NCT’s Big Weekend brings power to parents

We promised you Big and big it was!

NCT’s Big Weekend was officially our largest ever NCT event and each and every one of you contributed to making it the fantastic weekend that it was. Thank you!

During the weekend over 1,500 parents, health professionals and volunteers heard from some world-renowned speakers and found out what the charity is planning for the future.

Key speakers included

• Davina McCall, TV presenter and NCT’s home birth ambassador
• Ina May Gaskin, activist and well-known midwife, on why the way we care for mothers in labour should matter to everyone
• BBC’s Apprentices:
  - Saira Khan, NCT’s breastfeeding ambassador
  - James McQuillan, 2009 runner-up who spoke to parents about becoming a dad for the first time
• Jonathon Porritt, leading writer and Founder Director of Forum for the Future on being a green parent
• Cathy Warwick, general secretary of the RCM, addressed delegates and had the opportunity to hear from many of the audience with ideas on what should be improved within maternity services

NCT Stars Awards
Find out which of our volunteers and specialist workers won a Star award. The awards where sponsored by Pampers.

Big Weekend official photos
You can find a range of official photos taken across the weekend on NCT’s photo group. If you wish to share your photos, please upload these on to NCT’s Facebook group.

Presentations
We have uploading a range of presentations shown at the Big Weekend that you can download. See the resources available on Saturday, Sunday pages for further details.

Here’s what Belinda Phipps, NCT Chief Executive, had to say: “It was wonderful to be among so many people who give their time to run all sorts of services to provide new parents with information and the chance to form supportive relationships with other mums and dads. 

“Our qualified workers who run courses, classes and helplines continue to amaze me with their dedication. I think our supporters underestimate the role they have as part of the only charity open to all parents, which takes them right the way through that rocky transition.

 “We have an important role to play in making a better society by creating skilled, informed and confident parents for the future and making sure services support both the mother and father. Nobody supports parents like NCT supports parents, and our job now is to make sure everyone has a chance to benefit from the work we do.”