Cleft Lip and Palate Association

What Cleft Lip and Palate Association does

CLAPA (Cleft Lip and Palate Association, also operating as Cleft Lip and Palate Action) is the UK's only dedicated charity for people affected by cleft lip and palate, registered in England and Wales (Charity No. 1108160) and Scotland (SC041034) with a registered office at 244-254 Cambridge Heath Road, London. The organisation serves parents, families, children, teenagers, and adults affected by cleft from antenatal diagnosis through adulthood, delivering a coordinated suite of services including free Welcome Packs containing specialist feeding equipment (MAM bottles, Dr Brown's Specialty Feeding System) distributed to every baby born with cleft in the UK (approximately 1,200 per year), one-on-one peer support for parents and adults, free professional counselling, the Cleft++ Mentoring programme for ages 10-17, the CLAPA Companions pen pal scheme for ages 6-15, the Camp CLAPA residential camp for ages 8-12, and an information resource library distributed across the clapa.com website. A private Facebook parent/carer support group holds over 10,000 UK members, and a subsidised Shopify storefront sells additional feeding equipment.

The underlying technology stack is intentionally light: a WordPress-based charity website (clapa.com), a Shopify e-commerce storefront (clapashop.myshopify.com), standard organic social media properties (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube), and email newsletter distribution. CLAPA offers no mobile application, no public API, no AI-driven features, and no proprietary platform technology beyond the Cleft++ Mentoring online platform that connects young people to trained volunteer mentors. The organisation's defensible value is built on human peer relationships, lived-experience volunteer networks, branded content, and NHS Cleft Team referral integration rather than on technology differentiation.

CLAPA's business model is donation-dependent: the organisation receives no government or NHS funding for its operations and relies on public donations and fundraising activities. A secondary revenue stream comes from subsidised product sales of specialist feeding equipment via the online shop. Distribution is mixed — direct mail for Welcome Packs, NHS Cleft Team referrals for service uptake, organic social media and content marketing for awareness, and email/events for community engagement. Strategic partnerships anchor the referral pipeline: NHS Cleft Teams in England and Wales, Cleft Care Scotland in Scotland, the Cleft Collective cohort study, the CRANE registry, and several international cleft organisations (CLEFT, Smile Train, European Cleft Organisation, CLAPA Ireland) referenced as referral resources for families outside the UK.

Name

Cleft Lip and Palate Association

Legal name

Cleft Lip and Palate Association

Website

https://clapa.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CLAPA is the UK's dedicated charity for the cleft lip and palate community, providing free Welcome Packs of specialist feeding equipment, peer support, counselling, mentoring, and residential camps to affected families and individuals across the UK.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cleft Lip and Palate Patient Support Services

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Child and Youth Services (624110), Individual and Family Services (6241), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Family & Parenting Support Services (BPAGAEAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Feeding Support & Newborn Nutrition Care (NCS) (HSAAACAC), Feeding, Swallowing & Oral-Motor Therapy (EDACAFAH), Family & Parent Support Services (Parent Coaching, Advocacy) (EDAJALAK)

Keywords

• Cleft lip palate support
• Peer support services
• Specialist feeding equipment
• Patient advocacy charity
• Cleft community programs

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: CLAPA relies on public donations and fundraising activities to fund its operations and support services. The organization receives no government or NHS funding for its operations.
2. Product Sales (Shop): CLAPA operates an online shop selling specialist feeding equipment including bottles and teats for babies born with a cleft. Additional equipment can be purchased at subsidized prices.
3. Welcome Packs (Free Distribution): Free Welcome Packs containing specialist bottles, teats, and information are provided to all new babies born with a cleft in the UK, funded by supporter donations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

CLAPA is the UK's only dedicated charity for people affected by cleft lip and palate, providing free Welcome Packs containing specialist feeding bottles and teats to every baby born with a cleft in the UK, alongside a coordinated suite of peer support services for parents, adults, and young people. Its offerings include the Parent Support Service, Peer Support Service for adults, free professional counselling, the Cleft++ Mentoring programme for ages 10-17, the CLAPA Companions pen pal scheme for ages 6-15, and residential Camp CLAPA for ages 8-12. Operations are funded through donations, fundraising, and a subsidized online shop selling additional specialist feeding equipment.

Product overview

CLAPA (Cleft Lip and Palate Action) is the UK's dedicated charity for people affected by cleft lip and palate, operating as a support organisation rather than a technology company. The organisation provides a coordinated suite of products and services centred on the free Welcome Pack programme (specialist feeding bottles and teats for newborn cleft babies) and a network of peer support services including Parent Support Service, Peer Support Service for adults, and counselling. Youth services include Cleft++ Mentoring (10-17 year olds), CLAPA Companions pen pal scheme (6-15 year olds), and Camp CLAPA residential camps (8-12 year olds). These are complemented by a subsidised online shop for additional feeding equipment, community events, and educational resources including the Cleft Youth Magazine and 'Callie and her Cleft' book. The organisation connects families through a large Facebook support group and regular online events.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Welcome Packs Free packs containing specialist feeding bottles and teats designed for babies born with cleft lip and palate, provided to each child born with a cleft in the UK. Distributed to families via Royal Mail 24-hour tracked delivery following NHS Cleft Team referral and feeding assessment.
• CLAPA Online Shop Online shop selling specialist feeding equipment including MAM bottles, Dr Browns bottles, and various teats at subsidized prices for families who need additional feeding supplies beyond the free Welcome Pack.
• Parent Support Service One-on-one support service connecting parents and carers of children born with a cleft to trained volunteer parents and carers who share similar experiences, providing emotional support throughout the cleft journey.
• Peer Support Service (Adults) One-on-one support service connecting adults born with a cleft to trained volunteer adults who have lived experience of cleft, providing peer support and understanding.
• Counselling for Parents and Families Free professional counselling service for parents and family members aged 18 and over of children born with a cleft, providing emotional support throughout the cleft journey.
• Cleft++ Mentoring Mentoring programme delivered via a specialist online platform that safely connects young people aged 10-17 born with a cleft to trained young adult volunteers with lived experience of cleft, offering personalised one-to-one support.
• CLAPA Companions Pen Pal Scheme Pen pal scheme connecting young people in the UK born with a cleft aged 6-15 through letters, emails, videos and audio messages, providing friendship and shared experience.
• Camp CLAPA Residential activity camp for young people aged 8-12 born with a cleft, offering opportunities to make friends, build confidence, and connect with the cleft community in an outdoor activity centre setting.

