About European Cleft Organisation

About European Cleft Organisation

About European Cleft Organisation

Our Vision

A world where every person born with a cleft has access to high-quality healthcare, social support and education, enabling them to lead fulfilling lives with fair and inclusive opportunities.

Our Mission

ECO is a nonprofit organisation dedicated to improving the lives of individuals born with clefts by improving access to multidisciplinary healthcare and ensuring they and their families receive comprehensive support both within and beyond the medical environment.

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What We Do

Building Capacity and Improving Cleft Services

We train doctors, nurses, speech therapists, and other professionals involved in cleft care, as well as parents across Europe with a focus on multidisciplinary care, early intervention, psychological support, communication and resilience.

Building Capacity and Improving Cleft Services

We train doctors, nurses, speech therapists, and other professionals involved in cleft care, as well as parents across Europe with a focus on multidisciplinary care, early intervention, psychological support, communication and resilience.

Policy Advocacy

We partner with global cleft organisations to establish minimum standards of care, lobbying governments and health administrators to expand access to quality healthcare. At the European level, we act as a collective voice for cleft and craniofacial charities and press for joint advocacy initiatives. Nationally, we help develop local protocols and influence government policies to reflect best practices in cleft care.

Policy Advocacy

We partner with global cleft organisations to establish minimum standards of care, lobbying governments and health administrators to expand access to quality healthcare. At the European level, we act as a collective voice for cleft and craniofacial charities and press for joint advocacy initiatives. Nationally, we help develop local protocols and influence government policies to reflect best practices in cleft care.

Patient-Clinician Collaboration

We foster the development of sustainable cleft support groups by bringing together families and healthcare professionals. These groups help ensure that patient voices are heard and unmet needs are addressed through training in advocacy, person-centred care and task planning. By reaching into community and educational environments in ways that clinicians cannot, support groups play a vital role in extending the impact of medical care.

Patient-Clinician Collaboration

We foster the development of sustainable cleft support groups by bringing together families and healthcare professionals. These groups help ensure that patient voices are heard and unmet needs are addressed through training in advocacy, person-centred care and task planning. By reaching into community and educational environments in ways that clinicians cannot, support groups play a vital role in extending the impact of medical care.

Expanding Alliances Beyond Cleft Care

By endorsing holistic cleft care that extends beyond medical settings into education, employment, and community life, we aim to foster innovative solutions that improve healthcare access, inclusion and overall wellbeing for individuals born with cleft. Working with a range of stakeholders, ECO strives to promote Equal Cleft Opportunities.

Expanding Alliances Beyond Cleft Care

By endorsing holistic cleft care that extends beyond medical settings into education, employment, and community life, we aim to foster innovative solutions that improve healthcare access, inclusion and overall wellbeing for individuals born with cleft. Working with a range of stakeholders, ECO strives to promote Equal Cleft Opportunities.

Supporting Research with Patient Involvement at Every Step

We actively promote user engagement in research and service development, ensuring that individuals with lived experience of cleft play a meaningful role in setting research priorities and serve in advisory capacities from project planning through to the dissemination of findings. Their input enhances the relevance, inclusivity, and long-term value of cleft-focused initiatives.

Supporting Research with Patient Involvement at Every Step

We actively promote user engagement in research and service development, ensuring that individuals with lived experience of cleft play a meaningful role in setting research priorities and serve in advisory capacities from project planning through to the dissemination of findings. Their input enhances the relevance, inclusivity, and long-term value of cleft-focused initiatives.

Partners and Collaborators

Partners and Collaborators

Partners and Collaborators

Collaboration is at the heart of everything we do. The European Cleft Organisation (ECO) works closely with a diverse network of partners—including hospitals, universities, NGOs, and professional associations—to advance cleft care across Europe and beyond. Here are some of the partners we have worked alongside trying together to improve the lives of all those born with clefts.

ERN CRANIO (European Reference Network on Craniofacial Anomalies and ENT Disorders)

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Smile Train

Smile Train

American Cleft Palate Craniofacial Association

American Cleft Palate Craniofacial Association

World Cleft Coalition

World Cleft Coalition

Face Equality International

Face Equality International

Circle of Cleft Professionals (CoCPs)

Circle of Cleft Professionals (CoCPs)

More Partners

More Partners

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European Cleft Organisation

We committed to ensuring that every person born with a cleft lip and/or palate in Europe has access to high-quality healthcare, comprehensive support, and the opportunity to lead a fulfilling life.

Email: info@europeancleft.org


Donate

logo

European Cleft Organisation

We committed to ensuring that every person born with a cleft lip and/or palate in Europe has access to high-quality healthcare, comprehensive support, and the opportunity to lead a fulfilling life.

Email: info@europeancleft.org


Donate

logo

European Cleft Organisation

We committed to ensuring that every person born with a cleft lip and/or palate in Europe has access to high-quality healthcare, comprehensive support, and the opportunity to lead a fulfilling life.

Email: info@europeancleft.org


Donate