Find support services to help you connect and make friends, become more confident and feel more positive about your cleft.
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.
Scroll down to find out how CLAPA can support you, or jump to other resources and websites.
Please note: the support services on this page are for young people up to 17 years old. If you’re 18 or older, please check out our support services for adults.
You can also contact our children and young people’s team directly.
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 is a pen pal scheme connecting young people in the UK, born with a cleft aged 6-15 through letters, emails, videos and audio messages.
Camp CLAPA Activity Weekends are a chance for 8-12-year-olds born with a cleft to meet and spend time with others like them in a safe and supportive space.
Cleft Youth is a magazine for young people born with a cleft, packed with stories, activities, information about cleft and more. The magazine is aimed at under 12s but is suitable for all ages.
CLAPA’s Children and Young People’s Council are a group of 12-17 year olds who were born with a cleft from all around the UK.
“As members of the Children and Young People’s Council, we have the chance to represent other young people who were born with a cleft in the UK, to have our say in shaping CLAPA’s services, to make new friends, to have fun, and to make a difference.”
The CYPC meet regularly both online and in person and have an adventure weekend away each year. They help CLAPA to make sure our services and resources like leaflets are as helpful as possible for other young people.
Browse the latest events for teenagers and young people born with a cleft, including online events and Camp CLAPA.
Changing Faces have brilliant resources on their website, from dealing with negativity and self-confidence to moving schools. You can find more information here:
FaceIT is an interactive online self-help tool for young people aged 12-17 and is freely available for young people to use at home with supervision from a parent/guardian. It has been designed by researchers at the Centre for Appearance Research in collaboration with young people to help you manage the challenges associated with having a condition or injury that affects appearance.
ZAP is a FREE workshop for children and young people aged 9-16 who have been impacted by a bullying situation.
Counselling service for young people under 19 online, on the phone or chat, anytime.
Young People can text the YoungMinds Crisis Messenger (text YM to 85258) for free 24/7 support across the UK if they are experiencing a mental health crisis, and there are resources for young people and parents on their website.
The Mix can help you take on any challenge you’re facing – from mental health to money, from homelessness to finding a job, from break-ups to drugs. Talk to them via their online community, on social media, through the free, confidential helpline or their counselling service.
A safe, inclusive digital community where young people can help themselves and each other. Moderators check everything to keep the platform safe and in-house counsellors are always on hand if extra support is needed. Users can stay anonymous and talk to people the same age who get what they are going through. If professional support is needed, their in-house counsellors are available 365 days a year.
Kooth is a free, safe, and anonymous online platform where young people can access mental health support whenever they need it. Delivered in partnership with the NHS, Kooth is available to anyone between the ages of 11-18, and in some areas, it extends up to age 25. The tool offers live chats, self help activities, informative articles and journaling and goal setting functions.
Shout is the UK’s first and only free, confidential, 24/7 text messaging support service for anyone struggling to cope.
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.
