For 60 years, childbirth charity the NCT has been supporting parents through pregnancy and the early years. Sian Ellidge looks at what the group has achieved and its aims for the future

IN 1956, prompted by the stillbirth of her daughter due to what she felt was medical mismanagement, Prunella Briance placed what at first glance appeared to be an inauspicious advert in The Times.

"A natural childbirth association is to be formed for the promotion and better understanding of the Dick-Read System," it read, referencing the teachings of Dr Grantly Dick-Read, a leading advocate of painless childbirth. The response was overwhelming, with women sharing their shocking and sad tales, and the Natural Childbirth Association of Great Britain, later to become the National Childbirth Trust (NCT), held its inaugural meeting eight months later in January 1957. A revolution in attitudes to pregnancy and birth had been born.

”Curious minds may wonder why I was prompted to start something as important as NCT. It was due to a horribly mis-managed birth and the loss of my precious baby girl,’ says Prunella. “Having mourned deeply, I suddenly came to life and realised that someone had to do something, and so I did. The first members were asked for their ideas and a powerful committee grew. The inaugural meeting was held in Caxton Hall in January 1957. Grantly Dick-Read was elected our first President and thus it was that NCT took root and has survived and spread, as I hoped it might.’

Before the NCT was created, mothers-to-be received very little information to prepare them for birth, and a ‘Doctor knows best’ attitude prevailed.

Following Prunella’s call to arms, the charity introduced the first antenatal classes in 1959. Last year, courses helped prepare nearly 100,000 new parents for birth and parenthood – one in every ten first-time mothers and fathers. The charity now has 320 branches and more than 100,000 members across the country, and has spearheaded a number of important campaigns, such as having partners accepted in delivery rooms - for previous generations the philosophy had been that fathers had no place at the birth. One of the original aims of NCT was that partners ‘should be present during labour, if mutually desired’. The drive to allow partners into the delivery room began in the 1960s, though it wasn’t until the mid-1970s that it became widely accepted.

Another of the charity’s goals is improving services for maternal mental health. Last year, it launched the #BeyondBabyBlues campaign, which called for improved mental health support for parents during their ‘First 1,000 Days’, and, in January, the Prime Minister announced an additional £290m for mental health services for new and expectant mums.

In Darlington, the branch is believed to have been active for more than 30 years. "The NCT has a thriving branch in Darlington, run by a group of enthusiastic and dedicated volunteers,” says branch chairwoman Sarah Ellis "The NCT is the UK’s largest charity for parents and families and its aim is to provide services that support and empower parents to give their children the best possible start in life and to campaign for improvements for parents during this time. The First 1,000 Days describes the time from the start of pregnancy to a child’s second birthday. It is a period that evidence shows us plays a vital role in whether children grow up happy, healthy and well-adjusted.”

NCT events and activities seek to provide social networks to help new parents explore their new roles together, sharing information and providing support. In Darlington local families can access antenatal classes, postnatal classes, playgroups, seasonal family fun days and twice-yearly Nearly New Sales – there’s one today at Bondgate Church, Darlington.

"Over the next 12 months we are also hoping to extend the support we can offer by running a Breastfeeding Peer-Support Group,” says Sarah.

The branch relies solely on volunteers, and is always looking for more local parents to get involved. “To be able to continue to run and develop what we can offer in Darlington, we are always looking for new volunteers,” says Sarah. “Volunteering to help the NCT reach out to other parents can provide you with an opportunity to feel that you are still contributing in some way and give you something different to add to your CV. It is a fantastic way to broaden your social circle, but in a completely baby friendly way - every meeting we hold is between parents, and babies can always come.”

One of the ways the Darlington branch will mark the charity's 60th anniversary is by producing a special edition of its quarterly newsletter. "It would be great if local parents could share their memories of the NCT, especially those whose children have now grown up,” says Sian Ellidge, Darlington and District newsletter editor. "While we think the branch has been in existence for about 30 years, we haven't been able to find any specific details, and we would love to hear from anyone who remembers the branch's beginnings, and share their stories in our special newsletter."

Anyone with memories to share, or who would like to get involved in volunteering with the NCT, can email DarlingtonandDistrict@nct.org.uk or visit the Facebook page at facebook.com/NCTDarlingtonandDistrict