Released on: 11 January 2016

NCT welcomes the Prime Minister’s commitment to increasing opportunity for all children, set out in his speech today

"NCT welcomes the Prime Minister’s commitment to increasing opportunity for all children, set out in his speech today.

In particular we were pleased to see the Prime Minister’s emphasis on the critical importance of the first thousand days from conception to a child’s second birthday. All the evidence points to the fact that early intervention is essential.

Specifically regarding early support for parents, we are very pleased to see the Prime Minister start from the positive fact that parents want the best for their children, the observation that everyone can gain from help with parenting, and the emphasis he placed on the value of social networks. We know from the 60 years of experience and the thousands of volunteers active in more than 300 NCT branches across Britain that peer support has such a powerful role to play.    

On the announcement on perinatal mental health, we’re pleased the Government is taking the issue of perinatal mental health seriously. Our #BeyondBabyBlues campaign highlights the desperate need for better services for new and expectant mums experiencing mental health difficulties. We hope the £290 million allocated will ensure that all new mothers access to the support they need, tackling the postcode lottery which many mums tell us they experience. It's really important new parents know they're not alone and feel supported at this crucial time in their lives."

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