Heather Small Announced as Ambassador for Smile Train UK

• British soul singer joins the world’s largest cleft charity, Smile Train, as their newest Ambassador
• Heather’s influential presence and dedication to creating positive change will play a crucial role in raising awareness of Smile Train’s transformative impact and establish her as a champion of people with clefts
• Heather will be kicking off her ambassadorship with a special performance at Smile Train UK’s annual Big Smile Carol Concert on 5 December

LONDON (20 November 2023) Smile Train UK, the world’s largest cleft-focused charity, is delighted to announce British soul singer Heather Small as their newest Smile Train UK Ambassador.

In her role as Ambassador, Heather will use her platform to raise awareness about clefts in the UK while championing Smile Train's impactful programmes in more than 75 countries around the world. Heather is gearing up for an exciting visit to one of Smile Train's programmes in 2024, where she will see the positive impact of donor support first-hand. During her visit, she'll meet with children from a Smile Train Choir. Originating as part of Smile Train’s speech therapy aftercare initiative, these choirs provide a place where cleft-affected children thrive and are given the confidence to use their voices and speak up on stage.

Heather will be commencing her Ambassadorship with a special performance at Smile Train UK’s annual Big Smile Carol Concert, which will take place at The Grosvenor Chapel in Mayfair, London, at 7 pm on Tuesday, 5 December 2023.

Heather Small commented: “I am incredibly honoured to join Smile Train UK as an Ambassador. I have been a supporter of the charity for a number of years and the work they are doing for cleft-affected people of all ages is truly incredible. Every child deserves the chance to smile, and I’ve been blown away by the scale of their programmes and how they go far beyond sponsoring free cleft surgery.

“Singing has played a huge role in my life, so I know that Smile Train’s speech therapy programme centred around singing and building confidence is life-changing for cleft-affected children who need their voices to be heard. It is a privilege to play my part in helping the charity to continue this inspiring work."

Ian Vallance, Director of Smile Train UK, said: “We are delighted to welcome Heather into our Smile Train family. As someone who is passionate about charity work, we know she will bring a powerful presence to make a difference.

“Every three minutes, a baby is born with a cleft. Left untreated, these babies will struggle to breathe, speak, eat, and ultimately thrive. Smile Train is working to create a world where every child has access to the cleft treatment that we are fortunate to receive for free here in the UK.

“Heather's support will help us create awareness, raise funds, and completely transform the lives of countless children with clefts."

Clefts are the most common facial difference globally, affecting around 1 in 700 babies. In the UK, cleft surgery is carried out within the first 12 months of a baby’s life by the National Health Service (NHS). However, hundreds of thousands of children in low-resource communities worldwide do not have access to the lifesaving cleft treatment they desperately need.

Smile Train's sustainable model empowers local medical professionals with training, funding, and resources to provide free cleft surgery and other comprehensive cleft care to children globally. Since 1999, Smile Train has supported safe and quality cleft care for 1.5+ million children and will continue to do so until every person in need with a cleft has access to the care they deserve.

To learn more about Smile Train's global efforts and to make a donation, please visit smiletrain.org.uk.

###

About Smile Train: Smile Train empowers local medical professionals with training, funding, and resources to provide free cleft surgery and comprehensive cleft care to children globally. We advance a sustainable solution and scalable global health model for cleft treatment, drastically improving children’s lives, including their ability to eat, breathe, speak, and ultimately thrive. To learn more about how Smile Train's sustainable approach means donations have both an immediate and long-term impact, please visit smiletrain.org.uk.

About Heather Small: Heather Small is a British singer and songwriter celebrated for her powerful voice and captivating performances. Born on 20 January 1965 in London, she rose to fame as the lead vocalist of the band M People, known for hits like “Moving on Up” and “Search for the Hero.”

With a career spanning several decades, Small’s distinct vocal style and charismatic stage presence have earned her a dedicated fan base and critical acclaim. She is not only a talented artist but also an advocate for various charitable causes, using her influence to support social and humanitarian initiatives.

We are delighted to announce that Heather is Smile Train UK’s latest Celebrity Ambassador.

Media Contacts:
Emily Oliver
Smile Train
Manager, Brand Marketing and Communications, UK
eoliver@smiletrain.org

The PHA Group
smiletrain@thephagroup.com