A FAMILIAR face from Wotton under Edge can be seen on the back of buses across Gloucestershire.

Kieran Underwood, who is part of the Walkers Bakers’ team in Wotton, is featured in Let’s Be Clear, a campaign for clear face masks and clearer communication across the county.

Launched by the Barnwood Trust, the campaign is highlighting the need for more people to wear clear face masks in public places, to reduce communication barriers and isolation for a wide range of people.

Opaque face masks affect, amongst others, people who are deaf or hard of hearing, people with a learning disability, autism, dementia, and those with English as a second language.

Kieran became one of the faces of the campaign after his friend Jorden Jones-Vines was invited to take photos for it.

Jorden, who also lives in Wotton, is currently studying photojournalism and documentary photography at Gloucestershire University.

She said: “We had to secure placement for our professional practice module, which became increasingly difficult due to Covid.

“However the Barnwood Trust got in contact with the university to ask if they had any photographers that would be willing to commission their campaign.

“I jumped at the opportunity as it was great experience to go on my CV, it was for charity and it helped me out with my module.

“Myself and Kieran had also worked with them before, so I knew they were good to work with.”

Kieran said he was quite surprised when Jorden told him one of his pictures had been chosen.

He joked: “Being somewhat of a hermit crab and always staying in Wotton, I’d always say to my mates that I’d get out and see other parts of the countryside, now I have!”

Information on where to buy clear masks, how to make them and hints and tips for creating more accessible communications can be found online via: bit.ly/3piu0ID

Lucy Adam of the Barnwood Trust said: “We have had some great feedback, with people really appreciating being able to see more of someone’s face, maybe to see a smile or to be able to lip read.”

The campaign ad featuring Jorden's photo of Kieran can be spotted on the back of 24 buses across Gloucestershire.