It's our 42nd birthday! Open for stories from the cleft community and chances for all ages to make their voices heard.

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This month, we're celebrating CLAPA's 42nd birthday. Whether you've been around since the very beginning or just recently discovered CLAPA, we want to say a big thank you for being part of this incredible community.

We couldn't do what we do without your support, and we are ever grateful for every single person who donates or fundraises to keep our vital services going. Thank you for believing in a better future for people born with a cleft in the UK, and for helping us make it happen!

Support Our Work This Year

In This Newsletter:

  • Join the Council: An exciting opportunity for 9-17 year-olds

  • Volunteers' Week 2021: Celebrating your stories

  • Vacancy: Trustee with Fundraising Experience to join our Board

  • #TeamCLAPA: Fundraising stories from the CLAPA Community

  • CLAPA Voices: Add your voice and make a difference

  • #ShareASmile, Challenges, and Q&A Catch-Up

 
 
A pale blue background with dark pink text reading 'Join the Council' next to a pink megaphone. Below, next to ticks, reads '9-17 years old and born with a cleft', 'want to meet others like you', 'want to make a difference'. In smaller text below: 'The children and young people's council (CYPC) meet online each month to help CLAPA do everything we can to support under -18s born with a cleft in the UK'. In smaller pink text below: 'Go to clapa.com/yp to apply before applications close on 2nd July!' To the right is a circular photo of the council, with a dark blue shape in the top right corner and a dark pink curved shape in the bottom left.

Exciting opportunity! Join our Children and Young People's Council

Our Children and Young People's Council is looking for new members.

The Council meet online each month to help CLAPA do everything we can to support young people born with a cleft in the UK. It's a brilliant opportunity for young people to make a difference, meet others with similar experiences, and make friends.

We recruit members from all backgrounds, cultures, ethnicities, sexualities and religions – everyone is welcome. If you are 9 - 17 years old and were born with a cleft, we'd love to hear from you! Applications close on the 2nd of July, so find out more by clicking below.

    Join the Council
     

    Celebrating our amazing volunteers

    The start of June marked Volunteer's Week 2021, and we want to again say a huge thank you to all our volunteers. 

    Whether they're helping to run our events, giving personalised support to those most in need, taking part in research, or sitting on our Trustee Board, our volunteers are the beating heart behind everything we do. In 2020, they gave a phenomenal 523 hours of their time to CLAPA, supporting us, and you, through the most difficult time in our history.

    Head to our Instagram or Facebook pages and scroll back to read some of our lovely volunteers' stories!

     
    A CLAPA running vest is folded on a table with the logo visible

    Vacancy: Trustee with Professional Fundraising Experience 

    CLAPA's Trustee Board is made up of passionate volunteers from the cleft community who use their expertise to direct how the charity is managed and run. We're looking for someone with professional fundraising experience to join our Board at this exciting time to add their insight to our team.

    Find Out More

    #TeamCLAPA stories

     
    A man in a blue CLAPA t-shirt holds a baby with a cleft lip and looks at the camera, with doors leading to a garden behind them

    Bernard's One Million Step Challenge

    Bernard took on a 'one million steps' challenge in support of our work, and has raised nearly £1,400!

    He said, "My inspiration is my beautiful grandson, Finn, who will be undergoing his first surgery within the next two months." Thank you, Bernard!

     
    A man and woman run in a marathon facing the camera, they are holding hands and smiling. The man wears a CLAPA branded running vest.

    41 Challenges for 41 Years of CLAPA

    Gillan & Alice completed a double marathon on Saturday as part of their '41 challenges' started last year during CLAPA's (and Gillian's!) 41st birthday. Gillan and daughter Layla were both born with a cleft lip & palate. They've raised an incredible £1300, with more challenges to come!

     

     
    A woman with brown hair and a fringe wears a bright blue CLAPA t-shirt with a dark unzipped hoodie on top. She takes a selfie and is smiling with her thumb up. There are trees and shrubs in the background behind her

    Sarah's Walk for CLAPA

    Sarah raised £165 for CLAPA with a 15k walk!⠀
    ⠀
    She chose CLAPA because her daughter was born with a cleft palate and Sarah remembers receiving support, including a Welcome Pack, from CLAPA when her daughter was little. Thank you, Sarah!

    Inspired by Bernard and Sarah? Whatever your hobbies or skills, there are so many ways you can support our work!

    Head to our website for idea inspiration, or contact our friendly fundraising team at fundraising@clapa.com to start your fundraising journey today.

    Get Involved
     
    a dark blue background with large white text 'CLAPA voices' next to a turquoise icon of a megaphone and surrounded by pale blue stars. Below is white text reading 'Influence our work and take part in new research projects. Add your voice today!' next to a circular photo of a boy looking away from the camera while speaking

    CLAPA Voices

    The voice of the cleft community is the foundation of everything we do at CLAPA. From developing new services to shaping our messaging, we want people affected by cleft to be involved every step of the way. CLAPA Voices is your chance to be heard.⠀
    ⠀
    Sign up today to be the first to hear about opportunities throughout the year for you to feed into our work, as well as take part in research projects. You can pick the ones that interest you and fit around your schedule, so this is a brilliantly flexible way to get involved!⠀

    Add Your Voice
     
    a young girl wearing a bright pink onesie stands next to a cot, looking up and smiling widely at the camera

    Share Your Smile

    Thank you to everyone who has shared stories and photos as part of our #ShareASmile series! 

    Would you like to keep these posts going? Wherever you are on your cleft journey and whatever you'd like to share, we'd love to hear from you.

    Share Your Smile
     

    Find Your Challenge

    With summer here, it's the season for challenge events! Whether you prefer marathons or 10k races, there's a challenge event to suit you.

    Head to our website to explore upcoming challenges!

    Find Your Challenge
     

    Treatment Experiences Q & A

    Just over a week ago, our Adult Services Manager, Kenny, went onto Facebook live to discuss the findings of some new important research into treatment experiences in adults born with a cleft. In case you missed it, catch up by clicking below!

    Treatment Experiences Q & A

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    Read our Privacy Policy to find out more about how we collect, store, and use your information. You can also get in touch at any time at info@clapa.com or call 020 7833 4883 if you have any questions or concerns.

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    The Green House, 244-254 Cambridge Heath Road
    LONDON E2 9DA

    Registered Charity in England and Wales (No. 1108160) and Scotland (SC041034)

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