Need to Talk?
For people affected by a condition like cleft lip and/or palate, just knowing you’re not alone is a vital step towards feeling better. CLAPA has always been about bringing together people affected by cleft in the spirit of mutual support to share experiences and offer a listening ear. As well as trained volunteers, we have a number of online support groups full of people who would love to talk to you.
Please note: this service is only available to people who live in the United Kingdom. Visit our ‘Resources‘ page for international organisations.
CLAPA is committed to safeguarding the people of all ages and backgrounds who use our services. Click to find out more about how we make safeguarding a priority.
Peer & Parent Support: How Does It Work?
Our Parents and Peer Supporter service is a quick and simple way to talk to a trained volunteer one-on-one about whatever’s on your mind, to provide peer support for those affected by cleft.
- Get In Touch: Fill in our form linked below to tell us a little about yourself. You can also call us on 020 7833 4883. We might get in touch again if we need more information, or if we think a different service would be more helpful. Note: Our phones are currently offline, but you are welcome to leave a message. This will be picked up by a senior staff member who will pass it on confidentially to our Supporter team.
- Make a Match: We’ll match you with a trained volunteer who we think will best understand your needs and experiences. We’ll tell you and your supporter about each other before the first contact.
- Getting Connected: Your Parent or Peer Supporter will get in touch at a time that suits you to talk through what’s on your mind. This can be by phone or email. You might talk just once, or several times depending on your needs.
- Feedback: Once this support has ended, you’ll be asked to fill out a short feedback form to help us improve this service.
To get started, just fill in our simple form for parents, carers & grandparents or adults born with a cleft.
For Parents, Carers & Grandparents
CLAPA’s Parent Supporters are parents and grandparents who have been trained to support others one-on-one over the phone or email. You can find a Parent Supporter in your area who will understand your experiences with the local Cleft Service, or you can ask for one who shares your interest in anything from late diagnosis to Pierre Robin Sequence.
Get in touch today and let us know a little bit about you to be matched with a volunteer.
Our CLAPA Community Facebook Group has over 10,000 members and, although some are international, most are parents from the UK swapping stories and photos, sharing highs and lows, and making sure that no one has to go through their difficult times alone.
Join our CLAPA Community Facebook Group
For Adults
CLAPA’s Peer Supporters are adults with a cleft who have been trained to support others one-on-one over the phone or email. You can ask for a Peer Supporters in your area to talk about the local Cleft Service, or you can find one who shares your interests in treatment and other experiences.
Get in touch today and let us know a little bit about you to be matched with a volunteer within 48 hours.
Our Adults Facebook Group has over 2,000 members, most of whom are adults from the UK swapping stories and photos, sharing highs and lows, and making sure that no one has to go through their difficult times alone.
For Young People
Our Young People’s website hub is full of stories and videos created by young people born with a cleft, for other young people. You can stay in the loop by following our Children and Young People’s Facebook page, and by signing up for our quarterly Youth Forward newsletter for under 18s which is packed with information, advice and articles by other young people born with a cleft.
Link to Young People’s resources
Cleft++ Mentoring Service offers one-to-one support for young people born with a cleft from people born with a cleft. The Cleft++ Mentoring Service uses a specialist online platform to safely connect 12-17-year-olds born with a cleft to a trained mentor. These mentors are young adults born with a cleft, so they can draw on their experiences to offer personalised support.