The Cleft Lip and Palate Association Your Name Your Title

The Cleft Lip and Palate Association (CLAPA) is the only national charity dedicated to all those with and affected by cleft lip and/or palate in the UK. CLAPA aims to support people with a cleft and their families from diagnosis through to adulthood with a range of local and national services.

CLAPA’s Vision is: “A world where a cleft lip and/or palate is no barrier to achieving your desires and ambitions.”

What is Cleft Lip and/or Palate? During pregnancy, different parts of a baby’s face develop separately and then join together at around 2-3 months. A cleft happens when some parts do not join together properly. Cleft Lip Cleft PalateCleft Lip & Palate

What is Cleft Lip and/or Palate? There is no single reason why this happens. Usually it’s a mix of genetic and environmental factors. It is extremely unlikely to be because of something the mother did or did not do. A cleft can cause ongoing issues with feeding, speech, hearing, facial growth, teeth placement, and self-esteem. Treatment is available on the NHS from one of the multi- disciplinary Cleft Teams, which include a number specialists such as speech therapists, orthodontists and plastic surgeons.

What Does CLAPA Do? Unique Information Campaigns One-to-one Support National & Local Volunteer Training Regional Events & Activities Local Support Groups Representing the UK Cleft Community Specialist Feeding Service Photos Residential Weekends

Your Story Depending on your audience and the time you have to speak, you may want to cut out the next few slides and instead focus on more details of your personal story, making sure to include information on how CLAPA helped you. This is far more interesting to most people than details about a charity’s services!

FOR PARENTS & FAMILIES Providing special bottles and teats to allow parents to feed their babies. A network of Parent Contacts, intensively trained volunteers offering one-to-one emotional and practical support to new parents.

FOR PARENTS & FAMILIES Reliable and sensitive information on all aspects of raising a child with a cleft. Events for families including volunteer-run Happy Faces groups Access to our online Support Groups including our lively and active Facebook community.

FOR CHILDREN & YOUNG PEOPLE Children and Young People’s Council made up of 9-17 year olds from all around the UK Residential Weekends to help young people build confidence, have fun, and meet other young people with a cleft. Campaigning to raise awareness and visibility of clefts to fight the stigma, including targeting schools to stamp out ignorance.

FOR ADULTS Information materials aimed specifically at adults with a cleft covering a range of topics Adult Voices Council made up of a diverse range of adults born with a cleft who can act as the voice of their peers and represent their needs and interests to CLAPA Peer Contacts trained to provide one-to-one support to other adults with a cleft

Thank You! YOUR NAME Your Title