Supporting children with Cleft Lip and Palate to explore their experiences, share their views and celebrate the things that make them unique and special. Our partners for this project, Cleft Lip and Palate Association (CLAPA), is a national charity for children and families affected by Cleft Lip and Palate.
In 2016, CLAPA approached us to support their newly formed Scotland Children and Young Person’s Council (SCYPC), made up of children and young people aged 9-17. The group meets three times a year to discuss issues they think are important, inform/provide feedback to organisations/professionals about their work with young people who were born with a cleft, share experiences and have fun with each other.
Children’s Parliament has met with SCYPC three times, supporting the group to explore their experiences of being affected by cleft lip and palate through a rights-based approach. The group has explored what children need to be happy, healthy and safe and have thought about how rights apply to children affected by cleft lip and palate.
The group quickly identified bullying as a particularly serious issue for them. The group shared their experiences of bullying with each other and wanted to take action to support other children and adults to be bold and stand against bullying and other rights infringements.
For more information about Cleft Lip & Palate Association please visit their website at: www.clapa.com