Anyone involved with their local NCT? tell me the good the bad and the ugly pls

[TheBlonde]

Occasionally I think about taking on one of the volunteer roles with my local NCT branch... but something puts me off...

Does anyone get involved? Worth doing?

I am involved and ...............................

which role you thinking of?

i think a lot depends on the size of branch and people in it.
i personally have come away with some really good stuff, but if i wasn't a doula, i actually think i would have left very quickly.......

i ran a playgroup for a year, which was bloody hard work, i am the caesarean rep,but have had no enquiries, we are in the process of setting up a birth choices support group, myself and two very like minded women, so taht is good...also, i am now on two committees at the maternity unit, which is very valuable, and got it through a friend in the NCT.... but as i say, if i was not a doula, i don;t know how long i would have stuck with it, especially as my children are that bit older and am not planning anymore
what puts you off?

hmmm well I've never been to a branch meeting as they not held near me
our committee seems to change quarterly, communication is dire, you sometimes only hear about events afterwards
but I can't moan as I don't actually do anything

I wanted to do postnatal teas but they have someone now
Been offered playgroup coordinator but I'm not sure how I can do it properly if I can't attend the monthly meetings (I have a class on the day they are held)

i think poor communication runs rife through the NCT.. would you bne running the playgroup? if so, you need a team of willing helpers, i have never made so many hot drinks and washed up so much in my life !! and that was with help have oyu spoken to the chair about your concerns?

I'm involved with my local branch, I do the what's on list for the newsletter & help out generally at events.

To start off with, you could volunteer as a helper for nearly new sales and events like that. That would give you an idea of what they're like and if you enjoy it you could take on a bigger role!

lulu - I wouldn't be running a playgroup just coordinating the groups they run, sorting out new toys etc

rosmerta - NNS are my idea of hell, our branch doesn't really do any other events

i see

our branch does nights out and that sort of thing.. we also have had a baby day at the local maternity unit for the last 2 years, which has been fantastic.. lots of stall holders. with things like TENS, smoking cessation, baby handprints, birth pool hire, baby gifts, breastfeeding support etc and tours of the delivery suite and PN and AN wards.. it raised a lot of money for the branch and got great feedback.

Fair enough, that's my ideas gone then

Lulumama, I'm interested in the baby day idea. We're trying to think of more events we could do to raise more money. Would you mind giving me a few more details about it?

not at all, CAT me !

I volunteered for a branch role as I thought I could offer something to the branch but it was hell I was upset and frustrated by some of the most bizarre,wealthy, bitchy, humourless women (and men) that I'd ever met. I think it's like many things - sometimes the mix of people is just wrong. I loved the idea and wanted to do so much but honestly I just gave up as it was like a posh girls club - and I didn't fit in - or, as 'chief nasty person' told a friend of mine - I didn't drive the right kind of car...apparently! If you get on with everyone then I'm sure it'll be great.

jean that sounds horrid

Yep - it wasn't fun and DD was so tiny, just months old, that I think the stress of it all was too much. Certainly no support came from any of them. But I do think my experience is probably the exception rather than the rule. Please don't let it put you off - give it a go - could be a great experience

I have made some lovely friends from the NCT, but as an organisation, I am not entirely enamoured of it.Jeannie, that is so shite.

I'm involved too (in fact, am currently trying to avoid being branch chair
Agree with lulu that it just totally depends on who's involved with the branch at the time, basically. Also depends what you want to get out of it.

Good things (for me) - NCT committes are generally pathetically grateful for anything you do, and if you have something you're interested in, will support you; everyone in our branch (except the current chair) takes the whole thing not-very-seriously, so no-one gets stressed; they are all surprisingly normal. There's one hippy loon, but everyone knows she a look and we just work round her. We don't have any of the bitchy-car stuff (that sounds foul, Jean) I've done some lovely stuff supporting AN classes, and it's felt hugely worthwhile. Plus, most important, I've made some good mates
Bad stuff: like anything run by committee, progress is slow and painful; comms internally within NCT are shockingly bad (although head office are very aware of this); once you're in (as lulu says) it's tricky to get out...

am avoiding the same thing

I thought about getting involved with ours and setting up a SN baby/toddler/coffee morning group. It would have been open to parents of older children with SN as well (who are often too paranoid/unable to face normal toddler groups with baby/toddelr siblings). I mentioned it to the chair and the idea was warmly received, but then I got overrun with life & didn't manage to do it. I think there a HUGE need for them though.

Lulu, can you email me details about the baby day please? (BTW, it's Jofeb04)

will do Jo x

I too got involved with the NCT, went to AGM and got roped into doing AN bookings. Did that for two years but changed to branch sec as had really had enough of what I was doing. Now I feel very bemused by it all, the branch is flagging and it just doesn't seem fun any more. I am still seething at being made to feel bad because I had gas and air when I delivered -"oh I did it completely naturally, I am sure you could have managed!" aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhh!!! Support is not rife in our branch just judgements about every little thing. Am wondering if I could sneak away quietly!! I can see the good sides of the NCT but can also see the petty side too. Eg at an open house the host was going to go out to buy more squash for the kiddies, when a loud mouthed mother said her children were fine with water and NEVER drank squash. Oh get over yourself!!!! There is plenty of this and you need to be thick skinned to let it pass you by. Judgemental is the word I am after.

Sorry I am not being too complementary, it could be my branch! I would get to some committee meetings to get a feel. New people come to ours but its not often we see them again . I'm the sort of person who finds it hard to get out of something I am in, but maybe I should if I am no longer enjoying it?

Good luck!

i was the bookings sec for antenatal classes for about 6 months lasy year (had to give up as i returned to studying) - only met with the local teachers who were great, not the whole branch as tbh their meetings sounded a bit deathly to me, but i did want to help out as i had a great experience in my own antenatal class. As bookings sec I enjoyed chatting to pregnant women and being a bit reassuring for them, and getting them into classes etc was satisfying as they were usually really pleased, but i think i only ever heard from NCT HQ once in the whole time i was volnteering for them - and they thought i was still the person i had replaced several months earlier! Seemed like they had serious communication issues. They are making things a bit more centralised now but it all seemed v disorganized and as i took payments etc. in theory i could have run off with peoples money and no one would have known which seemed crazy to me!
I have known others who have volunteered elsewhere with the NCT and found it the same.. but if you enjoy the volunteering role you get with them then it would prob be ok. Just don't expect any thanks from NCT HQ!

lulu, just saw your earlier comment.

Your open day sounds fab btw ... how much of a nightmare is it organisationally??

it needs one very organised person to do a spreadsheet of who to contact and then good delegation skills.. helps if the hospital are keen and helpful too. !

Tipex - hiya! hope you and the kiddies are well

I think I will hold off for now until I am able to attend some of the branch meetings

Thanks for all the comments & info