WHO WE ARE

Caring Matters Now - the charity behind the Be Seen Quality Mark

The Be Seen Quality Mark has been created by Caring Matters Now - the UK’s leading charity supporting children and adults born with rare genetic condition called Congenital Melanocytic Naevus (CMN). CMN consists of large dark brown hairy birthmarks covering up to 80% of the body. Since 1997, Caring Matters Now has been dedicated to supporting families living with CMN, raising awareness of CMN and, funding pioneering research to develop effective treatments for CMN.

OUR MOTIVATION

Caring Matters Now charity supports over 800 families impacted by CMN. Through listening closely to our community, we know there is a need to help equip schools to talk about visible differences confidently.

As a charity, we wanted to resource schools across the UK to embrace conversations about visible differences, educate pupils about visible differences and empower school communities to champion and celebrate visible differences.

In 2024, Caring Matters Now invited a focus group of educational professionals to dream big - and out of those big dreams came the creation of the Be Seen Quality Mark.

THE TEAM

Our team includes educational specialists and consultants, head teachers, inclusion advocates, and individuals with lived experience of visible differences - all dedicated to creating a more inclusive future for schools. The team’s combined efforts have shaped an accredited programme to cultivate an inclusive and enriching learning environment, where visible differences are acknowledged, understood, and celebrated.

GET IN TOUCH

Have questions about the Be Seen Quality Mark? We're here to help. If you need support with your award journey, have questions about the resources, or want to find out more about how your school can get involved, we'd love to hear from you.

What people have to say…

  • Whenever I first told our son's school about the Be Seen Award, they knew straight away that it was consistent with their school ethos and were excited to get involved! They were especially impressed by the opportunities for growth and development that the award offers through it's pupil led tasks.

    Hannah & Elijah

  • "Whenever I first told our son's school about the Be Seen Award, they knew straight away that it was consistent with their school ethos and were excited to get involved! They were especially impressed by the opportunities for growth and development that the award offers through it's pupil led tasks."

    Jo

  • ""As an adult with CMN, the Be Seen Award would have transformed my school years. It is exactly the kind of initiative that could have helped my peers and teachers grasp the unique challenges that come with having a visible difference."

    Helen