Cleft Lip and Palate Association (CLAPA)

Does your team have what it takes? Tag a colleague that you think could face the challenge! Test your physical strength, mental grit, and aptitude for camaraderie in the ultimate team-building challenge: Tough Mudder! We are excited to announce we now have charity places for Tough Mudder, for you to run, crawl, and climb to the finish line with your colleagues. Tough Mudder courses are spread across the UK to ensure you can find a race local to you, with courses in South London, South West, Birmingham, North West, and Yorkshire. Registration fees are £95 for 5k and £120 for 15k mud runs.🗺️ Get your charity place to support CLAPA here: https://buff.ly/3VYwnkL [Alt text: Two women using ropes to pull themselves up a muddy slope. One is wearing a black t-shirt and leggings, the other is wearing a blue and white running vest with the CLAPA logo. Text displayed over the image reads 'Tough Mudder, places now available, registration fee: £95/£120]

On this #ThankYouDay we’re sending BIG THANKS to all who support CLAPA💙🎉 Our volunteers who give up their time to support us, our hardworking team of staff, and the NHS for working with CLAPA to constantly improve cleft services across the UK. More importantly, we want to say thank you to you! For supporting CLAPA, fundraising for our charity, and for spreading awareness of cleft lip and palate through sharing your stories with the CLAPA Community.💙

We’re celebrating 76 years of the NHS today💙🎉 At CLAPA we want to send a big THANK YOU to all those working hard in the NHS supporting people affected by cleft lip and palate. CLAPA has worked closely with the NHS throughout the years to ensure that everyone in the United Kingdom born with a cleft receives the best possible treatment and support in their care. Happy birthday NHS 💙

Last night, our Chief Executive Claire Cunniffe and Trustee Izzy Williams attended the National fundraising Awards, where our 2022 #SaveCLAPA Appeal was one of three up for ‘Fundraising Campaign of the Year’.🥇 It was an honour to be nominated alongside much larger charities, many of which are household names. The #SaveCLAPA Appeal didn’t get the award, but it did something far more important – it saved CLAPA from having to cut back on vital services after a challenging few years, which will always make it a winner in our eyes!⭐ Thank you to each and every one of you for helping to make the #SaveCLAPA Appeal such a success back in 2022. We wouldn’t be here without you! 👏

Well, we didn’t win but it was an honour to be highlighted alongside some very large charities at the #NationalFundraisingAwards. Thank you Chartered Institute of Fundraising for a great night out! #pastmybedtime Cleft Lip and Palate Association (CLAPA)

There is less than a week to go until the closing date for applications for the Chair and Treasurer roles on CLAPA's Trustee board and if you think you have the passion and skills to take on one of these roles, we would love to hear from you. I cannot stress what an exciting time this is to join CLAPA. After a challenging few years, we are in a much more stable financial position and this is a great opportunity to help define our new strategy and direction for 2025 and beyond. If you have any questions about either roles or about CLAPA in general, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Could you be the next Chair or Treasurer of CLAPA's Board of Trustees? Mel Spencer joined the Board in 2023 and had this to say: "Being a CLAPA Trustee allows me to marry my personal experience of cleft with my professional experience, so I can make a difference to other young people and adults who have experienced similar challenges. "I'm able to be a sounding board for CLAPA, helping with their communications and brand. This allows me to support the charity with my time and skills, and in turn, the discussions and decisions made at Board Meetings encourage me to think differently, challenging me to bring the new skills I’m learning back to my workplace. It’s a win-win!" Learn more and apply here: https://lnkd.in/d6QMbr_5 Applications close Tuesday 2nd July.

Calling all dads and father figures to children born with a cleft! Our next 'Dads Discuss' free online event is this Wednesday (26th June) at 7:30pm. Come along to chat with other dads about diagnosis, surgery, feeding, and everything in between. You're also more than welcome to join the event and just listen to the conversation. Learn more and sign up here: https://buff.ly/450fBpr

📣 Vacancy - Head of Finance - Part-time (28 hours per week) ✅ CLAPA is recruiting! This is an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic individual to join and lead our finance team. Based from home within the UK OR at the CLAPA Office (E2 9DA), Cambridge Heath, LONDON. The Head of Finance has lead responsibility for overseeing the finance function of the organisation. The post holder also has responsibility for the line management of the Finance Officer and the Feeding Service Administrator (Finance Team). Read more about the role: https://buff.ly/3yFN4cz 🚨 The closing date is Monday 1st July. Apply now! ➡️

CLAPA is turning 45 years old today!🎉 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! 💙