Released on: 02 July 2025
The NCT Maternity Library holds a collection of new and gently used maternity clothing donated by retailers and individuals. It holds a large variety of clothing items of various sizes. The high-quality clothes can be rented for a period of 12 months in return for a £3 donation. NCT Volunteer Sophia said: “The £3 donations go straight to other local NCT projects, such as the local NCT breastfeeding councilor and helping to organise nearly NCT Nearly New Sales. It is a donation back to your community, benefiting yourself and other pregnant people within the town.” While the volunteers ensure that every piece of clothing is of outstanding quality, there is also the option to get some maternity clothes free of charge, which are not fully up to standard.
The project was started by Susie Mellor, who works at the student support at the University of Reading. She came across numerous pregnant students, who were struggling with the finances of having a baby. To help ease the financial pressures, Susie came up with the idea of the NCT Maternity Library.
Volunteer Sophia, 40, is an Independent Mental Health Advocate from Reading, and mum of two children and highlights how the NCT Maternity Clothing Library is a real lifesaver in the cost-of-living crisis. She said: “Maternity clothes are a short-term investment. We have nice, otherwise expensive clothes, that you will feel good in and which will get you through your pregnancy and will not break the bank. Once you are no longer pregnant, you can then give them back without having to worry about what is going to happen to them. One woman left with 3 pieces, totaling a £9 donation – the real retail prize would have been £86!”
Beyond alleviating the financial pressures that pregnant women and people face, the NCT Maternity Library also promotes sustainable fashion. NCT Volunteer Sophia said: “The fashion industry is one of our biggest polluters. To make a piece of clothing viable, you have to wear it 30 times. On top of that, we throw away hundreds and thousands of clothes each year in the UK. Maternity clothes are particularly vulnerable to that, because you can only wear them for a short period of time. Anyone who is conscious of this and wants to try new styles without creating any waste all while donating money to a charitable organisation, should come and try out the Maternity Library.”
The NCT Maternity Library is also an amazing place to meet other pregnant people and find out about local activities. It is located at Dee Caf in Reading, a non-profit community cafe. “It’s a lovely child-friendly community hub that is used by the birthing community. It's a great way of bringing people together,” said Sophia.
NCT Chief Executive Angela McConville visited the NCT Maternity Library for its opening earlier this month and said: “The NCT Maternity Library is an incredible initiative that promotes sustainability and helps new and expectant parents in the middle of the cost-of-living crisis. NCT wants to make sure that every parent is supported at every step of the way. A big thank you to Susie, who came up with this brilliant idea and has provided such a special place for pregnant women and people to meet, share experiences, and rent high-quality maternity clothes.”
NCT Volunteer Sophia and Susie invite expectant parents in Reading to come to the next NCT Maternity Library on the 7th July 2025. The NCT Maternity Library runs every first Monday of the month from 6pm to 8pm at the Dee Caf Cafe in Reading.
ENDS.
