To wonder if the NCT does anything to support or target lower socio-economic families?

[toptramp]

Or if their groups are aimed mostly at the middle class?

I would love to see them opening some sort of drop in groups for teenage mums etc.

Not that all teenage mums aer of a lower socio-economic group that is.

yes they could serve lager and ciggies

Is this linked to that other thread?

What is NCT?

I keep reading it as NCP (national car parks) and wondering WTF they're up to to be upsetting families

They do subsidised courses etc, right down to no payment for certain benefits. Also membership at £1 or similar for under about £15k incomes, or certain tax credits.

In our area they send a BF Counsellor to run targetted BF support sessions on the local estates.

National Childbirth Trust

@ beer and fags

Thanks for explaining.

Sounds like a great idea, does it not work out the way it should or something?

I've never seen them

They also do classes for mums in prison and support refugees. I don't think they are good enough at getting the message out about all the good work they do do.

ZigZag I'm so pleased you asked that cos I keep reading it too and thinking WTF?

I Googled it once and instantly forgot what it meant again

Plenty: membership fee and class fees waived for people on low incomes. Availability of drop-in ante-natal sessions, provided free of charge in the local Children's Centre. These classes were arranged with the input of HCPs and other agencies and set up to appeal to groups least likely to access traditional NCT services.

National campaigns on eg. birth choices, ante and postnatal care, breastfeeding support, providing accurate information on formula feeding, benefit all parents. I don't recall seeing any signs limiting their role to Boden-wearing classes. But hey. Why bother looking for any of this: it's a lot easier to stereotype, isn't it.

itsokaytodisagree- the branch network on the ground is run by volunteers though. It can be hard to get people to volunteer. Very hard.

what lemonsole said. trouble is it seems that in our local branch very few people want to join at all so the few of us there are tend to be the more middle class professional mums in spite of us being based in an area with a wide range of socioeconomic backgrounds and some sizeable very deprived populations

I think the NCT does a really poor job of letting people know about the really great stuff they do. Their campaigning over the years has changed the birthing experience for everyone - allowing and encouraging fathers to be present at the birth was the result of NCT campaigns, I believe.

In my area they are currently raising funds to support pregnant young offenders to give them and their babies a good start in life.

Yes, part of their current remit is to broaden out and try to be there for lower economic groups. Still perceived as a middle-class organisation, but it varies from area to area.

And of course, people tend to forget that NCT is a lobbying group too, advocating on behalf of all parents. If you've had a birth where your partner was present, if you gave birth in water, or at home, or had the birth choices that you wanted, then you have the NCT and several decades-worth of campaigning to thank for all that.

I like the sound of the prison work etc. Good stuff. I am a single mum and felt a bit intimidated by all the yummy mummies with rich husbands but most were lovely. I just havn't seen any really poor mums at the groups which makes me think they either don't know about it or are intimidated.

I never knew they did discounted membership for us poor people! I might have considered joining if I had! I love their nearly new sales though, and have got some great bargains there!

Sorry, Toptramp: I probably came across as a bit snippy there - I assumed that this was yet another NCT-bashing thread. It's true that the charity isn't great at publicising the work that has benefited all parents, and that unfortunately the dodgy encounters with extreme lentil-weavers/ yummies make for a more amusing anecdote.

The charity does great work and is genuine in its intentions. Lots of people make lasting friendships through NCT, regardless of their background.

The nearly new sales are amazing!

They may do good stuff in some areas, but round us you wouldn't join unless you were wearing boden. Anyone else who tried would feel very, very uncomfortable. (went once)

I was going to post about the nearly new sales. Fantastic for lower income parents... but can I get the local health visitors to tell people about them or GP surgeries to display the posters or put out our really useful local newsletters? No. Seems daft when it's free/low cost stuff to help people out

I went to classes even though I was a young mum and on a reduced income. I never joined as a member, just did the classes. I found them really helpful.

Also their bumps & babies group was a lifesaver, and when they put the price up they stressed that if you really couldn't afford it then come anyway, they'd rather have people come and not pay than stay away - and again this was really reassuring when I was having a shit week and XP hadn't given me any money again.

I never felt out of place in the early days, I have to say - but once our NCT group has grown up I have a bit.

They do loads, but as others have said, its not always well advertised. Little Ducks for example (google Little Ducks NCT) gives very practical support to those mothers who literally have nothing. I think often the HVs and midwives can be a barrier to getting the information across though, which is a real shame (not ALL HV/MWs of course, many are fantastic supporters/advocates). And as others have said, it depends on who is willing to volunteer, and it can become self-fufilling in terms of those who don't fit the mould feeling unwelcome/out of place. Shame as it does do great work in many ways.

In my experience the lower socio-economic families/single parents referred to by the op often don't want/value 2nd hand clothes or equipment for their babies. Sadly. HV's are reluctant to do anything that smacks of "preaching" so the message it hard to get accross. It's the middle classes that take these opportunities up.