New website, new events, new beginnings

As many of you will be aware, in April 2024, Meta imposed a ban on CP Teens UK because its artificial intelligence believed that we were engaging in, and posting, illegal content. This was due to us using the abbreviation 'CP' for Cerebral Palsy. Unfortunately, unbeknown to us, 'CP' is also used on social media for illegal content, and we got wrongly put into this category by AI with no right to appeal or ability to speak to a human.

Fast forward 12 months, and hopefully we are now just one week away from the end of our year ban, meaning that we should be able to use Facebook and Instagram once more.

Over the past year, we have taken these unforeseen circumstances to take a step back and a semi-hiatus period to review the services and direction of CP Teens UK.

What we have changed/implemented:

1. CP Teens UK is for youngsters & adults with physical disabilities, but we appreciate that this isn't clear from our name. Ultimately, it was decided that the name 'CP Teens UK' and the associated pink and green branding is too strong to change. However, we hope that our brand new website communicates much better that a) CP Teens UK isn't just for teenagers, and b) it isn't just for people with Cerebral Palsy, although this is where it started and will always be our core focus.
   

2. The new website in itself is simpler and easier to use. It is designed so people can find what they want and the answers to any questions fast. The website is accessible with an accessibility widget to accommodate a range of needs. Additionally, we are working on a resource hub that will cover a range of topics & areas to be available on the website soon.
   

3. We have narrowed our core age group to 14-25 years. This doesn't mean that youngsters under-14 cannot join in where appropriate, but in order for youngsters and young adults to get the most out of CP Teens UK events, initiatives and activities, we will now concentrate on 14-25 years.
   

4. We have added a CP+ (26-years and over) section to the website. People who are 26-years or over (or, who are 18+ and wish to socialise with other adults) with Cerebral Palsy/physical disabilities can now 'register their interest' and adult-only events, initiatives and activities will be put on based upon demand.
   

5. We have introduced demand based events, initiatives and activities (e.g. CP+). You will now find some events on the Events page are TBC and you can select when would ideally work best for you. Not only does this potentially make things easier to attend for you, it means that charity resources can be better protected as no bookings are made/no costs are outlaid until we know that a) people want to attend, and b) when people can attend
   

6. We have taken CP Teens UK off of 'X' (formerly Twitter). Like a lot of charities, we have decided that X is no longer the right place for CP Teens UK to reach the people who we exist for and it is not the right online environment to achieve the things we exist to achieve. X will always have a place in the CP Teens UK story. It is where it all started in 2013 - just one account, and one single ‘tweet’, that sparked everything.

The next step is to change our name on Facebook & Instagram from 'CP Teens UK' to 'Cerebral Palsy Teens UK'. Our name will change on Facebook & Instagram only to accommodate Meta's rules, i.e. we will remain CP Teens UK officially and everywhere else.

We thank everyone for their patience over the last 12-months!