Volunteers, parents and expectant parents just like you, run our branch. You don’t need to take on huge tasks, just commit whatever time you can or your previous experience and skills. It is a great way to learn new skills, make new friends, and represent the NCT. Get in touch and get involved. If you'd like to become a member please contact our Membership Secretary, Peter Towler on bbwmembership@nct.org.uk

Why Volunteer?

A recent survey by Time Bank showed that 94% of employers believe that volunteering can improve your skills in the workplace.

Make new friends - "When I moved here, I didn't know anyone. I offered to help at a nearly new sale and sat on a till with a committee member who invited me along to the next meeting which paved the way to some lovely new friendships and stopped me going barking mad at home on my own with a toddler !" Vic, Basildon, Billericay & Wickford branch member

Build your confidence - Volunteering is a great way to either keep your hand in with skills you already have or to try something new.

Help the NCT's work to continue - If you feel the NCT made a difference to your experience of becoming a parent, volunteering can be a great way to give something back. From being a friendly face at a baby and toddler event or volunteering at a Nearly New Sale, you can help the NCT continue to make a difference for other mums and dads.

What do NCT volunteers do ?

There are many ways in which the branch can use volunteers. Some people help twice a year at our Nearly New Sales and reap the benefit of getting to shop before anyone else.

We distribute our newsletter to all branch members three times a year, and we always need people who are willing to take a walk around their local area to hand-deliver some newsletters. It saves us money and sometimes people suddenly realise there is another new mum just around the corner from them!

Then we always need people to help out at fundraising events. This could be going shopping for supplies beforehand, taking some flyers to your local nursery or pre-school to promote an event, getting a team together for the quiz night or helping out on the day by making teas and coffees, selling raffle tickets or stacking chairs away at the end.

To join our database of volunteers (ensuring that you'll be asked in advance of any events if you can help) send us an email giving your contact details and any preferences of what you would/would not like to do.

Finally, the branch is run by a committee of volunteers who meet once a month to organise the events and services the branch offers parents in this area. The branch constantly needs new blood - we support people as they become parents, and most volunteers will want to move on after 2 or 3 years as their children start school - this is natural and normal but does mean that we need a near constant supply of people willing to come along to committee meetings so that the branch doesn't die off. It would be such a shame if we had to scale back our activities due to a lack of support - in fact we'd like to do more than we currently do !

Do you think you could commit to one meeting a month ? Could you bring along some energy and enthusiasm and new ideas ? If so, please call us on 08442 436040 for more information. Thank you !