Our Branch Coordinator takes on the Great South Run for Team NCT!

The Great South Run is the world’s premier 10 mile running event which attracts around 25,000 runners to Portsmouth and this year our Branch Coordinator (Maxine) will be one of them.

Maxine signed up for this event because she was looking for a challenge and a motivation to return to running which she enjoyed in the past. She will be running to raise funds for the NCT because she wants to support the work that the charity is doing and knows that getting sponsorship will help keep her focussed whilst doing her training and on the day itself. 

Maxine’s commitment to this event has started with her training – 3 times a week, often starting at 6am to fit it in around her children and her husband’s working hours! So far the furthest distance Maxine has run is 10km but she is confident that she will complete the distance.

We’ll report back on how Maxine got on after the event. In the meantime, if you would like to sponsor her you can do so online at www.justgiving.com/Maxine-Freeman2 or by texting MIDJ77 followed by the amount to 70070. 

Do a Cycletta for the NCT!

Cycletta is the leading woman-only cycling event that takes part all year round across the UK. The event hosts bike rides set in beautiful, family friendly venues. The event is supported by Olympic Gold medallist Victoria Pendleton.

The distances of the cycle routes are between 20km, 40km and 80km. These distances offer a ride for all abilities and even if you haven’t ridden a bike in years, they are challenging but achievable.

You can take part in a Cycletta near you to not only get fit but also raise money for NCT’s leading work in providing pivotal support for parents across the UK.

Zoe Bastyan from Southampton branch took part in Cycletta New Forest last year and raised £220 for the NCT last year. She said that Cycletta was perfect for her as she ‘needed her own personal mini-adventure’ and was achievable as ‘there was minimal training involved’.

These are the Cycletta which you can take part in for 2013:

CYCLETTA SCOTLAND - 15TH SEPTEMBER 2013

CYCLING HOLIDAY (Mallorca)- 25TH TO 30TH SEPTEMBER 2013

CYCLETTA BRIGHTON - 29TH SEPTEMBER 2013

CYCLETTA NEW FOREST - 13TH OCTOBER 2013

We are asking all those who want to do a Cycletta for the NCT to raise a minimum of £150. If you are interested in taking part, please apply via the Cycletta website (http://humanrace.co.uk/events/cycletta)for the bike ride of your choice.

The entry costs for the Cycletta vary from £28-£42 depending on the length of your bike ride.

Once you have applied, please contact the Community Fundraising at teamnct@nct.org.uk to inform them and they will be happy to provide you with fundraising support including a complimentary fundraising pack to help you reach your sponsorship target.

The deadline for fundraising will be two months after the event.

The Big Push 2013

The second annual Ely Big Push took place Saturday 18th May 2013. It was a lovely event and the weather was kind to us once again. No one got sunburn, and no one got wet!

Families began to gather at the band stand in Jubilee Gardens from about 9.30am. Vicky Oldham and her family generously gave their time to set up a cake stall, selling cakes that had been made and donated by Isle of Ely NCT Branch members and supporters. Kasia, of Mesmerized Faces - Face Painting in Ely also arrived early and set up her stall. She generously gave her time, resources and creative talents to the NCT for the day, and all donations for the face painting went to the NCT charity.

Just as soon as Kasia was ready, the first child eagerly jumped on the chair and the fun began.

The making of Spider Man

This happy customer didn't want to wash her face!

Annabel Line of Buggy Bootcamp generously gave her time for the second year running, to warm up the walkers.

Warm up with Annabel Line

Come on - let's go!

The kids lead the way!

Our walk took us past some of Ely's highlights

On the home stretch - Cherry Hill Gardens 

We are still calculating the final total raised, but already, even without everyone's sponsorship or taking into account the gift aid component, we have raised over £200. All money raised goes to the NCT and is designated to provide support for new parents and to help combat post natal depression.

There is still time to donate, - just head to the Ely Big Push Just Giving Page - every penny is appreciated.

To see more photos, or if you would like to know about the Ely Big Push 2014, please Like our Facebook Page.

Many thanks to everyone that helped to make this day a success, including those who walked, dedicated their time to the organisation, made a donation, baked a cake, warmed us up, painted faces, helped with publicity...

See you next year!

Only 3 weeks to the Big Push

It's only three weeks to the Big Push. Did you sign up yet? If not, you can do so here. Why not persuade a friend to join you. It will be a great day out. the walk is every bit as beautiful as it was last year the tree of us organisers did a trial run at the weekend.

If you can't attend perhaps you could make a donation, or some cakes for the cake stall, or simply sponsor a friend.

Here is a letter from Sharon in Woking, thanking you in advance for your support of the NCT. Funds you raise will enable the NCT to continue their work, which has helped her and thousands of people like her. 

Dear Isle of Ely NCT Member 

I wanted to let you know how the support I received from NCT enabled me to deal with my postnatal depression so you can see how your fundraising will help. 

I first knew I wasn't coping well when my daughter was 11 weeks old.  I cried all the time, I felt I was failing her and I was anxious about everything.  I was referred to the GP, but at the time I didn't want to take antidepressants as I wanted to breastfeed, so as a result I kind of got lost in the system. 

My daughter had colic for the first 14 weeks - I'd been up till 2am most nights with her screaming from 9pm till 2am.  I spent many nights sobbing in front of my little girl, begging her not to cry, to tell me what I was doing wrong… I felt like I was letting her down every day.  My husband couldn't understand why I was like I was and told me to get on with it.  I couldn't tell people how I felt. 

