Meet the volunteers
Your Local NCT
Name: Jenny Hemsley
Role: Branch Chair
Lives: Streatham
Mama to Evie (8 years old),
James (4 years old)
and Beth (2 years old)
Q: How long have you been Branch Chair and what encouraged you to volunteer?
I decided to go along to a branch meeting when my first baby was about three months old as I was settling into motherhood and enjoying my maternity leave, but feeling like I needed to get my teeth into something else. After a couple of meetings, it became apparant that the branch was in a bit of a mess as the Chair was moving away and the rest of the team weren't very engaged. I thought my management and financial experience might be handy, so I volunteered to take on the Chair role on an interim basis for 6 months. That was nearly 7.5 years ago!
Q: What is your proudest moment as Branch Chair?
I am mostly incredibly proud of every branch volunteer past or present who has given some of their precious time to support other parents. I am always very proud when a new parent meets another new parent at an NCT event or activty and makes a connection which might just give them support in that moment, or might develop into a friendship which might see them through days, months or years. I am probably most proud of our Balham Breastfeeding Cafe, which I helped to set up. It hasn't always been easy to keep it going from a financial perspective, but nearly 7 years later we are still going strong and have supported hundreds of parents with feeding their babies.
Q: What challenges have you seen as Branch Chair?
Building the team up initially was challenging as there really wasn't any handover or knowledge transfer. The women (and men) who stepped-up to volunteer turned out to be brilliant and for several years we had a lot of stability in the branch team. NCT branches are fairly autonomous in terms of how they operate and we've opted for being light on beaucracy and responsive in our decision making. We've never been shy to give something a go if it seems like a good idea, but equally we will let something go if it doesn't seem to be working or is unmanageable for our volunteers. Managing a team of volunteers can be challenging at times, although I've always been clear that volunteering should be fun and something you want to do and if that is no longer the case then it is time to stop.
Q: What does the role involve?
It can involve as little or as much as you want! At a basic level it is about coordinating the activities of the branch, so supporting existing volunteers and helping to fill vacant volunteer roles, and ensuring that the branch is offering a programme of activities and services for parents in line with our charitable purpose. The Branch Chair is usually the link with Head Office and the local Practitioners. It most certainly is not about attending every event, covering every role or being involved in every discussion or decision that is made. I probably spend between 2-4 hours a week on the role, which I fit in around working in the CIty part-time, working as a NCT Breastfeeding Counsellor and our business family life.
Q: What would you say to someone thinking of taking on the role of Branch Chair?
The branch is in good shape, but could do with some new ideas and enthusiasm. I've loved being Chair, but my children are school age now and I've recently technically moved out of the branch area! I'm not going anywhere as I am also a NCT London Region volunteer, so very happy to share my knowledge and experience with the new Chair or Chairs (it works well as a job share).