Welcome to the Oxford branch of the NCT

Your NCT Branch Needs YOU

The Oxford NCT Branch is always interested to hear from volunteers wanting to get involved in committee activities. No experience is necessary, just an willing attitude. Meetings are held roughly once a month either in committee members' houses or in a central location. They provide a great opportunity to meet like-minded parents and help others new to parenthood get to grips with the challenges of the role.

We are currently looking for enthusiastic mums (or dads) to join the Oxford branch committee. In particular, we are seeking to fill the following volunteer positions:

• Advertising Coordinator;
• Parent Support Coordinator;
• Coffee Group Coordinators for Grandpoint & Abingdon Road, and Marston;
• General volunteers.

Nearly New Sales

Nearly New Sales provide an opportunity to buy and sell good-quality, second-hand baby and toddler clothing, toys and equipment. The Oxford branch holds such sales twice a year in Spring and Autumn and they continue to be extremely popular with buyers and sellers. See the Events page for more information. 

Antenatal & Postnatal Information

The NCT operates a helpline for pregnancy and birth (Tel: 0300 330 0772) and one for postnatal queries (Tel: 0300 330 0773). For a list of antenatal and postnatal courses run by the NCT, including refresher classes, see www.nctpregnancyandbabycare.com/in-your-area/oxford/courses.

The Oxford branch has a full-time antenatal teacher, Virgil Clarke, who is based in North Oxford. For classes within Oxford city, please contact Virgil on 01865 512965. For other classes and email enquiries contact Julie at bookings5o@nct.org.uk or 0844 243 6888 - but first see the Course Finder to find the best course for your location and due date / birth date.

We do not currently have a postnatal teacher based in Oxford but plan to offer courses within the city from late-2010. In the meantime, courses are available in through neighbouring branches. For more information, please contact Abingdon’s Postnatal Leader Caroline Elly: m_celly@hotmail.com or Sam Hall: bookings5p@nct.org.uk, Tel: 0844 243 6887.

The Oxford branch produces leaflets outlining local antenatal and postnatal services available for prospective and new parents. These are distributed via the JR Hospital to all surgeries and midwives in the city. The leaflets are updated twice a year in Spring and Autumn. PDF copies of the latest leaflets can be found on www.oxfordnct.org.uk. For more information, contact our Leaflet Editors Emma & Peggy: leaflets@oxfordnct.org.uk. If you are interested in advertising in one of the leaflets, please email our Advertising Coordinator Jo: advertising@oxfordnct.org.uk

Coffee Groups

The NCT runs several coffee groups around Oxford. Often held in people’s homes, these offer a chance to meet other new mothers/fathers and swap tips in a relaxed setting:

• West Oxford & Botley: contact Lisa, Tel: 01865 861953, or Heidi, Tel: 01865 244949.
• Wolvercote: contact Cara, Tel: 01865 511612.
• Headington: contact Flora.
• North Oxford/Summertown: contact Sarah, sarahmckelvie@yahoo.com, Tel: 07967 107202.

We still need coordinators for East Oxford, Grandpont/Abingdon Road, and Marston. If you are interested in coordinating one of these groups, please contact Sally

Breastfeeding Support

The NCT's breastfeeding helpline is open from 9am-6pm, seven days a week, Tel: 0300 330 0771. Within Oxford, The John Radcliffe  Breastfeeding clinic is a highly-respected facility run by Sally Inch and Chloe Fisher. Located on Level 1 of the JR's Womens' Centre by the blood test room, the drop-in clinic has shown innumerable mothers how to position the baby correctly for pain-free breastfeeding and can't be recommended enough. The clinic is open two days a week. It is advisable to phone ahead to check specific opening times, Tel: 01865 221695.

Alternatively, the Baby Cafe is a drop-in facility for mothers needing advice on breastfeeding. It operates out of a dedicated bus which stops at various points around the city and Oxfordshire. For more information, please call Julie on 01865 764952 or look at the Baby Cafe website.

Homebirth Support

This service offers practical help, advice and an opportunity to chat for those considering a homebirth. Free, drop-in groups run in the evening of the second Wednesday of the month. Contact Katharine Knight on 01865 516562 for more information.

Newsletter

The Oxford branch publishes a newsletter twice a year in Spring and Autumn which is sent out to all branch members. The newsletter provides a wealth of supportive articles for parents, information on local services and a four-page pull out list of daily playgroups around Oxford. A PDF copy of a recent newsletter can be found on www.oxfordnct.org.uk. If you would like to write an article, please email our editor Jen. If you would like to advertise, please email our Advertising Coordinator Jo

Contacts

chair@oxfordnct.org.uk

See the Branch Information section of www.oxfordnct.org.uk for more information on committee members and contact details.