Reading Mum hosts local parents at first NCT Walk and Talk Group in four years

The free event was also attended by NCT, the National Childbirth Trust, Chief Executive, Angela McConville, who joined local parents and families on Saturday for the chance to share their parenting experiences, meet other parents, and enjoy some light exercise.  

The event was organised by NCT volunteer, Sophia Jones, who lives in the Reading area with her daughter, son and husband and wants to encourage more Reading parents – new and expectant – to join an NCT Walk and Talk group and volunteer for charity.

Sophia said: “We are trying to revive our Reading NCT Walk and Talk group because it gets people out of the house - it got me out of the house! We would love to get more people involved so we can achieve even more and so that more people can make local connections with other parents. I would say an NCT Walk and Talk is one of the best actions against maternal anxiety, isolation and dissatisfaction.”

The NCT Walk and Talk group in Reading was first launched during the pandemic, in September 2020 to give new and expectant parents the opportunity to get outdoors with their babies on a safe and accessible route, improve their mental health and wellbeing, make new friends, and feel part of a community. The events rely on the availability of local volunteers and after successfully bringing back the event on Saturday, Sophia is now keen to continue reviving the Reading NCT Walk and Talk groups.    

She said: “It does the most important thing you can do when you've got a baby; it gives you a reason to get dressed and leave the house. It means that you have to move. And those are the two things which will have the biggest impact on your mental and physical health. NCT Walk and Talk groups gives you the impetus to move your body, socialise, and meet new friends.”  

Sophia also enjoys discovering new parts of Reading with her NCT Walk and Talk group and thinks it is a great way of showing the world to your baby. “It helps me discover various parks in Reading that I would have never known of before,” Sophia said.  

Angela McConville, NCT, Chief Executive, also attended the Reading Walk and Talk group on Saturday and said about her experience: “It has been an absolute joy to wrap up National Walking Month by spending Saturday morning with my local NCT Walk and Talk group in Reading. A special shout out to our friends at Sport England who are supporting NCT to build a national walking movement of parents, babies and infants, it's an incredibly exciting ambition. The brilliant work of NCT volunteers like Sophia is critical for parents in the early days of having a baby because it offers connection, community, and support from others who understand the challenges.  I hope that parents across Reading feel motivated to join Sophia and her team of volunteers to keep up this amazing opportunity to meet and engage with other local parents.”

Thanks to generous funding from Sport England, NCT is working to expand their NCT Walk and Talks across wider, more diverse parts of England with a focus on creating inclusive, supporting spaces and opportunities for every parent to take part. This funding is a powerful contribution to NCT’s For Every Parent 2023-28 strategy which focuses on tackling health inequalities, enabling parents to create connections and build local supportive communities.

You can also support parents by becoming an NCT Walk and Talk Volunteer and leading a walk in your local area. This is a flexible role that you can do with your friends and family (even little ones) with as little as two hours a month. If you are interested in volunteering with NCT Walk and Talk, please get in touch with volunteering@nct.org.uk and we will support you to get started. Parents from Reading can find more information about upcoming NCT Walk and Talks in Reading by visiting https://www.nct.org.uk/local-activities-meet-ups/nct-walk-and-talk 

ENDS.