Privacy Policy

CLEFT Privacy Policy

At CLEFT, we’re committed to protecting and respecting your privacy. This Policy explains when and why we collect personal information about people who contact us, how we use it, the conditions under which we may disclose it to others, and how we keep it secure.

We may change this Policy from time to time, so please check this page occasionally to ensure that you’re happy with any changes. By using our website, you’re agreeing to be bound by this Policy.

Any questions regarding this Policy and our privacy practices should be sent by email to [email protected] or by writing to CLEFT, 10a Warren Estate, Lordship Road, Writtle, Chelmsford, Essex CM1 3WT. Alternatively, you can telephone 01245 421901.

Who Are We?

We are CLEFT, a registered charity (no. 1194581), supporting cleft lip and palate teams in low-resource countries by working with local surgeons and other specialists to help develop high-quality multidisciplinary cleft centres. We also support research in the UK that benefits cleft lip and palate patients globally.

Registered address:
CLEFT, 10a Warren Estate, Lordship Road, Writtle, Chelmsford, Essex CM1 3WT.

How Do We Collect Information from You?

We may obtain information about you when you contact us, register for one of our events, make a donation, or register to receive newsletters or other communications.

What Type of Information Is Collected?

The personal information we collect might include your name, address, email address, phone number, and birth date. If you make a donation online or by phone, your card details are processed securely by a third-party payment processor.

How Is Your Information Used?

We may use your information to:

Process a donation you have made.
Carry out our obligations arising from any contracts entered into by you and us.
Seek your views or comments on the services we provide.
Notify you of changes to our services.
Send you communications you have requested, including information about campaigns, appeals, and fundraising activities.
Process a grant or job application.

We review our retention periods for personal information regularly and ensure compliance with legal obligations, such as Gift Aid, by holding data for the necessary duration.

Who Has Access to Your Information?

We will not sell or rent your information to third parties, and we will not share your information with third parties for marketing purposes.

Third-Party Service Providers:
We may pass your information to third-party service providers who perform services on our behalf (e.g., processing donations, sending mailings). We only share the information necessary to provide the service and have contracts in place to ensure your information is kept secure and used only for the services we request.

Payment Processors:
For donations, your payment information is processed by third-party payment processors. We do not hold your payment details.

Your Choices

You can choose whether or not to receive information from us. If you prefer not to receive direct marketing communications from us, you can select your preferences during the collection process or update them at any time by contacting us at [email protected] or calling 01245 421901.

How You Can Access and Update Your Information

You have the right to access, update, or correct the personal information we hold about you. To request access to your data, contact us at [email protected]. We will respond within one month.

If your information is inaccurate or out of date, please inform us so we can correct it.

Security Precautions

We use encrypted connections (SSL/TLS) for data transmission and implement access controls to protect your information from unauthorized access. However, no method of transmitting data over the internet is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee its absolute security.

Links to Other Websites

Our website may contain links to other websites. This Privacy Policy only applies to our website, so we encourage you to read the privacy statements of other sites you visit.

Our Website Provider

Your data may also be accessible to our website provider to deliver services, perform research, and improve our services. Any data shared with our provider is used solely for these purposes, and they will not transfer your data to third parties or outside the UK/EEA. Your data will be stored for up to seven years.

Children's Data

We are concerned with protecting the privacy of children aged 16 or under. If you are under 16, please obtain parental/guardian consent before providing personal information.

Your Rights

Under the UK GDPR, you have the following rights regarding your personal data:

The right to access the data we hold about you.
The right to correct any inaccuracies.
The right to request erasure of your data in certain circumstances.
The right to restrict processing or object to processing.
The right to withdraw consent (where applicable).

If you believe your data protection rights have been violated, you have the right to file a complaint with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) at www.ico.org.uk.

Review of This Policy

We review this Policy regularly and may update it to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. Please check this page occasionally to stay informed about how we protect your information.

Latest

Javid's 10k Fundraising Run

My son Elvin was born with a cleft lip in 2024. But thanks to the NHS, we got world class care and the result was unrecognisable. Sometimes we remember the fact that he used to have a cleft and we miss his huge carefree cleft smile. But unfortunately not every child has access to the same professional support. It is Elvin's 2nd birthday this week, so I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to run 10k fundraising for CLEFT - to help other children across the world, bridging the gap.
LF1 Cleft Charity

We are raising money with the LF1 division of the Cleft Charity at Charles University, Prague, to support sustainable, long-term improvements in cleft care. Through fundraising and awareness initiatives at LF1, we aim to contribute to the main UK Cleft Charity’s mission of improving access to cleft treatment, multidisciplinary care, and support services for patients and families both in the UK and internationally.
London Marathon 2027

1.33 million people applied for the London Marathon 2027. For the first time ever CLEFT has a guaranteed place. We are looking for someone incredible to run the London Marathon for CLEFT. Could that person be you?
Sarah’s 10K for Cleft UK

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

Donate to CLEFT

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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Privacy Policy

PRIVACY POLICY