Medical Info

CLAPA has parent contacts all over the UK, who can offer personal knowledge of the difficulties that can be faced by new parents of babies born with a cleft lip and/or palate.

If you would like to talk to someone you are welcome to call or email any parent contact directly. If you prefer, CLAPA will call them on your behalf and the parent contact will get in touch with you.

Just ring us on 020 7833 4883 or email with your preference and contact details.

Parent Contacts

Cleft Net East
  • Anita Swales

    I have a daughter born with Pierre Robin sequence. I enjoy playing the piano and swimming.
    Location: Northampton   T: 01604 230675   E:

  • Lynsey McClelland “Lyns”
    Lynsey McClelland “Lyns”

    I have a daughter born in 2005 with a cleft of both the hard and soft palate. I am married to Craig and we have two children named Lucy (Born in Sept 2005 with a cleft of the hard & soft palate with Pierre Robin Sequence) & Callum (born in Nov 2009). We have 2 dogs who like long walks!! I like to try to keep fit by going to the gym, jogging, mountain climbing and walking.
    Location: Lincolnshire   T: 01526 344604   E:

North Thames Cleft Service
  • Heather Pownall
    Heather Pownall

    I enjoy cooking, especially baking cupcakes, that the children soon devour! I like going to the cinema to see a good old “RomCom” – nothing scary! I love reading in my “spare” time....my tastes are very diverse. I always have the radio on and like my reading, my musical tastes are equally diverse and eclectic. I have a dog called Poppy, who I love to bits, and a cat called Zak who is 18, and finally a fish called Batman Jnr. I am quite partial to a glass or two of Pinot Grigio, and my family is the most important thing in my life!
    Location: Thundersley, Essex   T: 01702 555267   E:

  • Jane Hughes
    Jane Hughes

    My son was born with a cleft lip & palate. I’m a full-time mother to two teenage boys so my job title is chauffeur, cook, laundrymaid, waitress, nurse, gardener etc etc! I like walking, gardening, eating out and ballroom dancing.
    Location: London   T: 0208 518 8660   E:

  • Sally Huggins

    Sally has a child born with cleft lip and palate
    Location: London   T: 07595 548 927   E:

Northern and Yorkshire Cleft Service
  • Sue Clubley

    Has a son with cleft lip and palate.
    Location: Hull   T: 01964 650 421   E:

Northern Ireland Cleft Service
  • Liz Wallace

    Has a son born with bilateral cleft lip & palate
    Location: Belfast   T: 02890 584183   E:

Northwest Cleft Service
  • Carla Butler

    Has a daughter with a unilateral cleft lip and palate.
    Location: Shevington, Wigan   T: 07738 364 669   E:

  • Dena Corden-Lepetit

    Has a daughter born with a cleft lip and submucasl cleft palate.
    Location: Staffordshire   T: 07838942590   E:

  • Lisa Steel

    I have a daughter with a cleft of the soft palate and Chromosome 22q11 Deletion Syndrome. I enjoy days out with my family and muddy walks in the countryside. I run a support group in Preston for families whose children are affected by cleft.
    Location: Preston, Lancashire   T: 01772 745 402   E:

  • Louise Judge
    Louise Judge

    I have a son born in 2002 with a cleft palate and Pierre Robin Sequence. I like to watch football, go out to concerts and holiday abroad.
    Location: Merseyside   T: 01744 810581   E:

  • Michaela Lefley
    Michaela Lefley

    I have a son, born in 2002, with a cleft palate. I enjoy family holidays, and days out with my husband and two boys to the seaside or in the country. I also enjoy listening to music, going to the cinema with the family and eating out.
    Location: Manchester   T: 0161 2881571   E:

  • Sarah Thomas
    Sarah Thomas

    My name is Sarah, I’m 34 years old, married and have two daughters aged 5 and 2. My eldest, Erin, was born with a bilateral complete cleft lip and palate. I enjoy cooking, meeting with friends, walking the dog (Meg a Springer Spaniel) and spending time with my family.I also enjoy music (listening to and playing it) and reading – although I haven’t had the chance to get my teeth into anything recently other than childrens books!!
    Location: Llanbedrgoch   T: 01248 450486   E:

Scottish Cleft Network
  • Elizabeth Kelly
    Elizabeth Kelly

    I have a 21 year old son with a cleft lip. I now also have two grandchildren whom I adore and love looking after. I am a registered Childminder five days a week for three different sets of parents and my interests are sugar craft (making wedding cakes etc and flowers to decorate them) reading, knitting, eating out and enjoying time with my husband now that our children are grown up.
    Location: Glasgow   T: 01236 610299   E:

