NCT member Sam Shepherd shares how volunteering at her local NCT branch boosted her confidence and helped her get a job at NCT.
I live in Bushey, Hertfordshire with my partner, James, and our daughter, Beatrice, who’s three and a half.
I became a member when James and I signed up for NCT antenatal classes. I then began volunteering with my local NCT branch in Watford as an Advertising and Events Coordinator, having decided not to return to work for a couple of years so that I could spend time with Beatrice.
Absolutely! I’ve really enjoyed helping to support other parents in my area and I’ve made some wonderful friends in the process. As I have a professional background in events and sponsorship, the voluntary role that I was doing also gave me the perfect opportunity to keep my skills up to date.
When an Events Assistant position came up at NCT’s Head Office last year I had the confidence to apply for it and I got the job!
Dealing with toddler tantrums. Who knew that giving my daughter a blue plate instead of a red plate at dinnertime would result in a complete meltdown?
That looking after a newborn baby would be simultaneously the most exhausting and the most amazing experience that I’d ever had.
Watching Beatrice discover the world around her and becoming a person in her own right.
Don’t be too hard on yourself, especially during the early days. Looking after a small child is hard work so celebrate the small victories like managing to get showered and dressed or drinking an entire cup of tea while it’s still hot!
If you’d like to tell us about your story or NCT group, email nctmatterseditor@nct.org.uk. We’d love to hear from you!
