What is The NCT?

Formed in 1956 as the National Childbirth Trust, the NCT is Britain's best-known charity concerned with education for birth and early parenthood. We are THE voice for parents on antenatal (before birth) and immediate postnatal (after birth) matters. 

Most of the work of the charity is done on a voluntary basis from members' homes. There are nearly 400 branches throughout England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The NCT believes a baby gets the best start in life if its parents feel confident, in control, well-informed and well supported. So we:

  • established the principle of antenatal classes which respond to the parents' needs
  • spread the knowledge of the advantages of breast-feeding
  • set up support networks for parents
  • pressed for the presence of the father or a birth supporter at the birth
  • worked to convince health professionals that the mental and emotional well-being of parents can be as important as their physical health
  • helped draft government guidelines giving women more control over how and where they give birth
  • question the use and consequences of unevaluated medical interventions in labour
  • provide an electric breast pump service to help women breast-feed premature or sick babies
  • visit schools to take part in family life education, social studies and child development courses
  • run conferences and study days, carry out research, publish books and leaflets to increase the knowledge of parents and health professionals
  • argue that maternity care policies and practices should be based on reliable evidence from clinical and social studies
  • have more than 100 representatives on key health authority maternity committees
  • led the campaign to make the government's Maternity Charter more widely available.

We EXIST to offer information & support in pregnancy, childbirth & early parenthood.

We CAMPAIGN to improve maternity care & ensure better services & facilities for new parents.

We AIM to give every parent the opportunity to make informed choices.

We WANT to make sure that everyone has the access to our services & activities.

We are only able to do all this because of the support we receive from our members, most of whom are new parents or parents-to-be. Please help us to continue this vital work by joining the NCT. Please click here to join.

The NCT: Registered Address - Alexandra House, Oldham Terrace, Acton, London. W3 6NH. Registered Company No.2370573.