WORKING MUM of three Roz Thomas likes a busy life and that’s just as well really. As well as working as a physiotherapist in the NHS and running her own practice, she has a young family and has set up a new charity in the UK.

Roz, aged 36, was born and brought up in Malvern – going to school at the Chase High School before heading off to university in Southampton.

After taking jobs in Oxford and Walsall, she travelled to South Africa and became involved in an HIV/AIDS initiative which gave her the inspiration to set up a charity project in the UK called Beauty Unseen.

Beauty Unseen aims to break down social barriers by focusing on people who have overcome adversity to have fulfilling lives.

Roz, who now lives in Devon but regularly visits her family in Malvern, said the charity is based in Tiverton and aims to use the internet and a live show to tell the stories of a number of people whose lives have been blighted by problems.

“It is entirely my idea and I had the initial idea for the concept in 2009 when I was in South Africa. I just wanted to break down barriers.

“We have selected nine role models – they might have disabilities, addictions or be homeless. There are so many people in the UK who have had cancer or disabilities and battled through it. One of our role models has had a double lung transfer and now teaches fitness. These are people who have overcome adversity,” said Roz.

He said one person, who has been blind from the age of 12, has five world speed records. “He wanted to show to everyone that he is not any worse off.

“It is really exciting knowing these people and the message they want to get out.”

The first Beauty Unseen event takes place in the South West of England and the nine role models were selected from that area. They have done audio visual interviews which are being edited and will go on the internet for the general public to see.

The nine models will then take part in a live “Strictly Come Dancing” style show being staged in Bristol in October. The aim is to show is to bring unseen beauty into the spotlight.

Roz said it there will be dance and music and each model will be linked to a charity that has helped them and will bring their story into a creative performance.

“Each of these role models will be given star treatment and up-and-coming designers will be designing a fashion piece for each of them to model at the live show. What’s really exciting is that the brilliant Vivienne Westwood is going to be contributing one of these pieces.”

Roz added that achieving external beauty is a multi-million pound market and many businesses and TV programmes seek to offer the answer. However the Beauty Unseen project is about recognising, celebrating and highlighting the inner beauty already there within everyone.

“I am really passionate about it,” said Roz. “I have experienced what happened in South Africa. There is nothing like it. We have got to get the message out there and bring down barriers and bring about social inclusion.”

She said apart from organising the whole project, the team of six people at Beauty Unseen are trying raise funds for it. If anyone wants more information about Beauty Unseen or would like to raise money visit www.beautyunseen.org

Once the first show is complete, the team is hoping to move to different regions, including the West Midlands, to put on more shows.