Quantifiable outcome

• One in 700 babies born with cleft in UK receives support from CLAPA
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• NHS Cleft TeamscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCLAPA works in partnership with NHS Cleft Teams across the UK to provide support services to families from diagnosis through to adulthood. NHS teams refer new families to CLAPA services, and CLAPA provides complementary support including Welcome Packs of specialist feeding equipment.
• Ronald McDonald House CharityminorOthersRonald McDonald House Charity provides accommodation near children's hospitals for families whose children are receiving treatment. Referenced by CLAPA as a resource for families traveling to cleft appointments.
• CLEFT – Bridging the GapminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCLEFT is a UK charity that funds research into cleft lip and palate and supports development of cleft teams in various countries. Listed as an international organization providing cleft support.
• CLAPA Ireland (CLAPAI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVolunteer-run support organization for people affected by cleft in the Republic of Ireland. Listed as a referral resource for families in Ireland.
• European Cleft Organisation (ECO)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean organization dedicated to ensuring everyone born with a cleft in Europe has treatment and support needed to thrive. CLAPA references ECO as an international support resource.
• Smile TrainminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational charity working with hospitals worldwide to provide cleft care. Listed as an international organization for families seeking support outside the UK.
• Cleft CollectivecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Cleft Collective is a UK-wide cohort study investigating causes of cleft, best treatments, and long-term wellbeing of those affected. CLAPA supports researchers in reaching and involving the UK cleft community in this research.
• CRANE DatabasecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Cleft Registry and Audit NEtwork (CRANE) collects information about children born with cleft lip and/or palate in the UK. CLAPA publishes research summaries and directs community to this resource for statistics.
• Cleft@18-23 Research ProgrammeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNIHR-funded research programme investigating outcomes at the end of routine care for 18-23-year-olds born with a cleft. CLAPA supports involvement of the cleft community in this research.
• Cleft Palate Craniofacial JournalminorOthersAcademic journal publishing cleft research. CLAPA publishes research summaries from this journal for the benefit of the cleft community.
• Cleft Care ScotlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerManaged Clinical Network for those working in cleft in Scotland. CLAPA works with this network to support the Scottish cleft community.
• Changing FacesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK charity supporting people with visible differences. CLAPA refers families to Changing Faces resources for support with appearance-related concerns including dealing with negativity, self-confidence, and moving schools.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Others

• Ronald McDonald House Charities UK: UK charity providing accommodation near children's hospitals for families of sick children. Referenced by CLAPA as a resource for families travelling to cleft appointments; comparable as a complementary family-support charity operating in the same UK paediatric clinical ecosystem.

Broad incumbents

• WellChild: UK charity for seriously ill children, providing family support, information, and direct services. Comparable because it serves UK families of children with complex medical needs with similar parent support, peer connection, and information resources.
• Smile Train: International cleft charity funding cleft surgeries and care worldwide. Listed by CLAPA as an international referral partner; comparable because it operates in the same cleft community with global scale that CLAPA lacks.
• Together for Short Lives: UK charity supporting seriously ill children and their families across the UK. Comparable as a larger, established children's charity providing family support, information, and community services — overlapping CLAPA's family support model at greater scale.
• Scope (UK disability charity): Major UK disability charity providing support, information, and advocacy. Comparable as a broader disability charity offering parent/family support services that include families affected by visible difference conditions like cleft lip and palate.

Direct peers

• CLEFT – Bridging the Gap: UK charity funding research into cleft lip and palate and supporting development of cleft teams. Directly comparable because it operates in the same UK cleft ecosystem with overlapping research and clinical partnership roles.
• CLAPA Ireland (CLAPAI): Volunteer-run support organisation for people affected by cleft in the Republic of Ireland, listed by CLAPA as a referral resource. Directly comparable as a sister cleft support organisation serving an adjacent geographic market with similar service offerings.
• Contact (for families with disabled children): UK charity supporting families of disabled children including those with craniofacial conditions. Directly comparable because it provides parent support, counselling, and information services to UK families of children with congenital conditions — a broader version of CLAPA's remit.
• Changing Faces: UK charity supporting people with visible differences including cleft lip and palate, providing counselling, peer support, and advocacy. Directly comparable as a UK-based charity serving the same condition community with overlapping psychosocial support services.

Emerging players

• National Deaf Children's Society: UK charity supporting deaf children and their families, including those with cleft-related hearing issues. Comparable because it operates in the same family-of-children-with-communication-conditions niche with overlapping audiology and parent support services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/clapacommunity
• Facebookfacebook.com/CLAPACommunity
• Instagraminstagram.com/CLAPACommunity

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cleft Lip and Palate Association