Cleft Lip And Palate Association (Clapa)

The Cleft Lip and Palate Association (CLAPA) is a small charity supporting people born with a cleft and their families in the UK We bring together people affected by cleft to help them connect with others who share their experiences, welcoming them into a supportive community for life. Our services include: *Vibrant social Facebook, Twitter and Instagram profiles which promote positivity, bust myths and celebrate differences with regular content created by and for the cleft community. *Online support groups moderated by trained volunteers provide an instant connection for those looking for an informal support network. *Regular events give people the chance to talk about their experiences and worries and hear from others at all stages of the cleft journey. *Confidential one-to-one support provided by trained volunteer patients and parents who reassure those most in need that they can cope with whatever lies ahead. *Accredited information on cleft led by our community, reflecting their experiences and emotional needs as well as medical facts. *An Advocacy Service that provides tailored information and signposting to those with complex enquiries. *A Children and Young People’s Council made up of 9-17-year-olds who meet to share their thoughts and experiences, helping to improve our support services as well as cleft research and NHS care. *A consultancy service for researchers which connects their work with our community. *A feeding service that supplies 15,000 subsidised items of specialist equipment for babies born with a cleft each year, including free of charge items for new and vulnerable families.