with. This outcome can have serious consequences on self-esteem and confidence at a time when a positive attitude is hugely important. It can prove so debilitating that it can affect a woman’s strength to continue to fight her cancer illness.

Recent research revealed 81% of women with cancer felt that the visible effects suffered had a negative impact on their confidence and 65% said they didn’t know how to disguise these effects.

Look Good Feel Better is dedicated to improving the self-esteem, confidence and wellbeing of people undergoing treatment for any sort of cancer. It is our aim to improve their self-image and appearance through our free program that creates a sense of support. 97% of women who had received support through the LGFB Program felt that confidence and strengthened self-esteem helped towards a positive outlook during treatment.

LGFB Masterclasses have been developed to maintain the key benefits of the charity’s work in bringing groups of women together in a relaxing and uplifting environment to teach them skincare and make-up skills to help combat the visible side effects of treatment. Masterclasses are run by fully trained beauty professionals who volunteer their time to share their expertise.  The women who attend the Masterclass receive useful tips that can help disguise the effects caused by their cancer treatment.

“After being diagnosed with a life threatening illness, I was very depressed but LGFB lifted me out of my depression. It made me feel like a woman again. It’s not just about a bit of make-up, it’s not vanity – it’s about control. It gives women the strength to fight this horrible disease.”  -Fiona, LGFB Beneficiary

This project will fund 120 Masterclasses covering the administrative, operational and marketing costs, in addition to the costs of training the volunteers that lead the classes.  Masterclasses provide an opportunity for women to talk to other women in the same situation and offer each other support.  We know from feedback that many women often make new friendships that continue beyond the Masterclass, helping provide ongoing support for a woman during and after her treatment.

Through the introduction of the new Masterclass program LGFB will be able to provide 1,200 women with a service that allows them to continue to face their cancer with renewed strength and confidence.