The Cleft Lip and Palate Association (CLAPA)
The Cleft Lip and Palate Association (CLAPA) is the national charity for people affected by cleft lip and palate in the United Kingdom.
www.clapa.com
linktr.ee/clapacommunity
- 📣 Will you help us shape the future of CLAPA’s services? Join us for a Co-development workshop this December! We need your thoughts, insights and leadership to make our services truly representative of community. 📆 Tues 2nd or Wed 10th December ℹ️ Full details - www.clapa.com/news-item/co...
- The Great North Run, the UK's biggest half marathon, is back on 13th September 2026! 🏃 Whether you're an avid runner or looking to get started, why not go the extra mile for CLAPA like Ryan and Jenny? To register your interest 👉 buff.ly/6UH8fgC
- “It's incredible really. It's not an aesthetic issue - we need dentists for our health because we need to eat with our teeth, and speak with our teeth. And even more so with a cleft.” 📰 Read Sarah’s story – buff.ly/PRGsqgF #CleftDentalCrisis
- Well done to Jack who cycled from London to Brighton, raising over £2,100 for CLAPA 🚴♂️ To read more about Jack's story, visit buff.ly/OCtpiQQ #FundraisingFriday
- We're delighted that CLAPA CYPC member, Thomas, and his mum, Tamsin, were interviewed by BBC Radio 2 as part of this year's Children in Need 📻 Tune in at 3.20pm to hear them talk about Thomas' cleft journey and the support they've received from CLAPA.
- Join us for the final CLAPA Lounge of 2025! Whether you've got a question to ask, an experience to share or simply want to listen to others, we'd love to have you involved. 📆 Tues 16th Dec, 7:30 pm (Zoom) 💙 For adults born with a cleft 🎟️ Book: buff.ly/Aqc0UI6
- Have your say! 📣 The RCSLT are looking for those with a lived experience of cleft to share their views on their Cleft Lip & Palate Guidance. To read the guidance and complete the survey (15-20 minutes), please visit buff.ly/MnxsD2W
- 📣 Could you be CLAPA's new Digital Fundraising Trustee? 📅 Applications close: 9am, Monday 24th November To find out more or apply, visit buff.ly/FFXxoxc
- The Kiltwalk is Scotland's favourite mass participation walking event and it’s back for 2026! 📍 Take part in Glasgow, Aberdeen, Dundee or Edinburgh 👟 Choose your distance - options range from 3-23 miles Find out more: buff.ly/3IJSXay #FundraisingFriday
- Fiona has been desperately seeking an NHS dentist for more than two years. “A private dentist is just unaffordable. There are monthly dental plans but my Pierre Robin Syndrome complications put me in a highly expensive band." 📰 Read Fiona’s story – www.clapa.com/cleftdentalc... #CleftDentalCrisis
- Come along and explore sound and babble play techniques, to help your little one gain speech and language skills💬 📆 Tuesday 2nd December at 10am 🔵 For parents/carers and grandparents of a child born with a cleft lip and/or palate 🎟️ Book your free place now: clapa.formstack.com/forms/babble...
- Do you want to help shape the future of CLAPA and support for the cleft community? 📣 We're running Adult and Family Co-development workshops in December and we want you to join! 📆 Tuesday 2nd OR Wednesday 10th December ℹ️ Full details: buff.ly/kBffxAu
- Join CLAPA at our next Antenatal Support Group for new and expectant parents/carers with a cleft diagnosis. 📆 Monday 24th November @ 7:30pm via Zoom 🎟️ Book your place: clapa.formstack.com/forms/antena... Kindly funded by Smile Train.
