The future is bright for popular NCT group in Weymouth, Dorchester and Blandford (From Dorset Echo)
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The future is bright for popular NCT group in Weymouth, Dorchester and Blandford
10:00am Monday 11th March 2013 in News By Miriam Phillips, Chief Reporter
CELEBRATIONS: Revival of the mum’s NCT Group, Weymouth, Dorchester and Blandford. Inset, branch co-ordinator Clare Perriss
A VITAL mums group in Weymouth and Portland is celebrating its future after an influx of new volunteers.
It comes after the NCT Weymouth, Dorchester and Blandford branch was in crisis following the loss of its core committee last year.
The remaining group held an emergency meeting in December and were ‘overwhelmed’ by the number of enthusiastic volunteers who stepped forward.
Now, the group is celebrating by organising a number of events and sales for mums, parents and mums-to-be in the area.
Clare Perriss, branch co-ordinator for NCT Weymouth, Dorchester and Blandford Branch, said: “At the end of last year we had lost many of our core volunteers so we held a survival meeting.
“At the meeting we were just completely overwhelmed by how many dedicated and passionate people offered to volunteer.
“Now we have a fully functioning committee and lots of exciting events on the horizon.”
She added that the branch is stronger than ever, due to a dedicated group of mums who feel passionately about the NCT and want to offer support for other parents in the Weymouth, Dorchester and Blandford area.
As part of the celebrations, the branch will be holding a popular Nearly New Sale on Saturday at the Thomas Hardye School in Dorchester from 10am until noon.
The branch has helped thousands of parents over the years through its antenatal and postnatal classes, breastfeeding support, coffee mornings and bumps and baby get togethers.
The nearly new sale is a really popular event that attracts thousands of mums and expectant parents.
As well as this event, the branch is organising a baby first aid course on Saturday, April 27 in Dorchester.
Its events are open to all mums and dads in the area and include include pamper nights, a family fun day, a duck race and other courses useful to parents.
Mrs Perriss added: “Local parents who are keen to find out more about NCT events should come along to our events.
“We offer lots of activities to enable new and expectant parents to get together and meet others in the same situation or just to make friends.
“We want our community to build up so we can be bigger than ever and meet lots of new parents.”
Join the Monday playgroup
Volunteers from the branch also run a busy playgroup on Monday mornings, during term time, from 10am-noon at the Upwey Memorial Hall, which caters for all children from newborn to school age.
Every session provides playtime, craft activities, snacks and a chance for children to play in safety and mums to socialise with other mums.
Find out more about the NCT group
If you want to contact the NCT to find out about events, support for mums, breastfeeding advice please either call 0844 243 6323 or email weydorchnct@gmail.com or visit nct.org.uk/branches/ weymouth-dorchester
You can also follow their updates on Facebook or follow them on Twitter @NCTWeyDorchBlan
Events coming up
- Saturday, March 16: Nearly New Sale – Thomas Hardye School, 10am-12 (NCT members 9:45am start)
- Saturday, April 27: Baby First Aid Course, Dorchester – contact weydorchnct@gmail.com to book
- Saturday, June 29: Nearly New Sale, Blandford School, 2pm-4pm
