Wolverhampton Branch Newsletter Edition 2, Autumn / Winter 2015 Inside: Volunteer of the month What s been happening at NCT Wolverhampton Who s our special visitor, NNS Update, NCT Stars New Arrivals Volunteer Interview
NCT Wolverhampton - Who s who? Branch coordinators - Carly Birchell and Amanda Alsop Vice branch coordinator: Alex Hayter Treasurer - Hayley Curtis-Gaze (deputies: Kate Hillman - Nearly New Sale Treasurer; Rachel Peterson - Sling library treasurer.. Membership coordinator - Denise Campbell Parent Support Coordinator (PSC) - Sarah Fellows Parent Services Area (PSA) (Link with NCT antenatal classes) Nayera Everby and Stephanie Warr GROUP LEADS little angels - Sarah Fellows (until end Nov - then Summer Rowley and Louise Smallman) Toddle waddle walk - West Park Rebecca Poulton-Tonks East Park - Kate Hillman and Louise Smallman Sling library - Carly and Ruth Jackson Little ramblers - Amy Jennifer Bertaut Bridgenorth bumps and babies - Louise Minihan-Lees Building Bridges (at Refugee & Migrant Centre) - Denise Campbell Nearly new sale coordinator - Lysanne Bennett Secretary and general enquiries - Amanda Baker Social media - Helen Brown Maternity Services Liaison Committee rep - Joanna Dearnaley Caesarian support contact - Alex Hayter and Kerry Dawes Advertising coordinator - Joanne Everby Press and Publicity - Helen Brown Website and photographer - Nick Brightman Newsletter - Natalie Louise Doherty Out & about coordinator (school holidays) Amanda Baker & Ruth Jackson Baby first aid coordinator - Kate Hillman Nappy library (looking into setting up) Hollie Mitford & Isobel Monaghan Baby bundles coordinator - Naomi Williams Breastfeeding cafe (looking into setting up) Louise Oliver Agent for bras and breast pumps - tbc Fundraising/ grants coordinator - Rebecca Social coordinator - Amanda Baker
November Volunteers of the Month A special congratulations to these volunteers for their hard work and dedication. October Hayley Curtis-Gaze Dec Kate Hillman Kerry Dawes We have lots of fantastic volunteers at NCT Wolverhampton but we always have room for more. Louise Smallman If you would like to volunteer or take on one of our available positions please get in touch with one of the branch coordinators or chat to another volunteer
What have we been up to? Here s some information on all the events and good work we have been doing since our last issue. Volunteers set up at Baby changing/ feeding tent at the Wolverhampton Show. NCT Wolverhampton Baby Bundles would like to say thank you for their massive generosity that has been shown. The donations given after the nearly new sale were fantastic and have been distributed to families in need of Wolverhampton. We think you are all AMAZING Thank You!!!!
Special Visitor Nick Wilkie the new NCT CEO visited the branch (Little Angels and Building Bridges coffee morning at the Refugee and Migrant Centre). We welcomed Nick for his first visit and enjoyed having time to show him how important our local groups are for the community. Toddle Waddle News We have launched a new Toddle Waddle Walk in East park hosted by Kate Hillman and Louise Smallman. Its great to see new faces as well as some regulars. Pop along and join us now we ve added this extra day. We are currently looking for two more volunteers to support this group.! Spooky Stroll? For Halloween we ran a TWW fancy dress special and although we didn't have lots of spooky characters it was great to see so many people joining the event.
Nearly New Sale Total amount of money raised at each sale since the last Newsletter are displayed below. Great work Everyone! September 1556.42 November 850.45 The next Nearly New Sale is scheduled for the 12th march 2016 and registration will open in January Keep an eye on the website for more details. NCT Star Awards The Results Wolverhampton had great success at the NCT Stars Awards! (Several of our volunteers were highly commended for regional level and of our branch coordinators Amanda Alsop WON national prize for 'Growing Reach of NCT)'
Volunteer Interview : Sarah Fellows Sarah Fellows is one of NCT s most recognisable volunteers in Wolverhampton. From launching the Toddle Waddle & running Little Angels (LA), bumps and babies group to helping out at nearly new sales, if it involves the NCT, Sarah is usually at hand & she does it all while looking after two toddlers. Here she tells us what it s like being a volunteer with the group and why she got involved. I have been volunteering since the group was relaunched in 2013. It all started when six of us got together for a meeting, I started with the toddle waddle first as I wanted to do some exercise and LA came along in November 2013." Christ Church, where the group meets, was after a baby group and I realised there was no facilities for parents in that area of the city. As the NCT had a grant available to help with the funding I decided to set something up." I think it has become a popular group as it is aimed at those with younger children rather than older ones, although they can attend as well. I really have enjoyed meeting all the parents who have come through the doors, you inadvertently end up giving advice to some of the new parents but you always learn things from others as well." The NCT now does a massive amount in Wolverhampton, all with the help of volunteers. It has touched so many parents, probably hundreds through LA alone. There are some parents who I don t think would have left the house without the group to go to & I think in years to come unless parents do it, facilities like this won t be there." Hopefully in the future NCT can broaden the fantastic work its doing reaching more areas of the city gaining other volunteers.
Helping out with the branch has been fantastic for me even though its about children it gave me another role apart from being a parent. Sarah will be stepping down from LA at the end of the year and NCT would like to thank her for all her help. If you are interested in volunteering with the group please email Wolverhampton@nct.org.uk November 2015 A special mention for Little Angels which has been running for two years now and Little Ramblers which has been running for a year. Both groups have been greatly received and we hope to see these groups continuing with such energised group members in the future WATCH THIS SPACE If you are interested in advertising in this newsletter in the future please contact coordinator.wolverhampton@nct.org.uk
New Arrivals Beth Bloxham Little arrival born in November 2015 Alfie
Christmas Activities Toddle Waddle Walk party on the 22nd December Adults 8, Children 3. This includes dinner and meeting Father Christmas Groups Restarting After Christmas Little Angels will start again on the 8th January 2016 Toddle Waddle Walk will restart on the 6th January Make sure to come along to the groups in the new year and check facebook regularly for updates.
Baby Bundles We are now moving forward with Baby Bundles as we have found storage. We will soon be liaising with midwives and will update the facebook page when we have more information. However we can now accept donations, if you would like to know more about this please visit the facebook page or get in touch with a volunteer.