We have been fortunate enough to experience and benefit from the team at Cleft. Mr Sommerlad and his amazing team provide first class support and remedial skill. We were lucky to be able to access the medical provision but not all are.

1 in every 700 babies is born with a cleft globally. Unfortunately, cleft treatment is out of reach for many of those in need around the world. A cleft lip and cleft palate can cause a number of issues, particularly in the first few months after birth, before surgery is done: difficulty feeding, hearing problems, dental problems, speech problems.

Most of these problems will improve after surgery and with treatments such as speech and language therapy.

CLEFT is focused on providing permanent, sustainable ways to improve cleft care both in the UK and overseas. Broadly speaking, they can be described in two categories. Firstly through sponsorship of research projects in the UK to help identify the likely causes of clefts and secondly, by supporting projects in lower-income countries to help provide long-term treatment and care for less privileged people born with clefts.

Nick Holt