Our History
Our Story Begins with The King’s Cross Fire
On 18 November 1987, a wooden escalator at King’s Cross station in London caught fire, leading to a devastating blaze that claimed 31 lives and left a hundred more badly injured.
Dr Michael Brough was the lead surgeon after the tragedy. As he helped his patients recover from the physical and emotional toll of the disaster, he realised that burn survivors urgently needed new and better treatments.
The Phoenix Appeal
Inspired, Michael started the Phoenix Appeal in 1988. The goal was to raise money to establish much–needed training facilities for young surgeons specialising in plastic and reconstructive surgery.
The Appeal was a great success, and a new department for Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery was opened in University College London.
The Healing Foundation
Michael knew that improving treatments for people with disfiguring conditions would be difficult. He needed national buy–in.
In 1999, he brought his vision of the future to his fellow Trustees of the British Association of Plastic Surgeons (now known as BAPRAS). He persuaded them to establish The Healing Foundation. This new charity was dedicated to championing the cause of individuals with disfigurements by funding pioneering research into both surgical and psychological healing techniques.
Recognising the need for a united effort, BAPRAS partnered with other professional bodies. These included: The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, The British Burns Association, The British Society for Surgery of the Hand, The Craniofacial Society of Great Britain and Ireland, and The British Psychological Society
These six organisations, now known as our Partner Member Organisations, continue to play a vital role in our work today.
The Healing Foundation’s first appeal was a huge success. With money raised and research interest piqued, the charity started funding projects across the country.
Over 15 years, The Healing Foundation funded and supported more than £20 million in critical research projects across the UK.
The Scar Free Foundation
By 2015, it was time to reflect on everything the Foundation had accomplished and chart a bold new course for the future. Inspired by the ‘big questions’ posed by BAPRAS and our Partner Member Organisations, the Foundation embarked on an ambitious new mission: to achieve scar free healing within a generation.
Galvanised by this new call–to–action, the Foundation launched a comprehensive scientific and clinical research programme. This new programme had two main aims: pioneer scar free treatment options for the future, and transform the lives of those grappling with disfiguring conditions today.
In July 2016, the charity rebranded as The Scar Free Foundation. Working with eminent research academics and clinicians, the Foundation published a detailed research strategy. This document laid out the key research themes and emphasised the importance of collaboration. It was a leap towards a future where scars would no longer dictate the narrative of healing.
Today, The Scar Free Foundation is the only medical research charity working to revolutionise the way we prevent and treat scarring – for everyone. Together, we will achieve scar free healing within a generation.