- After decades of poor dental treatment, Anne needed hospital treatment for gum disease – treatment that could’ve been avoided if her dentists had been more knowledgeable about cleft. 📰 Read Anne’s story – buff.ly/n0I70Hp
- A huge thank you to CLAPA trustee and cleft nurse, Izzy, and her friend Ricardo, who completed Swim Serpentine last month 🏊♂️ The duo swam in the annual event at London's Hyde Park, raising an incredible £2,400 for CLAPA 👏 #FundraisingFriday
- ☑️ 2500 Signatures Thank you to everyone who has signed our petition to end the cleft dental crisis. CLAPA is calling for guaranteed lifelong NHS dental care for people born with cleft in the UK. But we cannot do it alone. 📝 Sign our petition buff.ly/eMDd4qB
- 🚨 We're hiring 🚨 We're looking for a Major Donors and Partnerships Coordinator to join our Fundraising team! 📆 Applications close: 9am, Monday 17th November To find out more or apply, visit buff.ly/YXX3IiK
- After years of painful and preventable treatment, Claudia had to sign up with a private dentist because of the lack of understanding and care in NHS dentistry. 📰 Read Claudia's story buff.ly/JwIZ5GX
- Win BIG and support CLAPA in the All Weathers Lottery!🎉 Sign up in October, and CLAPA will receive £10 for each new player! 🔗 Play now for your chance to win £25,000 and raise donations for CLAPA - sign up at buff.ly/kgGwGpW
- Join us for our Parent Cleft Journeys event this November! 🟡 Open to all parents/carers of a child born with a cleft ℹ️ Seek advice/info from others 🗣️ Share your own experience 📆 Wednesday 12th November, 7.30pm (Zoom) 🎫 Book your place: buff.ly/qtRHtMF
- CLAPA was delighted to receive a cheque for £1,500 at the Wings Club cheque presentation on Friday 10th October. Thank you to Wings Club for your generosity and continued support of CLAPA and other vital causes in our community 💙 #FundraisingFriday
- Join us for an informal evening on the topic of 'Genetics and Related Conditions' for adults born with a cleft lip and/or palate. 📆 Tuesday 11th November, 7.30pm (Zoom) 🎫 Book your place: buff.ly/tMoBW6C
- CLAPA is calling for guaranteed lifelong NHS dental care for people born with cleft in the UK. But we cannot do it alone. You can help in three simple steps: ✊ Sign our petition 💬 Email your local politician 📣 Share this post Join the campaign: buff.ly/AiNGl9Z
- Join us this Wednesday 22nd for a Dentistry and Dental Hygiene Infomation Evening on Zoom 🦷 The event will be hosted by a Dental Therapist/Hygienist and a Consultant in Paediatric Dentistry, both of whom specialise in cleft. Sign up ➡️ clapa.formstack.com/forms/dentis...
- Join us at our Discussion Evening for parents/carers on Tuesday 28th October, where we will share experiences and answer questions on the topic of 'Mental Health & Wellbeing' 🧠 📆 Tues 28th October, 7.30pm (Zoom) 🎫 Book your free place: clapa.formstack.com/forms/mental...
- "We loved that there was a charity like CLAPA so close to our journey." This week's Fundraising Friday shoutout goes to Jake and Elly, who completed the Two Castles 10k Run this summer in aid of CLAPA, raising £1,200 👏 #FundraisingFriday
- How would you spend your £25,000 winnings? Book a dream holiday? Plan a big white wedding? Or maybe on a house project you've always wanted? Win BIG and support CLAPA in the All Weathers Lottery!🎉 🔗 Play now for your chance to win £25,000 - sign up at allweatherslottery.com/clapa/
- ▶️ Catch up: Appearance Related Concerns Webinar for adults born with a cleft. The webinar was hosted by NHS Cleft Team Professionals as well as being supported by CLAPA volunteers and Adult Services Coordinator. 📽️ Watch now: www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wji...
- “Having a cleft doesn’t define or limit you. Without my cleft, I wouldn’t have met some amazing people through the CYPC, and I probably wouldn’t have the same passion as I do for the medical industry.” 📰 Read Izzy’s full story: buff.ly/bzSwQUM
- Supporting CLAPA from across the pond, Finlay Mathias has completed the Ironman 70.3 Washington Tri Cities challenge in the US 🇺🇸 🔗 Read his full story here: buff.ly/ykr5kTB
- Our team of 700 Challengers are warming up, ready for this Friday's kick off! Have you signed up to take on the challenge yet? Don’t worry, there is still time to sign up: buff.ly/DKb5Ws0
- 📢Join us tonight for a Facebook Live Q&A event on the topic of 'Returning to Treatment'📢 No booking is required for this event, just head to our Facebook page (@clapacommunity) at 7.30pm tonight, Tuesday 30th September.
