The National Childbirth Trust (NCT) was formed in 1956, is Britain’s best known charity concerned with education for birth and early parenthood. We are the voice for parents on antenatal and immediate postnatal matters.

DID YOU KNOW

Most of the work of the charity is done on a voluntary basis from members’ homes. There are nearly 400 branches throughout England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The NCT believes a baby gets the best start in life when its parents feel confident, in control, well informed and well supported. So we:

• Established the principle of antenatal classes that responds to parents’ needs
• Set up support networks for parents
• Pressed for the presence of the Father or a birth supporter at the birth
• Worked to convince Health Professionals that the mental and emotional well-being of parents can be as important as their physical health.
• Helped to draft government guidelines giving women more control over how and where they give birth
• Question the use and consequences of unevaluated medical interventions in labour.
• Provide an electric breast pump service to help women breast feed premature or sick babies.
• Visit schools to take part in family life education, social studies and child development courses
• Run conferences and study days, carry out research, publish books and leaflets to increase the knowledge of parents and health professionals
• Argue that maternity care policies and practices should be based on reliable evidence from clinical and social studies
• Have more than 100 representatives on key health Authority Maternity Committees
• Led the campaign to make the government’s Maternity Charter more widely available.

WHY JOIN THE NCT?

You don’t have to join the NCT to call our breastfeeding counsellors, buy our leaflets or join our antenatal classes. But as a national charity we depend on income from subscriptions. Without it we could not support so many parents, or campaign to improve maternity care. Every year there is a greater demand on our services form people of all ages and backgrounds.

Join the NCT and you will become part of a growing movement to help parents make informed choices. You will received the satisfaction of knowing your subscription will help even more parents to benefit form our information and services. You will discover new opportunities to make friends and exchange experiences and take part in fundraising and social events. You will be able to receive training and make your contribution even more satisfying and valuable.

Cheltenham and North Cotswolds Branch, Like all branches is run by volunteers. Please consider giving some of your time to help your branch. Contact a branch committee member (see listing elsewhere on the website) for further information.

HOW TO JOIN THE NCT

• Join online via our national website
• Phone the membership hotline at 0870 990 8040
  

Membership costs £39 for an individual and £1 if you are in receipt of income support. Subscriptions can be covenanted if requested. Members receive the Cheltenham & North Cotswolds quarterly Newsletters "Off Spring" and the NCT quarterly News Magazine "New Generation"!