Self Advocacy Workshop: Parents and Carers
This event is for parents and carers of a child born with a cleft lip and/or palate in the United Kingdom.
Want to feel more confident speaking up and asking for what you need?
CLAPA is excited to offer a one off interactive Self-Advocacy Workshop for Parents and Carers held on Wednesday 6th May at 7:00pm.
This event is in conjunction with Vital Projects, a user-led advocacy organisation with experience supporting communities like ours.
Workshop Details:
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Format: Short introduction to self-advocacy and practical, facilitated group work in breakout rooms
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Focus: Communication skills (asking for what you need), with brief coverage of rights, empowerment, and self-awareness
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Facilitators: Two experienced Vital Projects facilitators and CLAPA staff member
Why join?
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Build confidence in speaking up and advocating for yourself or your child
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Learn practical strategies for asking for what you need
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Connect with others in the cleft community and share experiences in a supportive space
This session will be open to all parents and carers of a child born with a cleft at any stage of their cleft journey. Come along to meet others, ask questions and share experiences. This will be a safe space for discussion, and we encourage you to contribute to get as much out of this one off session as possible.
If you have any issues on the day or any questions before then, please get in touch with Lucy, [email protected].
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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All parents, carers and family members are welcome
As always, we welcome parents/carers at any stage of their parenting journey, including those who might have older children and wish to share their experiences to offer support. Other close relatives, including grandparents, are welcome to join this event if they would find it helpful.
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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 (who aren't participating in the discussion) 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.
Register for the event
Register to attend this event using our simple online form. Email [email protected] if you have any issues registering.
More events for parents and carers
Check out these other upcoming events for parents and carers of a child born with a cleft
Grandparents’ Coffee Club
This event is for grandparents of a child born with a cleft lip and/or palate in the United Kingdom. If you are a parent (including those who are expecting) or carer, you are also welcome to join.
Babble Play Skills
For parents of children born with a cleft in the United Kingdom. You are welcome to join with or without your child/ren.