Jenny x
Chair's Letter
Welcome
Happy New Year to all our members, volunteers, advertisers and supporters.
My youngest turned 2 in December; she is firmly out of babyhood and most definitely a willful toddler. We celebrated her birthday with family and friends; some of whom I've got to know through being involved with NCT. It got me thinking about how BIG a part of my life NCT has been over the last 7 or so years.
Initially there was the sanity-saving group of lovely people I met through antenatal classes who remain very special to me; then when on my first maternity leave there were the people I met when I took the first tentative steps into volunteering for the Clapham branch, many of whom I now know very well and have become great friends; then there are all the people in the community I've met through volunteering at playgroups and branch events which now means I literally cannot walk anywhere without bumping into someone I know; then there are the amazing group of ladies I met during training to become a NCT breastfeeding counsellor and the wonderfully supportive group of fellow breastfeeding counsellors I now have the great pleasure and honour to work with; then there are the new parents with their precious newborns I feel very priviledged to support as a breastfeeding counsellor and also as a branch volunteer.
I am so glad that I took those first tentative steps into volunteering. It has given me a huge and incredibly supportive network to help me navigate the complex and challenging maze that is parenting. It has given me the opportunity to use my management skills and experience in a totally different way to my (paid) day-job. It has allowed me to develop a whole new set of skills and experience, whilst doing something I've found I really enjoy.
If you are inspired to give volunteering a go, please get in touch with me on [email protected].