Frenchay After Burns Club Feature (From Gazette Series)

Frenchay After Burns Club Feature

GROWING up can be difficult. Everyone wants to fit in but unfortunately the playground can be a cruel place and even looking a little bit different can lead to years of torment. Young burns victim Aimee Richings has suffered her fair share of curious stares and unforgiving whispers but the teenager has helped combat her bullies. Gazette reporter Liza-Jane Gillespie met Aimee to find out how the Frenchay After Burns Children's Club helped her.

AIMEE Richings was only two years old when she ran herself a bath and climbed in.

"I just got in it and it was really hot. I can't remember anything about it," said Aimee.

Because of the accident Aimee now has burn scars on her face, one side of her arm, her knees, her feet and her stomach. Over the years she has had to undergo many operations.

She said: "I've had lots of operations, skin graphs and that sort of thing.

"They have taken skin from my legs and put it on my stomach. They've also taken skin from behind my ear and put it on my eye.

"I can have as many operations as I want. They won't do anything on my feet though because it is too risky."

Despite her ordeal, the 17-year-old Vale of Berkeley College student is no shrinking violet, an achievement she attributes to the Frenchay After Burns (FAB) Children's Club.

She said: "The group has made me a lot more confident. I used to be bullied at primary school but going to the club has changed me and I can handle that kind of thing now.

"I don't really care what people say or do - I just ignore them."

The Frenchay After Burns (FAB) Children's Club is a support group for young burns victims throughout the South West and is based at Frenchay Hospital.

The club is aimed at children aged up to 18 years old and organises camps, day trips and parties throughout the year for its members.

Caroline James, a nurse at Frenchay Hospital's burns unit who volunteers with the FAB club, said the club aims to give children a chance to be themselves.

She said: "A lot of the children who come have experienced teasing and bullying at school and when they come to our activities they are with other children who look the same and feel the same.

"There is an understanding between the children that they don't necessarily get elsewhere.

"We also like to help the families as best we can. There is a lot of guilt involved with some of the parents of victims and so it is good that they can share these thoughts with people who are going through a similar experience."

The FAB club is this year celebrating its fifth anniversary and Aimee, a member since the start, believes the work it does is invaluable and deserves support.

She said: "It's difficult because when you have burns that people can see you are embarrassed and shy but the group is great for helping with that.

"If I go shopping people will stare at me and I notice it even though people think I don't. I don't really care anymore. I used to be really paranoid and cry a lot about it but not any more."

Aimee is now focused on her future and is even considering becoming a firefighter.

"It is something I really want to do not just because I've got burns but because I think it would be good and I'm energetic and always on the go," she said.

For more information about Frenchay After Burns (FAB) Children's Club call 07821 989845.