- Our Coffee Club for grandparents is on 13th October. Have you booked your free place? At our Coffee Club, we've created a space specifically for grandparents to connect with each other and share their unique experiences with others who understand. 🔗 buff.ly/FSlIRrD
- Happy #FundraisingFriday to Luke! CLAPA’s running star, who earlier this year ran three 10k races over three months: Lincoln, Boston, and Peterborough. Visit Luke’s fundraising page to find out more: buff.ly/XI65NNg
- “There were days when the challenge was so tough but then seeing the fundraising figure go up and up and up, I told myself ‘That’s what I'm doing this for – I’m doing it for the charities. I'm doing it for Isabella’. 🔗 Read Pete’s story: buff.ly/iCgPgwu
- Fundraisers Sam, Ben, and Nick have been ‘raising smiles, one mile at a time’ in their LEJoG cycle challenge, Sam is cycling for CLAPA in thanks for the help received after his two sons were both born with a cleft palate. 🔗Read more or donate now: buff.ly/Osud1kJ
- The countdown is on till our next Makaton Course for babies and families⏰ 🎫Book now or find out more: buff.ly/RhmGY48
- We're sending a big good luck today to CLAPA Trustee and cleft clinical nurse specialist, Izzy, who is taking part in the Swim Serpentine event for CLAPA.🏊 🔗 Donate to Izzy's challenge: buff.ly/cfTsyWH
- A big thank you to Millie, who raised £333 by making and selling bead bracelets during her summer holiday. Millie chose to fundraise as her family found support in CLAPA's online groups for parents and grandparents after her baby cousin was diagnosed with a cleft.🩵
- POV: You signed up to CLAPA's 700 Challenge!🏆 ➡️ The 700 Challenge is a way to raise awareness of the one in 700 born every year in the UK with a cleft. 🔵Pick any activity you like 🔵Repeat it 700 times between 3rd October to 3rd November 🔗 Sign up: buff.ly/H7gqMFj
- Our mini runners did us proud in the 2025 #GreatNorthRun for juniors!🏃 Inspired? The ballot is now open for the 2026 Great North Run! 🔵 Junior events: buff.ly/nRQkE5s 🔵 The main event: buff.ly/X7R6kdX
- Answered yes?✅ Join us at our Discussion Evening for parents on Monday, 15th September, where we will share experiences, offer advice, and answer questions on the topic of 'School and Education'. 📆 Monday 15th September, 7.30pm (Zoom) 🎫 Book now: buff.ly/bqJN3Rc
- “[A diagnosis] can seem so daunting, so scary. You don't know what's to come." Last night, CLAPA starred on BBC television news in an interview with professional cricketer Tom Kohler-Cadmore, his partner Melissa Avison. ▶️ Watch the BBC interview:
- What do the new NHS “league tables” really mean for cleft care? Read more:
- “I googled and googled for two days straight, and had myself up the wall. Thankfully, CLAPA calmed me down.” Receiving a diagnosis can be a daunting time, but CLAPA can be on hand to help guide you through. Find out about CLAPA's services for parents: buff.ly/J03pMwm
- 🏆The 700 Challenge is back!🏆 The challenge is easy! 🔵Pick any activity you like 🔵Repeat it 700 times between 3rd October to 3rd November. 👕You’ll even receive a free CLAPA t-shirt once you’re registered! Sign up today or find out more: buff.ly/SeFMKdW
- Join CLAPA at our next Antenatal Support Group for new and expectant parents/carers with a cleft diagnosis. 📆 Monday 29th September @ 7:30pm via Zoom 🎟️ Book your place: buff.ly/kX6EPhF Kindly funded by Smile Train.
- Sending a BIG good luck to Arthur and all of our mini runners taking part in Junior Great North Run today!👟🎖️ Tomorrow is also the big day for Team CLAPA, who are racing in the #GreatNorthRun! We're sending good luck to all those taking part!🩵
- This year, 21 thrill seekers signed up to our Jump for July campaign, a challenge which sees fundraisers take to the sky in a charity tandem skydive. A big thank you to just four of our divers, Jake, Sam, Andy and Jemma who between them raised over £5,500 for CLAPA!
- Thinking about returning to cleft treatment as an adult? Join us for an informal evening on the topic of 'Returning to treatment' for adults born with a cleft lip and/or palate. 🎫 Book your place: buff.ly/vM6RNE6
