Newbury NCT branch recently celebrated its 40th anniversary. We talk to Branch Coordinator Sarah Mackay about the special event to mark this milestone and hear from previous volunteers about four fabulous decades of supporting parents.
In July we decided to hold an ‘NCTea Party’ at a local nature spot to mark the last 40 years, organised by several hard-working and talented people on our committee.
We had glorious weather and around 60 people came along to join the celebrations. We had a picnic and entertained the children with activities like biscuit decorating, craft activities, a music session, treasure hunt and lawn games.
When we stood around the birthday cake, we realised we had most of the previous Branch Coordinators from the last 30 years, including myself, Mary Barnard, Helen Kenna and Alison Sellar.
I’m very lucky that I’m still in touch with them as they’ve been a source of invaluable support and have a vast knowledge base between them.
I attended NCT antenatal classes when I was pregnant with my son, David, six years ago.
I was working full-time and saw the classes as the perfect opportunity to meet like-minded couples at the same stage of pregnancy as us.
Once my son was six months old, I was ready to get my mind back into something and Newbury branch were looking for a Fundraising Coordinator.
With my marketing background and an opportunity to create events to fundraise, and exercise my brain at the same time, it seemed like a perfect fit.
As others before me, this soon led to lots of other roles including Branch Secretary, Membership Secretary and, of course, Branch Coordinator. And since then I’ve had my daughter, Eilidh.
I took on the position during a period of change within the branch.
We had lost a lot of volunteers in a short space of time, either as their children had started school or they had other commitments with family or work.
I felt it was important that, having been involved with and got so much out of the branch, I couldn’t let it decline.
I’ve had the chance to support people who feel exactly how I did at the start of my parenting journey.
The last two years have been a lot of fun but also hard work.
We’ve managed to recruit new volunteers to bring the branch team back up to strength again and invest time and energy into our social groups.
We’ve also raised funds to purchase a new, stronger gazebo for our Feed & Change tent used at local events throughout the summer.
Volunteering with NCT has allowed me to make friends, learn new skills and practice ones I already had.
I’m lucky to be involved in a vibrant and proactive branch with solid social groups and varied events to allow us to reach out to so many local parents.
Mary Barnard, Branch Coordinator 1982 – 1985
‘My daughter and Newbury NCT both reached 40 this year! She is still in regular contact with the other babies from that first NCT antenatal class, just as I’m still friends with the mums.
When I volunteered with the branch in the early 1980s I led a successful campaign to keep our local midwife-led maternity unit open.
I then joined the national education committee of NCT and spent years promoting birth and parenting education in schools and colleges.
In the 1990s I was Chair of NCT Council of Trustees and my world was dominated by meetings with ministers and the Royal Colleges of Midwives and Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. I represented NCT at conferences on pregnancy and childbirth across Europe and travelled to branches the length and breadth of the country.
I ‘retired’ from national NCT work in 1997 and was honoured and amazed to be voted a ‘Woman of the Year’ in such company as Doreen Lawrence and Vivienne Westwood. The theme was women who had made a difference and I hope I did just that to the women who were pregnant during my time.’
Helen Kenna, Branch Coordinator, 2006 – 2012
‘I joined NCT when I was pregnant with my son and, nearly 20 years down the line, I’ve ended up with great friendships and a huge appreciation of the work NCT does.
I’ve had a number of roles within the branch because I don’t know when to keep quiet! But as Branch Coordinator I helped to increase our presence in the local area through our Feed and Change tent. Helping parents in their own community is an aspect of our NCT branch I’m really proud of.
I’ve met people I would never have known and had a positive impact on their lives. It doesn’t have to be anything huge to make a difference to someone’s day – I’ve discovered that just having somewhere to change your baby can be enough.’
Alison Sellar, Branch Coordinator, 2012 – 2015
‘I moved back to the UK from Luxembourg when I was seven months pregnant and contacted my local NCT branch. I met some great friends to share this daunting, emotional and exciting journey with and I’ll always be grateful for their support.
That’s what encouraged me to volunteer for NCT and then to take on the role of Branch Coordinator. It enabled me to help other new parents face this huge life change by having access to evidence-based information and a support network.
We often like to pretend that we’re all coping exceptionally well with life as a new parent, but for many of us there are lots of challenges, such as difficultly breastfeeding, extreme tiredness and just general feelings of hopelessness.
We forget that all of us parents are in this together and sometimes we just need to reach out to each other. We don’t need any specific qualifications other than to listen and care.
I volunteered with NCT so I could reach out to new parents and try and give something back. It makes me proud to feel that I have.’
NCT has been supporting parents over the last 60 years and we will continue to do this for many more decades to come.
For information about our vision and what we hope to achieve, click here
For information about local branch events and activities for you and baby, click here
For information about volunteering with this fantastic charity and making a difference to parents, click here
