CLAPA (Cleft Lip And Palate Association) was founded in 1979, it is a national charity which supports people born with cleft lips/palates and their families. In early pregnancy, the different parts of the face form a different times and then they come together. If this forming doesn’t happen all the way, the result is a gap (cleft) in the upper lift or the roof of the mouth. Roughly, 1200 babies are born with a cleft each year in the UK, CLAPAs goal is to provide help for all of those affected.

CLAPA believes that people affected by a cleft deserve chances to talk to others who understand what they have experienced/going through. This is why they have many services which allows people to do this; for example, they have online support groups for people who many not be able to attend their in-person events.

CLAPA has supported thousands of children, me being one of them. A few months after I was born, I was diagnosed with having a cleft palate and when I was 9 months old, I had my first surgery. CLAPA helped me and my family massively, as my parents were able to learn more about clefts and they could get advice at any time. They have multiple stories on their website (clapa.com) from a parent perspective and also young people who have been diagnosed with a cleft, this reminds people that they are other people going through the same situation and they can talk to others.

A cleft can affect a person for over 20 years, resulting in more than one surgery. Although the NHS has a good cleft lip/palate team, some people like to talk to people on a more personal level. Luckily, CLAPA is always there for them, and they have a lot of support systems in place and people who have clefts also have input on the charity and their website.

Unfortunately, CLAPA is not funded by the government or the NHS meaning that the charity relies on fundraising and donations from people. During the coronavirus outbreak they tried to help families as much as they could but due to them being a small charity, they had to drastically reduce their services and were close to closing down altogether. Although we are no longer in lockdown they are still struggling, to donate to the charity use the link https://cafdonate.cafonline.org/365#!/DonationDetails. CLAPA helps children/adults with a cleft everyday, if they were to close many people would be at a disadvantage and may not get the support, they/their child may need.