The familiar insignia of the Red Cross is a sign of hope wherever there is war, famine or disaster.

For years its volunteers have been sent to help people caught up in conflicts like that in Kosovo or natural disasters such as the flooding in Mozambique.

But the extent to which the charity is active in our own communities is less well known.

For example, specialist volunteers can be often be found applying make-up to patients at Wharfedale General Hospital at Otley.

There, the skin-camouflage service deals with all manner of scars, burns and blemishes which can have a devastating effect upon their bearers' lives.

Anne Dufton, West Yorkshire Red Cross's only skin-camouflage practitioner, said: "Depression, anxiety and low self-esteem are some of the psychological problems linked with disfigurement.

"The British Red Cross skin camouflage service aims to give people the confidence to conduct their lives without the fear of being stared at or judged by their appearance."

About six people per month arrange the free session, which takes between 45 minutes and an hour.

Rachel Soute co-ordinates the services from the county's headquarters in Bradford.

She said: "The highly skilled practitioner will apply the masking cream before taking it off and asking them to do it themselves."

It usually takes one session for a person to learn how to do this and they can then manage on their own. Mrs Souter stresses that this is not a free "beauty service". Appointments are only made through GP or consultant referrals. "We do everything from vitiligo - patches caused by the absence of pigment - to port-wine stains and acne scarring," she said.

They will also help people to cover up burns, scars from operations and accidents and even tattoos.

"I think the attraction for the practitioner, who works on a voluntary basis, is the immediate satisfaction they receive from the job.

"You will have someone coming in, depressed and withdrawn, and within an hour they can undergo a complete change.

"To some people, these scars may be no problem but to others, they can have a very profound and serious effect."

Other community services offered by the branch include an emergency home-care scheme, a transport and escort service and a medical equipment loan service.

It also sends out teams to fire victims as well as carrying out first aid and therapeutic massages.

Mrs Souter said: "We work here as we do overseas - providing short-term support for people in their time of need"

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