Talk

I didn't pay for the NCT antenatal classes as I'm too tight and couldn't justify the money; however, I did pay the NCT membership as my local NCT had a fantastic group and u went to a lot of mother and baby groups that without the NCT finding wouldn't have run and I met a lot of friends. For that reason I felt that it was a worthy charity to donate to.

The magazines and entry into nearly new sales was a bonus!!

We've paid the membership fees but have barely used any benefits. The newsletter gets kept for about a week, neither of us reads it then it gets recycled (reading time is precious when you have a baby ) and every time there's been a nearly new sale we've not been organised enough to get there early!!

However I agree with Rum that the support they give is really important to a lot of people and so we were pretty happy to pay the £40.

Classes - yes.
Membership - no.

As far as I'm aware membership fees do not fund local activities such as baby groups. Local activities are funded by local fund raising, branches don't get money from HQ.

Definitely. I found it very useful indeed. Classes, newsletter etc. We had a local group for working mothers too at one point.

I was just wondering - do you have to be a member to go to these extra groups, or will they also advertise them at the antenatal classes?

No you don't need to be a member, they will probably advertise them at classes, via social media if they have a techy volunteer and on the NCT main website.

I did classes (best thing ever) and had membership. Main benefit was early entry to the nearly new sales which is brilliant when heavily pregnant and in need a good bargain!