The Cleft Lip and Palate Association (CLAPA)

📣 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