Scarlett Takes on the 2025 London Marathon for BDDF! đââď¸đ
We are incredibly proud to share that one of our amazing community fundraisers, Scarlett, will be running the 2025 London Marathon in support of BDDF!
Taking on 26.2 miles is no small feat, and Scarlett is doing it all to raise awareness and vital funds for the BDD community. Her determination and generosity mean a lot to us, and to everyone affected by BDD across the UK.
Weâll be cheering her on every step of the way, and we hope you will too!
đ Want to support Scarlettâs marathon? Read her story and donate here.
Delivered by The National & Specialist OCD, BDD and Related Disorders CAMHS Team, this training offers valuable insights for those looking to enhance their understanding of BDD and improve their practice.
This training course is for qualified clinicians working with children, young people and families, who are looking to build skills and competencies inline with the current evidence base.
Further details:
2-day training workshop
21st & 22nd May, 10am -4pm (please note attendance at both days is mandatory)
ÂŁ550 (excluding booking fees)
Delivered online
This course is for you if you are:
A qualified clinician with CBT supervision
Working with young people with suspected BDD
Interested in developing your skills and competencies with assessing and treating BDD
Happy to give feedback on the BDD Clinician Manual following training
Course Content:
Day 1
Identifying BDD
Assessment of BDD
Introduction to BDD treatment
Day 2
Treatment of BDD What to do when treatment isnât working
Working with risk in the context of BDD
Your Feedback:
Following the training workshop, all attendees will be given access to a BDD Clinician Manual, for use with patients. All attendees will be asked to provide feedback on this manual to contribute to the evaluation and development of it.
Delivered by The National & Specialist OCD, BDD and Related Disorders CAMHS Team, this training offers valuable insights for those looking to enhance their understanding of BDD and improve their practice.
This course is designed for professionals who are working with children and young people who have appearance concerns, but do not have the qualifications to provide an evidence- based treatment (e.g. CBT for BDD).
Further details:
Wednesday 23rd April, 10-1pm
ÂŁ75 (excluding booking fees)
Delivered online
Attendees may include:
Care coordinators/ case managers working in CAMHS
Low intensity workers (CWPs, EMHPs, SWPs)
School counsellors
Educational psychologists/ professionals
Expert speakers will share the latest research updates in this area, discuss how to screen for BDD, and discuss ways to support these young people whilst they are waiting for BDD treatment to start.
We are honoured to introduce a powerful collection of poetry exploring the complex realities of BDD, written by contributors from our creative community. Each piece offers an honest, authentic glimpse into the journey of living with BDD, from the darkest struggles to moments of profound healing. These writers, at various stages of their recovery, share their voices with courage and vulnerability, creating a collection of shared experience that we hope will resonate with you. It is our honour to present their work, and we invite you to connect with these words, finding comfort, understanding, and hope on your own journey of healing.
We would love for this collection to continue growing. If you are interested in contributing to the poetry collection, please email us on volunteers@bddfoundation.org đŠ
We’re recruiting volunteers to work remotely on our Schools Project – come and join the team!
About the Project
The BDD Foundation, in partnership with Maudsley Hospital, has recently relaunched our Schools Project to help educators identify and support adolescents with BDD. As an early intervention programme, it aims to improve understanding and ensure timely support.
Guided by clinicians, volunteers have been delivering in-person workshops in South London schools. To better meet schoolsâ needs, we are now evolving the programme to offer virtual online sessions, making training more accessible. Workshops cover BDD, appearance anxiety, spotting signs, approaching conversations, and accessing support for students and their families.
About the role
We are looking for volunteers to help us expand and deliver our Schools Project, a vital initiative aimed at improving understanding of BDD in education and ensuring students receive the support they need. As a Schools Project Volunteer, you will be supported to reach out to schools in your local area on behalf of the BDD Foundation, introducing the programme and encouraging participation. You will then deliver training sessions â either in person or online, depending on the schoolâs preference, to equip staff with the knowledge to identify BDD, support students, and facilitate access to treatment.
We are looking for individuals with:
Lived experience of BDD (personal or as a carer for a loved one)
Strong understanding of BDD signs and symptoms
Experience in training/ teaching, public speaking, group facilitation, or professional presentations (desirable)
Experience using online training platforms (e.g. Zoom)
Clear communicator, well-organised, and passionate about early mental health intervention
How to apply
Please submit a CV and a personal statement (max 600 words) to gem@bddfoundation.org which highlights the following:
Your (direct/indirect) experience with BDD
Why you would like to apply for this position
Your relevant experience
The relevant skills and qualities you have for this role
Please submit your CV and personal statement to gem@bddfoundation.org by 12 midday on 2nd April 2025
Please note, this post is open to those based in the UK, age 18+ and is subject to an enhanced DBS check.
â This year weâre joining forces with IOCDF to bring you an online BDD conference. Join us on 31st May 2025. â Join us for a day of learning about BDD, treatment, recovery, and more. Open to clinicians, educators, students, trainees, those with lived experience, loved ones, and supporters.â â đď¸ Tickets now available!
More info on speakers and topics to come very soon.
Come and join us! We are looking for new volunteers to support our E-Helpline service. This is a really rewarding role, with the opportunity to make a difference and provide crucial advice, support and guidance to those suffering with BDD.
The E-Helpline
The BDD Foundationâs email support service offers guidance for anyone affected by BDD or concerned about a loved one. We are the only email support project specifically for BDD in the UK, providing high-quality information, treatment options, and a non-judgmental space to discuss symptoms. Run by our Helpline Manager, Helpline Coordinator and a team of dedicated volunteers, the service offers empathetic support and signposting to resources tailored to individual needs.