  • Valerie Stewart

    Parent of a child born with unilateral cleft lip & palate
    Location: Aberdeen, Scotland   T: 01467 629435   E:

  • Wendy Tully

    Parent of a child born with cleft lip & palate
    Location: Dalkeith, Scotland   T: 0131 6633677   E:

South Thames Cleft Service
  • Barry Hancock
    Barry Hancock

    I like cooking, going to the movies and spending time with the family. I am happily married to Tracey and we have Elliot who is now 12 and was born with a bilateral cleft lip and palate.
    Location: Surrey   T: 01483 275672   E:

  • Kerry Dwyer

    Has a daughter born with cleft lip & palate
    Location: Surrey   E:

  • Patricia Chiswell
    Patricia Chiswell

    I work as a staff nurse on a childrens ward. I have 8 grandchildren and my eldest grandson has a bilateral cleft lip and palate. I love to do cross stitch in my spare time along with reading when I get a chance. I feel I am easy to get on with and would love the chance to help another family with a child with a cleft lip/palate or even a family member like myself.
    Location: Farnborough, Hampshire   T: 01252 540405   E:

  • Sarah Goodwin

    Has a daughter with a cleft of the soft palate.
    Location: Kent   T: 01634 318975   E:

  • Vicki Wolf
    Vicki Wolf

    I live in South West London, I have a four year old daughter who had a unilateral cleft palate which has been successfully repaired. I work full-time so on the weekends I enjoy gardening, spending time with family and friends and walking our dog. Please contact me after 8pm.
    Location: London   T: 0208 8741 665   E:

South Wales/South West Managed Clinical Network
  • Esther Rookes

    Esther has a son born with cleft lip & palate
    Location: Devon   T: 01822 853862   E:

  • Natalie Rigg
    Natalie Rigg

    I have a son born with a cleft lip & palate. I'm passionate about Rugby - watching my two boys and daughter play, and supporting Bristol Rugby Team. I'm also partial to the odd glass or two of Cava with my girl friends.
    Location: South West   T: 0117 9245445   E:

  • Rachel Kellar

    Has a son born with a cleft lip and alveolus.
    Location: Chepstow, Gwent   T: 07754 760 860   E:

  • Sarah Bennett
    Sarah Bennett

    I am a mother of two children, my son was born with unilateral cleft lip and bilateral palate. I love being out walking with my family, cooking and using computers.
    Location: West Glamorgan   T: 01639 794145   E:

Trent Cleft Service
  • Harry Feather
    Harry Feather

    Dad to Jacob, born with a unilateral cleft lip and palate. I enjoy spending as much time as possible with my family, playing chess, reading and watching rugby and cricket. I love listening to music and watching my son 'dancing!'
    Location: Sheffield   T: 07875 468 103   E:

  • Jackie Isherwood

    I have two sons born in 1983 and 1985 with Stickler Syndrome (with which I have also been diagnosed) including a Pierre Robin type cleft palate. I enjoy swimming, Pilates and am learning to play the piano (badly)!
    Location: Lincolnshire   T: 01522 884884   E:

  • Ruth Feather
    Ruth Feather

    I'm mum to Jacob who was born in September 2007 with a unilateral cleft lip and palate. I like to knit and read books when I get a chance, and know the names of all the Thomas the Tank Engine trains!
    Location: Sheffield   T: 077 7903 4790   E:

  • Sandra Cambell

    I am a healthcare professional and that I had a son born in 1993 with an incomplete bilateral cleft lip and palate.
    Location: Leicestershire   E:

  • Verena White

    I am a full time working mum of two daughters. The youngest was born with a cleft palate and is now 11 Years old, a slow start, but she has always inspired me, she is a very confident bubbly young lady, who loves to dance. She achieved a part last christmas in our local city's Theatre Pantomime and is currently rehearsing towards a Musical, the King and I as one of the kings children. I feel i want to help and support others in similiar situations and try to reassure them at those difficult times.
    Location: Nottingham   T: 01159 390900

West Midlands Cleft Service
  • Karen Robertson
    Karen Robertson

    I am married to Lewis and and we have three children. Our eldest, Fiona, was born with a uni-lateral Cleft Lip and Palate. I am a Primary School Teacher in Birmingham. My interests are reading, pilates, walking and going on holiday.
    Location: Birmingham   T: 0121 6821450   E:

  • Tracey Hinchcliffe

    Parent of a child born with a bi-lateral cleft lip and palate.
    Location: Shropshire   T: 01952 245467   E: