Julie Davies Senior Specialist Speech & Language Therapist, Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital. Expand My name is Julie and I have been a speech and language therapist with the cleft team in Manchester since 1997. During this time, I have enjoyed working with a very committed team of cleft professionals, been involved in research, been Chair of the Speech and Language Therapy Clinical Excellence Network and Treasurer of the Craniofacial Society of Great Britain and Ireland. I am a keen walker and love the outdoors and so joined CLEFT to support the charities fundraising in any way I can and hopefully through my contacts, friends and family will be able to encourage more people to join us.
Joshua Kennedy NIHR Academic Clinical Fellow, University of Bristol Expand Hi, I’m Joshua. I’m an NIHR Academic Clinical Fellow at the University of Bristol, with a research focus on cleft lip +/- palate (CLP). I first became involved with CLEFT as an undergraduate dental student and now I am Vice Chair of the Trainee Section, where I support engagement and collaboration across committees. My research uses data from the Cleft Collective to explore how early-life and maternal factors influence cleft phenotype and outcomes. I’m particularly passionate about strengthening CLP education at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, alongside contributing to UK–Nepal initiatives as well as fundraising efforts, including running the Berlin Marathon (2023) and this year’s Cardiff Half Marathon.
Chloé Rolland Consultant Orthodontist Expand Consultant in Orthodontics with a specialist interest in Cleft, currently working with the Cleft.NET.East team (Cambridge University Hospitals). I became interested in clefts at university, when learning about embryological development. My professional interests lie in teaching and research to improve outcomes for children and adults born with clefts. I am excited to be involved with the Cleft UK International steering committee since its focus is on ensuring that cleft care is undertaken sustainably and to a high standard by supporting local teams internationally.
Will Raby-Smith I’m currently working as a junior doctor completing my foundation programme at Addenbrookes Hospital in Cambridge. Expand I aim to train in maxillofacial surgery and look forward to undertaking my dental studies at King's College London in August 2023. I first developed an interest in cleft surgery at medical school and was immediately drawn to the profound functional, aesthetic, psychological and social impacts of such surgery. After reading about CLEFT’s work in the UK and overseas, I contacted the trustees to see how I could get involved. Alongside Shonnelly Novintan and Yul Khan-Pascual, we created the Trainee Section to provide a community where junior trainees can collaborate on projects to further CLEFT’s charitable aims.
Shonnelly Novintan I’m looking forward to taking on this exciting journey with Will to form and shape the CLEFT Trainee Section. Expand I am a junior doctor who graduated from Imperial College London in 2021 and am undertaking my plastics training in Chelmsford. My interest in cleft lip and palate began after my elective at Great Ormond Street Hospital, where I first saw the meticulous nature of cleft surgery. After getting involved with CLEFT, I was enlightened to the global humanitarian impact and this has spurred my passion to develop the Trainee Section alongside Will.
Siobhan McMahon I am currently the Lead Speech and Language Therapist with the cleft team based at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, Liverpool. Expand I have had experience working with cleft teams in a number of low/middle income countries including Nepal, India and Vietnam.
Why do we need research into clefts? Research enables the discovery of new, better and kinder treatments for clefts. Expand It also enables health professionals and scientists to determine which treatments and operations give the best results, and which groups of patients are most likely to benefit. Research paves the way for understanding more about why clefts happen, why they sometimes run in families and if anything could be done to reduce the likelihood of a cleft occurring in the future. Without research, our understanding of clefts and their treatment would not change. It is therefore vital to support research so that cleft care continues to improve for the next generation of patients
Jenny Cropper I am a Clinical Psychologist working in the Spires Cleft Centre, across the Oxford and Salisbury sites. Expand I joined the team in 2020 and am the lead psychologist for cleft, craniofacial and facial palsy services at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford. I have worked at the interface of physical health and emotional well-being for the past 18 years including within surgical multidisciplinary teams. I have a background in research and hope to bring this experience to my role within Cleft. I am interested to make more links within cleft and hear about new project ideas, particularly those that will improve the lived experience of those born with a cleft and their families.
