Anne Budd from Glasgow explains how she’s doing her bit by ensuring NCT’s postnatal support – including Baby First Aid – is available to new parents.
I’m 35 and live on Glasgow’s South Side with my husband, Phil, and son William, two. I’m branch treasurer and advertising co-ordinator for our newsletter.
I’ve also been involved in organising Nearly New Sales, supporting the Baby First Aid co-ordinator and hosting a coffee group.
Our branch wants to target postnatal support services so they make a real difference in Glasgow this year. As part of that, we’re liaising with local charities including Roshni, which works with minority ethnic families, and Home-Start, which is aimed at families that are under stress and at risk of breakdown.
I also helped another volunteer apply for a community award grant to provide very low cost or free Baby First Aid training to such families. My proudest moment was when the branch was awarded some money – it felt like recognition of what we’re trying to achieve.
We have been given £750 from the Mott MacDonald Community Award to extend the provision of our Baby First Aid courses. The money will allow us to offer some free places on current courses and to organise new ones free of charge for local mums’ groups.
This means more parents will have the confidence and essential Baby First Aid skills that could save their child’s life.
It’s also a great way for the branch to make an impact in the wider community, raise the profile of NCT and promote our other discounted antenatal sessions, free postnatal support groups and drop-in services.
I did a course after William had a seizure and stopped breathing. I didn’t have a clue what to do and panicked, wasting time running in and out of the flat shouting for help when I could have been ringing the ambulance.
Two months later it happened again. This time I felt much more confident – I put him in the recovery position and phoned the ambulance.
I was still shaking and very scared but I felt that I was doing the right thing and giving him those extra minutes which could save his life.
It’s an exciting time to be a volunteer. We recently held our first film screening about Australian maternity services and homebirth.
We’ve also booked a local physiotherapist who provides a mix of stand-up comedy and advises on pelvic floor exercises, called Gusset Grippers, which should be really fun and useful.
Plus, we are starting a weekly breastfeeding support slot at our local baby clothes’ charity shop and continue to run our South Side Bumps and Babies with a new group starting in the north of the city soon.
As branch treasurer, I am particularly delighted that one of our members decided to set up the NCT Shop Branch Affiliate Scheme and that Glasgow branch has been the top earner on the scheme for the first two quarters.
Volunteering for NCT keeps me in touch with all things baby now I’m back at work. It makes me feel great to be providing a useful service for other mums and dads in the community.
Volunteering with NCT will give you an opportunity to learn new skills and rediscover old ones. Your branch will be really happy to welcome you – whether you have an hour spare or a few to help out!
Find out more about volunteering with your local NCT branch.
