Our course leaders

Aishah Safdar

Breastfeeding counsellor

I trained as a breastfeeding counsellor with NCT over 10 years ago and have since been able to provide many women and their families with the much needed support during their feeding journey. I have also gone on to support colleagues through assessing, supervision and moderating, as well as delivering peer support training. What I value the most is enabling and empowering mothers to trust themselves in making the right decisions in their feeding journey.

Outside of NCT I am currently the Chair of Governors at my local primary school, a fitness instructor and a personal trainer. I will also be qualified as a therapeutic counsellor by July 2021 and am currently providing counselling for the NHS as well as a charity supporting women who have experienced domestic violence and/or abuse.

Caroline Graham

Antenatal teacher Baby massage

I am an antenatal teacher who also runs Baby Massage courses.

I love my job and I feel very lucky to support so many people becoming parents since starting with NCT in 2009. Alongside antenatal courses, I have also completed additional training in hypnobirthing, and mother & baby yoga.

As a mum of four it’s been my privilege to support over 1000 new and expectant parents.

Susy Broekhuizen

Antenatal teacher

I lead NCT antenatal courses and NCT Refresher antenatal courses including providing feeding information. I am passionate about supporting new parents and have trained with NCT since 2013.

It is a privilege to support parents in their early days; from pregnancy to parenthood. In fact, I gained my Diploma in Antenatal Education following my own experiences of NCT after I attended an NCT antenatal class and made lifelong friends!

My background is in science and I’m a working mum of three. My day job is in research so I am passionate about supporting parents with practical evidence-based information. I enjoy the opportunity to discuss a wide range of topics based on parents needs in classes, around labour and birth and life with your new baby.

I am also a mindfulness practitioner, mental health first aider and STEM ambassador for schools.

Fran Hill

Antenatal teacher

Since 2006, I’ve supported over 1,000 parents through antenatal courses with NCT.

I love working with parents and offering support at this really exciting time. I got involved with NCT after I attended an antenatal course myself when I was pregnant with my first baby.  I volunteered for the local NCT branch (and still do!) and began training to facilitate classes when my second child was a baby.

In my courses I want parents to have a positive experience of birth and parenthood. Working with NCT is really rewarding and I often bump into parents in Bicester who tell me how valuable the support from their NCT group was in the early days and, more often than not, that they are still in touch with one another.

Hannah Appelgren

Antenatal teacher

I am an antenatal teacher and just love running yoga for pregnant and new mums.

I trained with NCT initially, back in 2009 because of my interest in pregnancy and childbirth following my own experience of being a mother of three. I was also keen to find a job that would fit in with family life.

I absolutely love my work with NCT, it is a privilege to get to meet so many people at such an important time in their lives. My overarching aim is that pregnant women and their partners have a positive birth experience, whatever that means for them, and that they feel informed and confident to care for and love their babies.

Jane Saville

Antenatal teacher Breastfeeding counsellor

As a parent of two, I am so happy to have supported 1000s of parents through NCT antenatal courses and breastfeeding support since I started in 2008.

I am passionate about empowering people to make their own decisions about birth and parenthood. As an experienced course leader my goal is to guide parents through their pregnancy journey and support those decisions.

Sally Parkin

Antenatal teacher

I’m so pleased to have supported over 1000 parents through antenatal courses since starting with NCT in 2012.

I began training with NCT after my first child was born in 2009. I wanted to know more about birth and support other families. In 2015 I trained as a doula, supporting families during birth and in the postnatal period. I now train other doulas as part of Doula UK. I love my work and think I have the best job in the world!

Jenny Barrett

Antenatal teacher

I began with NCT in 2004 and since then have supported 2,000 parents through antenatal courses and Refresher antenatal courses.

With three children myself, I have a passion for supporting expectant parents through birth and early parenting. Preparing parents for their arrival (or arrivals!) and seeing the friendships that bloom in the groups is one of the most rewarding experiences.

Val Willcox

Antenatal teacher

Since 2008, I’ve supported over 2,000 parents through antenatal courses and NCT Refresher antenatal courses.

After having my own two children, I discovered I had a passion for birth and parenting and wanted to support other expectant and new parents. It’s a privilege to be able to support parents at such a transformational time in their lives.

I have really good links with Basildon Hospital and a particular interest in supporting birth partners, perinatal mental well-being and baby brain development. Teaching antenatal classes is amazing and I love meeting local expectant and new parents and walking alongside them on their journey.

Linda Hillaire

Antenatal teacher

I love supporting parents through antenatal courses and have done since I joined NCT in 2014. In my time with the charity, I’ve supported around 300 parents.

I have four children and I started my training with NCT as a career change as It was a happy medium between becoming a midwife. I love working alongside so many passionate women and as someone who is always eager to learn, giving support and information to new parents is a great, fun way to hone my experience and provide the best possible care.

Jane Moffett

Breastfeeding counsellor

I started training with NCT when my first two children were aged 3 and 1, as I wanted others to benefit from the support that NCT can offer through its courses and drop-ins. I really enjoy facilitating breastfeeding sessions in antenatal courses, getting to know the parents that I will be supporting once they have their babies.

I also love the other side of my work – supporting parents once they have had their babies, working with them to achieve what they want to achieve.

Working with new parents is amazing, and I feel privileged to be involved with them at this very special time.