The role of Volunteer
The key tasks carried about by volunteers include:
Responding to questions and concerns of individuals that email the service
Offering a compassionate, understanding and safe online space for those struggling
Identifying other sources of support both within and outside of the charity
Working within the policies set by the BDD Foundation
Attendance of ongoing training and development sessions
Skills and Qualities
For this role, itâs important to have a good understanding of BDD and the impact it has. We look for individuals with a non-judgmental attitude, empathy and understanding, and strong written communication skills. Since the role operates remotely, we are also looking for individuals with a good level of IT literacy and confidence using a web based email system.
Training and induction will be provided. We require a minimum time commitment of 2.5 hours per week on a rota basis.
How to Apply
Download the Application Form below, and send completed applications to christian@bddfoundation.org by 12 midday on 7th March 2025
For any questions about the role, please contact christian@bddfoundation.org
“I now have self-compassion and know I am worthy of happiness and a fulfilling life.”
I first contacted the BDD Foundation after realising that for my entire adult life of 20+ years, I had been suffering from BDD. I have always had a debilitating preoccupation with my perceived flaws, but had never approached the reality of potentially having BDD, due to not feeling ill enough to have it and not wanting to face the fear of accepting it and dealing with it.
When I first reached out for support, it was after 4 months of self-sabotaging, convincing myself I didnât have BDD and wasnât worthy of recovery. None of my friends or family understood or knew how to support me, and I had no idea how to navigate it. But I was at the point of not wanting to live a life of complete and utter destruction anymore, and knew something had to change. I felt completely alone, like a freak, helpless, hopeless and at a complete loss with life with no way out. My safety behaviours were dictating my life and I couldnât escape the grips of BDD.
But, after finding the BDD Foundation online, I took the hugely scary step of attending the Zoom support groups, off camera and silent during the sessions. But hearing peopleâs identical feelings and experiences reassured me that I wasnât alone. The BDD Foundation offered a 20-week, CBT-based structured support group (now known as the Overcoming BDD Programme) which I applied for and attended, and it was life-changing.
It was a small group led by facilitators who had lived experience of BDD, and we explored our past experiences that have shaped us developing BDD and learnt some incredibly transformational CBT-based practises, such as the Big I and Little I, the vicious flower, exposure exercises and behavioural experiments, Theory A vs Theory B, exploring personal qualities, and self-compassion – which was the turning point for me in being able to recover.
If it wasnât for the help of the BDD Foundation, I would not have been able to value myself for who I am rather than based on my appearance, and I would never have been able to realise that the problem was the way I thought about my body, not my body itself. Thanks to the BDD Foundation and my recovery, I now appreciate myself for who I am, the energy I bring to life, and the qualities I have that make me who I am, rather than place all my self-worth and value in the way my body looks.
This is me, having a professional photoshoot done on holiday, with quite a few spectators… living my life, enjoying being present, in my âbroken mirrorâ dress that I made myself as an empowering take on the âbroken mirrorâ metaphor of the distorted view I had of my body.
I now donât camouflage myself and instead, I wear (and even make) bright, vibrant and exciting clothes that make me feel good. I now go out to social events and enjoy them and can be present, rather than avoiding them and isolating myself away from everyone to avoid being seen. I now have self-compassion and know I am worthy of happiness and a fulfilling life, regardless of what I look like. And thanks to the BDD Foundation, I have the coping mechanisms and toolkit to be able to not let BDD overcome me when the thoughts come creeping back.
I have also gained the confidence to share my experiences and took part in the Beating BDD podcast, as well as participating as a volunteer in a self-compassion exercise at a BDD Foundation Conference. I would say that the most impactful thing I have gained from the BDD Foundation is knowing that recovery is possible and will always be worth it.
Come and join us! We are looking for new peer facilitators to support the delivery of Cycle 9 of the Overcoming BDD Programme
About the Project
The Overcoming BDD Programme is a 20-week online, peer-led, self-help programme developed by experts Professor David Veale and Dr. Rob Willson. It combines CBT techniques with peer-led support to help individuals (18+) overcome BDD. Following structured phases, volunteer facilitators with lived experience provide a safe, supportive space for recovery. Participants learn practical CBT strategies to reduce symptoms, combat isolation, and build long-term recovery practices.
About the role
We are looking for 3 new volunteers to co-facilitate the online sessions and guide participants through the 20 week programme. For this role, itâs important to have a very good understanding of BDD and its impact. Weâre looking for volunteers with strong facilitation skills, empathy and the ability to make others feel welcome and comfortable.
The time commitment is 2.5 hours per week (evening), for 20 weeks (May 2025 â October 2025), plus 2 training sessions before the role commences. We invite applications from people with direct/ indirect lived experience of BDD, or direct lived experience of a related condition, as well as people who have received CBT and who have skills in group facilitation or peer-support.
This is a unique and rewarding role, with the opportunity to support and guide individuals through the 20 week group programme. You will have the chance to work alongside some amazing facilitators who have previously delivered the programme, and develop your own skills in peer support.â
How to apply
Please submit a CV and a personal statement (max 600 words) to gem@bddfoundation.org which highlights the following:
Your (direct/indirect) experience with BDD or a related condition
Why you would like to apply for this position
Your relevant experience
The relevant skills and qualities you have for this role
Please submit your CV and personal statement to gem@bddfoundation.org by 12 midday on 3rd March 2025
Please note, this post is open to those based in the UK, age 18+ and is subject to an enhanced DBS check.
