Join the CLEFT Team and Make a Difference Today!

It would be fair to say that CLEFT would not be able to function half as well as it does without its small but dedicated group of volunteers. This wonderful group of people donate more than just their time. They bring their enthusiasm, expertise, ideas, creativity and professionalism to the table and are truly committed to helping those affected by cleft lip and palate. We are always very thankful to anyone who can support us by giving some of their precious time. There are a few different ways you can get involved - even if you only have an hour a month, there’ll be a way you can help.

We would love to hear from you if....

you would like to help fundraise. If you have time to spare and think you can help us, we would really love to hear from you. Just drop us a line at [email protected]. Alternatively, check out some of the fundraising eventswe have on and sign up to taking part in something amazing today!
you are a student and would like to join the CLEFT Student Ambassador Group, please also get in touch by completing the form below, we'd really love you to join our expanding group of committed students!
you are interested in volunteering in any other way, including medical professionals, we would love to hear from you so please complete the short form below and we will get back to you to discuss further.

Become a Student Ambassador

Become a CLEFT Volunteer

The CLEFT Volunteering Policy is available to read and download by clicking here: Volunteering Policy

If you are still in any doubt abut whether you should join our volunteering team, then please watch this short video to find out from some of our volunteers what a difference you can make:

Thank you to Lily, Mahaveer, Kaye, Sunny and Tracy for sharing their reasons for volunteering.

We can't wait to hear from you!!

Latest

Payroll Giving: A Simple, Tax-Efficient Way to Support CLEFT

Payroll Giving, also known as 'Give As You Earn', offers an easy, convenient, and tax-efficient way to donate regularly in the UK. By giving directly from your gross salary (before tax), you can contribute more while paying less. This means that anyone in the UK paying tax through PAYE can take advantage of Payroll Giving and enjoy immediate tax relief on their donations.
Serpentine Six Mile Swim Challenge!

I am raising money to support the vital research projects that are championed by CLEFT.
Matthew's Swim Serpentine Challenge

Support Matthew as he Swims the Half-Mile Swim Serpentine for CLEFT on Saturday 14th September in London's Hyde Park.
Tallulah Denyer raising money for CLEFT

I am raising money to provide long-term, sustainable ways to improve cleft care both in the UK and overseas.

National Institute of Burns and Plastic Surgery

We are working with Bangladeshi specialists at the new National Institute of Burns and Plastic Surgery to create a sustainable centre to treat children with cleft lip and palate.
Our mission

CLEFT was established in 2007 with one aim, to help improve the lives of children born with cleft lip and palate, either by funding research into the likely causes of the condition or by helping support teams in lower and middle income countries.
Nawrin and the C-Arm

This important piece of equipment was supplied by CLEFT and is used to see moving images of the cleft palate. Nawrin is a 13 year old girl who was experiencing speech difficulties and needed the C-Arm to show the cleft team if further surgery was required.
Donate

You can make a one-off donation today or sign up to giving a regular monthly gift. All donations, small or large, will help us to improve the lives of those born with cleft lip and palate both now and in the future. 100% of your donation today will go towards funding an international or research project thanks to a charitable trust covering all our administrative costs until February 2025.
About us

CLEFT was established in 2007 by cleft surgeon Brian Sommerlad - based at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, together with a former patient and a patient's grandmother.
Our research vision

At CLEFT, our vision is of a future where clefts are preventable. Until we get there, we want to improve the lives of those born with cleft lip and palate.
Trusts and Foundations

Today, 1-in-700 babies in the UK are born with a cleft lip and palate, the most common form of birth defect. The impact on a child’s life as they grow is profound. Typically, they will need at least four operations. They may also require ongoing tests, treatment or therapy. It will affect the way they look but also their speech, hearing and dental development. It can leave deep psychological scars.
The genetics of cleft lip and palate

Investigations into the genetics of cleft lip and palate to understand more about why cleft lip and palate occurs.
Brian Sommerlad, Consultant Plastic Surgeon and Chair of Trustees

For over 40 years, I have been involved in operating on babies, children and adults who have been born with cleft lip and/or palate.
FOXF2 gene discovery

A genetic defect has been identified in a family from Egypt with a type of palate abnormality and speech disorder apparently not previously described. The FOXF2 research is one of the many projects currently funded by CLEFT, paid for with money raised by our donors and fundraisers.