Navigating the System: A Virtual Workshop on Confidence, Communication & Being Heard in Cleft Care (Adults)
This event is for adults born with a cleft lip and/or palate in the United Kingdom.
Want to feel more confident speaking up, asking questions, and advocating for yourself in everyday life?
CLAPA is excited to offer an interactive Self Advocacy Workshop for adults born with a cleft, in partnership with Vital Projects, a user-led advocacy organisation with experience supporting communities like ours.
As an adult born with a cleft, you may already be advocating for yourself in healthcare, education, work, relationships, or everyday situations. This workshop is designed to help you recognise and strengthen those skills, build confidence, and explore practical ways to communicate your needs and make informed choices.
Workshop Details
- Date: Wednesday 15th July
- Time: 7:00pm–8:30pm
- Location: Zoom
- Format: Introduction to Self Advocacy followed by a discussion
What we’ll explore
- What self-advocacy means in everyday life
- Communication skills and asking for what you need
- Confidence, empowerment, and self-awareness
- Advocacy in healthcare, education, work, and social situations
- Understanding your rights, choices, and support options
Why join?
- Build confidence in speaking up for yourself
- Learn practical communication strategies
- Recognise the self-advocacy skills you already use
- Explore ways to make informed choices and feel more in control
- Connect with other adults in the cleft community
Watch the video below to hear more about the session from Antonia, CLAPA’s Adult Services Coordinator.
This session is open to adults born with a cleft, at any stage of their journey. The workshop will provide a supportive and safe space to share experiences, ask questions, and learn together.
Taking part in this event
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This is an online event
This is an online video event and we will send the link to join the event the day before, to the email address you use to register for this event.
Please check your spam/junk folders to ensure you don't miss the link. -
You don't have to join in
If you'd like to hear from others but you'd prefer not to take part in the informal chat, you are very welcome to come along and listen to the discussion.
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Tell us how we can help
If you have any access requirements, or if there's anything else we can do to make you feel more comfortable and welcome at the event, please let us know when you sign up.
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Accompanied children can join
Children are welcome to join but must be accompanied for the duration by a parent/carer. If you have children around please don't feel you need to have a private quiet space, as we can mute your microphone unless you are speaking.
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Follow the rules
Read the 'Ground Rules' below before registering. A CLAPA staff member or volunteer will contact you directly if you breach any of these rules. If you repeatedly breach these rules, we will remove you and you will not be able to attend any future CLAPA events.
Ground rules for online events
Cleft Lip and Palate Action (CLAPA) is committed to ensuring our online events are safe spaces where everyone feels comfortable sharing their experiences and asking questions. We ask everyone attending to read and follow these ground rules.
We ask that everyone is respectful of others’ feelings, views and opinions.
We’re here to listen, share our experiences, ask questions, gain information, and support each other so that everyone leaves the session having had a positive experience.
The format we follow for events ensures there is time to ask questions and share your own experiences and feelings.
Please allow everyone to take their turn and be mindful of sharing the space and time available so that everyone who wants to contribute can do so.
We recognise not everyone feels comfortable contributing to discussions and there is no pressure to do so.
If you would prefer, you can use the Zoom function to ‘raise your hand’ or use the chat box to share information.
You are also welcome to turn off your camera and microphone, and it’s okay if you need to attend to other duties (children, pets, etc.) during the event.
More events for adults
Check out these other upcoming events for adults born with a cleft