Going to my local NCT Bumps and Babies group gave me a place to go. While my daughter was young I joined the branch committee and this got me out of the house even if it was just for a few hours a week. Finally at my eight month check I was referred back to the GP.  A health visitor began weekly visits and I started antidepressants when my daughter reached her first birthday. 

I suffered again when my second child was 7 months old.  This time I went to the GP early and I started antidepressants when he was 8 months old.  I hope to stop taking them soon. 

I met some of my closest friends at my NCT antenatal classes and I want others to be able to access that same support network and have somewhere to go when they are struggling. Your Big Push sponsorship money will enable NCT to provide more new parents with support and information to enable them and their babies have the best possible start. 

By taking part in the Big Push you will make a real difference to new parents. When you are suffering with post natal depression you feel a complete failure as a mother. It is vital that new mums get support early on to prevent them from becoming isolated and fearful of being unable to cope. Thank you for helping make this support possible.

          Best wishes,

 Sharon, Woking

NCT Jump for Mother’s Day

The third annual NCT Jump for Mother’s Day takes place 10 March 2013 at Swindon Airfield. Will you take the plunge for NCT and leap out of a plane to raise essential funds to help their work supporting new parents?

NCT: with you for the biggest jump of your life

Becoming pregnant and preparing for parenthood is an exciting time, but it can also bring with it many challenges as new parents adapt to changed relationships and their new role.

As parents, we often find that we receive information from all different directions. Friends, family, and companies too, everyone has an opinion or advice to give. NCT offers parents evidence-based information you can trust from the outset.

“Information was totally conflicting – in fact if you were not level headed, it would have driven you spare!” (first time mother, NCT survey 2010)

9 in 10 people who go to NCT classes go for evidence-based information from a reliable source. We research our information so they don’t have to.  

NCT helplines give new parents access to a trained Practitioner for the price of a local call – someone who will listen, understand and give the facts, information and support we need.  

NCT needs YOUR support to continue to provide unbiased information and support that parents can rely on. By joining Team NCT you can ensure that other parents receive the essential support and information they need to make the transition to parenthood a positive one.

£4.80 sponsorship could fund a call to our Pregnancy and Birth Helpline

£25 sponsorship could pay for an hour of NCT Practitioner support for a new mum in need

£140 sponsorship could fund a subsidized antenatal course for a parent from a low income family or young parent so ensure they access the information they need to be confidence about their birth and first days of parenthood.

 

For 2013, we will have our very own NCT member of staff taking the plunge, Andy Barnes who will be ‘Jumping for all mums’ across the country.

We are asking all those who wish to take part to pay a non-refundable deposit of £70 and raise a minimum of £395.

To find out more about the jump and about taking part get in touch with Wonu in the Community Fundraising Team at wonu.owoade@nct.org.uk or 0208 752 2388.

Deadline for applications is Friday 21^st December

Cheeky Monkey Tea Party 2012

On a beautiful sunny day in July, young families descend on Sutton's Brooklands Centre for our annual Cheeky Monkey Tea Party. Loads of fun craft activities for the children, including tile painting, seed planting (ours have sprouted now) and decorating cakes:

Clare Rees provided her excellent face painting services.

Ken's Woodshop was there selling beautiful wooden gifts and toys, even making some on the spot, as well as some handmade jewellery. As was Alice Daly with her Phoenix Cards stall.

Refreshments including home-made cakes were delicious and the children had a lovely time playing outside and in.

Join in the Fun with the Great South Run

This October NCT has places in the Great South Run. Right on your doorstep is Europe’s biggest 10 mile race. This flat and fast route takes you past Portsmouth’s historic landmarks, from the Spinnaker Tower to the iconic HMS Victory.

You too can join Paula Radcliff and Mo Farah in crossing the sea-front finish!

Join NCT for the Great South Run this October and you can set yourself a new challenge, whether it’s your first sponsored run, or you’re looking to beat a personal best, this is the race for you.

The run takes place on Sunday 28 October in Portsmouth, there is a £40 fee for a place and we’re asking runners to aim to raise £250 towards NCT’s work supporting parents. There is loads of fundraising support available and runners also receive a training plan, t-shirt and fundraising materials.

More information about the race can be found here http://www.nct.org.uk/great-south-run.

To register your interest today, just email jessica.d’arcy@nct.org.uk.

Photo from Bupa Great South Run

The Big Push 2012

On Saturday 30th June 2012, we held our first Big Push event.

The Big Push is the NCT's newest fundraising event, and funds raised will be used to combat isloation in new parents.

People start to gather at the Bandstand

People started to gather at the Bandstand in Jubilee Gardens at about 10am, to drop off the cakes they had made for the stall, and to get their faces painted by Clare of Making Faces.

Ted gets his face painted

Some of the cakes donated by members

Then Annabel Line, a personal trainer who runs The Green Workout and Buggy Bootcamp in Ely, came along and motivated our little crowd with a few warm up exercises.

 

Annabel Line from Buggy Bootcamp running the warm-up session

Then we were off.

Leaving the cake stall in capable hands

Cakes anyone? Only 50p!

and with our leader pointing the way

And we're off

the walk began with a left turn, along the waterfront, through Pocket Park, around the town,

past the Cathedral,  (you can see the route here)

We are lucky to have such a beautiful place to walk

and after little over an hour, we were back.

The walkers return

In total, we raised £644.37, which we are very proud of for such a small branch. We have already started thinking about next year's event. Be a part of it and help us make the 2013 Big Push even more successful.

You can find out more and see more photos on our Big Push Facebook Page. Don't forget to 'Like' our page while you are there, just to be sure you get early notice about next year's event so that you can join us.