Zhi Yin Lim Academic Dental Foundation Trainee at Newcastle Expand I qualified from Queen's University Belfast and am currently in my dental foundation training in the North East. During my time at university, I was an active fundraiser for CLEFT, an experience which sparked my interest in cleft lip and palate. I am passionate about raising awareness and education around hollistic and sustainable approaches to cleft care and am excited to contribute to the Trainee section this year.
Sathita Attharangsan Society Representative and medical student, Charles University, Prague Expand Hello, I am a 5th year medical student from the First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague! I am truly delighted to be a part of the CLEFT team. I aspire to raise awareness about Cleft Lip and Palate conditions and promote our fundraising activities to the community, so that together, we can help to make a difference to the lives of children born with clefts. A small fun fact about me: I enjoy visiting new places and being out in nature during my free time!
India Barrons FY1 doctor currently working in Edinburgh. Expand I’m a FY1 doctor currently working in Edinburgh. I’ve been fundraising for CLEFT for the past few years as a student ambassador, so I’m delighted to join the trainee section now that I’ve graduated. Completing my first rotation in OMFS and plastics has further developed my interest in CLEFT care, so I’m even more excited to work with the team to grow CLEFT’s network both here in the UK and globally, through sustainable project development, more fundraising and outreach events!
Hannah Lane I am a Specialist Speech and Language Therapist working with children born with cleft and craniofacial conditions in Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, linking with the Nottingham Trent Cleft team. Expand I am passionate about research in the field of cleft and particularly interested in how we can improve speech outcomes through early intervention. I am the Clinical Therapies Research Lead at Doncaster and Bassetlaw NHS Trust and work part time at the University of Sheffield, supporting the Speech and Language Therapy students. I love being outdoors and exploring the Peak District from my home in Sheffield.
Rowan Griffiths Photojournalist based in South Wales Expand I first worked with CLEFT in Bangladesh and was immediately struck by the life-changing positive impact that the Charities’ work can have on children and families. I’m excited to work with CLEFT to support and showcase the great working they are doing. I am a photojournalist with 20 years’ experience of working in print media. I’m based in South Wales and cover national and international news and humanitarian stories.
Alexandra Robinson I am a foundation doctor who graduated from UCL medical school in 2023, I now work at Southport Hospital in the Merseyside and West Lancashire NHS trust. Expand I first became passionate about the intricacies of plastic, aesthetic, and reconstructive surgery at medical school, when I spent time with highly skilled plastic hand surgeons at the Royal Free Hospital and soon after undertook an Elective in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, with the plastic and burns unit. After hearing about CLEFT through a friend, I read about the missions and unique work they’ve done to create permanent and sustainable ways to improve cleft care in the UK and overseas. I instantly knew I wanted to get involved in the volunteering and trainee section. By the end of 2024, I hope to complete a charity run, get involved with Outreach projects in Liverpool and London, and contribute to ongoing resource projects with the other trainees at the charity.
Imogen Underwood Lead / Consultant Speech and Language Therapist, West Midlands Regional Cleft Lip and Palate Service Expand Imogen is the Lead/ Consultant Speech and Language Therapist for the West Midlands Regional Cleft Service. She has worked in cleft care, improving speech outcomes in the UK for children and adults with cleft lip and palate, for over 20 years. One of her key accomplishments includes her presidency of the Craniofacial Society of Great Britain and Ireland (2017–2019), during which she contributed to advancing clinical practices and research in craniofacial conditions. Additionally, her focus on Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) has been influential in making healthcare more patient-centered, ensuring that quality of life and patient experiences are integral to the evaluation of treatment success. Imogen has also worked with overseas charities to support the delivery of cleft care in Vietnam and the Philippines and is passionate about further developing the support, training and collaboration with local teams in other countries.
