Cleft New Zealand Inc
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Show your support by making a donation.
Read more about Cleft New Zealand Inc:
Cleft New Zealand is the support network making a difference for anyone touched by the condition of cleft. That may be a parent of a newborn, a teenager born with cleft or an adult who has a wealth of experience to share, through to a medical professional or educator working with families who really want to make a difference.
Our aim is to empower individuals on their cleft journey.
We aim to assist individuals face the challenges to their resilience of extended medical and developmental intervention and to their self esteem through bullying and a lack of understanding.
We do this by:
- Providing accurate, current information- through info booklets and our website
- Offering emotional support to build skills and resilience and offer hope for a fantastic future. - Support Parent service, 0800 help line, coffee groups, txt service and youth events.
- Providing leadership to the cleft community and an opportunity for individuals to contribute to continuous improvement.
- Providing advocacy based on collaboration and shared goals. • Provide education and insight by helping people walk in another’s shoes.
Our vision is to create a future where people understand difference and value the unique contribution individuals make. We want to make sure that we face cleft seriously, acknowledging all the challenges and feelings that accompany having a difference, but with a light heart, positivity and hope.
Facts about Cleft Lip & Palate in New Zealand
- Cleft means split or separation of parts and is a congenital (present from birth) condition. This can range from a small notch in a baby’s lip to a complete separation of the lip, hard and soft palates (roof of the mouth). Cleft can also be associated with other health issues.
- Having a facial difference is very visual, but there are other implications of the condition that are not obvious. It can affect a child’s ability to develop speech, their hearing, their oral health and their psychological wellbeing.
- There are approximately 120 babies born every year with this condition in New Zealand. That is one in 700 babies.
- It takes time to fully repair a cleft. Medical care lasts for 20 years, although for some people the psychosocial impacts of this facial difference can last a lot longer.
In our image conscious culture looking or sounding different can be a challenge. Cleft New Zealand believes with information and support; with understanding and compassion, with hope for the future these challenges can be overcome. In fact, the resilience, self awareness and strength of character that is built out of this adversity creates some inspirational adults!
Winning a donation from Sovereign will help us achieve:
Empowerment means having enough information, knowledge and skills to make positive personal decisions.
We would use this money to go towards the costs of our base support services, which are:
- 0800 freephone support and information line
- Support Parent service – training courses and supervision
- Website & other online community forums to engage and connect people
- Youth events to ensure that no young person has to face it alone
Our details:
| Registration No: | CC21700 |
| Region: | Hawke's Bay/East Coast, Waikato/Bay of Plenty/Rotorua, Manawatu/Wanganui/Kapiti, Northland, Taranaki, Wellington, Auckland, Canterbury/South Canterbury, Southland, West Coast, Nelson/Marlborough |
| Category: | Children's disability support, Children's health - mental wellness and support for emotional trauma, Parental advice and support, Teenage advice & support |
| Contact Person: | John Frear |
| Address: | PO Box 13385 Onehunga Auckland 1643 |
| Telephone: | 0800 425 338 |
| Email: | info@cleft.org.nz |
| Website: | www.cleft.org.nz |
| No. helped nationally: | 1000 |
| No. helped per project: | 1000+ |
| Existing sponsors or funders: | COGS United Way JR McKenzie Trust |
