CLAPA’s children and young people’s service aims to help you to connect and make friends, become more confident and feel more positive about your cleft.
It’s CLAPA’s responsibility to keep all young people who use our services safe. Find out more about how we make safeguarding a priority.
Quick Links
Understanding operations
Learn about some of the operations you might be offered as you grow up with a cleft, like the Alveolar Bone Graft and Jaw Surgery.
The Alveolar Bone Graft (ABG) Operation: Young people
The Alveolar Bone Graft is an operation which helps adult teeth to come through properly. It usually happens when you’re between 8-12 years old. This page is aimed at young people due to have an Alveolar Bone Graft operation.
Braces and orthodontics
This page explains how orthodontists work to help change the position of your teeth, and how to cope with braces and other orthodontic treatment.
About your Cleft Team
This page explains how your Cleft Team works, who the different clinicians are, and what happens when you become an adult.
Cleft++ Mentoring: Young people
Cleft++ Mentoring uses a specialist online platform to safely connect 10-17-year-olds born with a cleft to a trained mentor. These mentors are young adults born with a cleft and they will draw on their experiences to offer personalised support.
CLAPA Companions: Young people
CLAPA Companions is a pen pal scheme connecting young people in the UK, born with a cleft aged 6 – 17 through letters, emails, videos and audio messages.
Find support
Connect with other young people born with a cleft and find support through CLAPA.
Your Stories
Megan’s story
Megan has a unique place in CLAPA’s rebranding story – as both a member of the creative brand team and our own community.
Kazzi’s story
Kazzi talks about growing up with a cleft – after being adopted from Mother Teresa’s orphanage in Calcutta – and finding CLAPA.
Danielle’s Story
“I was in absolute agony with an horrendous tooth infection and couldn’t get anyone to treat me.”
CYP -> Contact CLAPA's Children and Young People's Team
Get in touch with CLAPA's Children and Young People's Team. Messages are sent to [email protected]. Please note this is not an emergency service and messages are not checked outside of working hours.