Richard Carrick Expand I’ve been involved in the UK travel, hospitality & transport industries for over 40 years. I’m currently a chairman, non-executive director and investor in several businesses. I’m delighted to be a CLEFT trustee and help contribute to the amazing work it does in many countries of the world.
Kathryn Qattan Expand I have worked in financial services for over 30 years and have also volunteered for Girl Guiding, in a number of roles, for almost as long. I am delighted to be appointed as a Trustee and look forward to supporting the Charity in all aspects of its work
Karishma Patel Junior doctor, Merseyside Expand HI! My name is Karishma. I graduated from Manchester Medical School in 2023 and currently work as a junior doctor in Merseyside. During my rotations, I developed a strong interest in plastic surgery, particularly after my elective at a specialist centre, where I saw the breadth of skills and creativity involved in the field. CLEFT Trainees stood out to me for its commitment to education, networking, and sustainable global surgery. As Events Lead, I aim to expand CLEFT’s presence at regional events, bringing together trainees and experts to share knowledge and inspire innovation in cleft surgery. I hope to introduce more workshops and networking opportunities, fostering a collaborative community dedicated to improving global surgical care.
Kurchi Mitra I am an Academic Foundation Doctor working at Newcastle upon Tyne Hospital Trusts. Expand My first encounter with cleft surgery was during my medical student elective at Great Ormond Street Hospital, where I was immediately drawn to its life-changing impact on patients and the potential to improve surgical care globally. With a longstanding passion for global health, I was inspired by the incredible research, outreach, and fundraising efforts that Cleft has undertaken over the years, and I knew I wanted to be part of it. This year, I am thrilled to join the Trainee section as Communications Lead. I look forward to expanding the charity’s reach through social media, fundraising, and outreach events.
Rhiannon Nielsen Junior doctor, South Wales Expand I am currently working as a surgical research fellow and hoping to pursue a career in cleft surgery. I was first exposed to cleft surgery during my final year of university and elective and became fascinated by the intricacies and creativity that the speciality involved. I worked with CLEFT as the lead student ambassador for my university and am excited to be back working with a team so committed to outreach, education and research. This year I plan to fundraise through a mixture of artistic projects and outreach events. I am also running a half marathon in May and will be raising money for CLEFT during the run up to this. I'm really excited to see what this year brings and work with such a fantastic team to raise money and awareness for the charity.
Ways You Can Leave a Gift in Your Will … Expand A share of your estate This is called a residuary gift. It means leaving a percentage of what’s left of your estate after all debts, costs, and any specific gifts to loved ones have been taken care of. A cash gift Also known as a pecuniary gift, this is a fixed sum of money, you choose the amount you would like or feel able to leave. A specific item You can also leave a particular item to CLEFT; such as a property, share portfolio, or personal belongings like jewellery or artwork.
... And the impact it could have Expand Your generosity, whatever the size or type of gift, could help provide essential equipment, therapy, and training to give more children the chance to eat, speak, smile and thrive. £250 – could cover the lifetime of cleft care needed for one child in a lower income country, including operations, speech therapy and dentistry £1,000 – could empower patients and their families/carers, by providing accessible information leaflets in local languages £2,000 – could help children find their voice through the provision of speech and language therapy tools and training £5,000 – could help build skills that last for generations, by funding long term training visits overseas £50,000 – could fund a new research project into the likely causes of cleft lip and palate £80,000 – could fund a brand new Mini C-Arm X-ray Machine – providing a vital tool to ensure children receive the right surgery for clearer speech
Including a Gift to CLEFT in your Will is Simple Expand Whether you're making a Will for the first time or updating an existing one, including a gift to CLEFT is straightforward. We recommend using a solicitor or Will writing professional to make or update your Will. They’ll make sure it’s legally valid and that your wishes are carried out exactly as you intend. All you will need to provide them with are the details of the gift you’d like to leave and the information below: Charity Name: CLEFT Address: 10a Warren Estate, Lordship Road, Writtle, Chelmsford, CM1 3WT Registered Charity Number: 1194581 Once they have this, they’ll take care of the rest.