DISABILITIES can be both visible and invisible – and an empowerment photoshoot is taking place in Davenham this weekend to spread awareness of this for a special 2023 calendar.

On April 10, around 11 people of all ages from Cheshire with visible and invisible disabilities, will be taking part in a photoshoot at the Royal British Legion Social Club in Davenham.

The group will then venture down to Barons Quay in Northwich town centre to spread further awareness in public.

The empowerment calendar – which will donate proceeds to various charities when it is on sale later this year – was launched three years ago by Jessica Logan, who has invisible illnesses including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

She set up a campaign called Making the Invisible Visible after being called out for using a disabled toilet because she didn’t ‘look’ disabled.

She said: "We get discrimination regularly, wish for a 'normal life' and some have to endure surgery, so we can become very negative towards ourselves/the changes to our bodies.

"That's why I launched the empowerment group photoshoots so everyone could walk away believing in their worth.

"Our illnesses/disabilities don't need to define us and we should stand tall feeling proud of ourselves."

Northwich disability campaigner Beverly Greenwood was completely on board with the idea and will be taking part in the photoshoot on Sunday. 

Beverly also has invisible illnesses and understands how certain comments can affect people.

She said: “I met Jessica three or four years ago and I was saying to her that sometimes I need to use a wheelchair, but if you looked at me, you wouldn’t think I am as ill as I am.

“That’s the problem – if you don’t ‘look ill’, people don’t think you are.”

Beverly has taken part in the charity calendar in previous years and says it is a great way to empower people, while also raising money for good causes and spreading awareness about both visible and invisible conditions.

One of the photographs involves people writing what others have said to them on their skin – putting into context how some comments can be damaging.

“It’s quite empowering,” Beverly said.

“It’s a big release for some people, because they can’t verbally say to people how they are making them feel but writing it on themselves is a release.”

For more information on the project or to find out more about Jessica's campaign, visit makingtheinvisiblevisible.org.uk.