National Childbirth Trust
Hartlepool Family Hubs have commissioned the NCT to facilitate Infant Feeding and Perinatal Mental Health Peer Support services across the town.
NCT in partnership with Family Hubs
The NCT together with Hartlepool Borough Council Family Hubs, NHS and Health Visiting and our friends within the Voluntary and Community Sector have worked together to bring a range of essential new services for parents to the area.
NCT are working alongside the Family Hubs to deliver Infant Feeding and Perinatal Mental Health peer support in the community, this is through community drop ins, offering home visits, a phone line, one to one support, peer support within 2 hospitals as well as a digital offer.
We are grateful for the support provided by Hartlepool Borough Council, Family Hubs, NHS and Health Visiting alongside our friends within the Voluntary and Community Sector to help bring these essential new services for parents to the area.
Infant Feeding
NCT’s charitable mission dates back over 65 years. They have a proud history of supporting parents through all stages of pregnancy, birth and early parenthood. Specifically in relation to infant feeding, NCT have a strong and vibrant network of Breastfeeding Counsellors and peer supporters in Hartlepool helping parents to navigate the challenges of all types of infant feeding. They provide evidence-based information to parents and support their decisions on infant feeding in a non-biased, inclusive way.
NCT have a For Every Parent strategy which details their vision, mission, values and pillars that drive our work.
Perinatal Mental Health
NCT Parents in Mind is a volunteer peer support service for mums and birthing people, and dads and non-birthing partners, experiencing mild-moderate mental health difficulties in pregnancy and parenthood. This takes place every Tuesday from 1pm until 2pm at the Women’s Health Hub in Hartlepool. This core offer provides free peer support for women and birthing parents who are experiencing low mood, anxiety, isolation, and poor mental health during pregnancy and/or within the two years after birth.
They are not clinicians, fixers, advisors, or therapists
They simply offer parents a safe, judgment-free & filter free space to offload the full feelings of parenthood.
This is delivered by parents and volunteers who have closely supported, or have themselves, experienced poor mental/ emotional health during pregnancy and or in early parenthood. These volunteers are now well and can offer non-judgemental space & time to support someone else currently experiencing similar struggles. No formal previous diagnosis is required – by volunteer or service user.
Our support can be extremely meaningful and impactful due to peer support being non-clinical & informal. NCT have been brought in by Hartlepool Borough Council to reduce the stigma around mild – moderate perinatal mental health, reduce isolation & connect parents locally. This can lessen the need for higher intervention by giving spaces to truly hear feelings that lead to resilience or trust to engage with appropriate support.
Become an NCT Perinatal Mental Health peer supporter
Get an OCN accredited qualification
NCT Parents in Mind are looking for volunteers peer supporters to join an amazing team, as a supporter you will be able to empathise with the ups and downs of parenthood and be that vital listening ear or pillar of support.
The course will be held online and consists of approximately 8 weeks training (3 hours per session, per week). There will also be homework time (usually 1 hour per week).
On satisfactory completion of your workbook, you will receive an OCN accredited qualification in peer supporting!
Find out more and complete the expression of interest form here Volunteering with NCT in Hartlepool – Expression of Interest (office.com) and one of the team members at NCT will be in touch with more information.
NCT is commissioned by Hartlepool Borough Council to train and coordinate mothers who have lived experience of perinatal mental health to offer skilled, volunteer parent to parent support across the Hartlepool area.
Register with us
Fill out the form below for updates on our in person and virtual classes and other types of support relevant to you! Please download and read the Consent Form before applying.
Register with us
Fill out the form below for updates on our in person and virtual classes and other types of support relevant to you! Please download and read the Consent Form before applying.
