Newsletter - Mandy Mazliah

Letter from Claire
Welcome to our first newsletter since the launch of Riverside branch!
This newsletter is the combined efforts of two branches: Brixton, Dulwich
& Streatham (BDS) and Riverside. We have come together to continue
the excellent work of the newsletter team from the previous Southwark
& Lambeth branch. The two branches are forging ahead with work in our
individual areas, and as two smaller branches we hope to reach many more
new parents and tailor the work of the branch to what you, our members,
want. But the newsletter will continue in its Southwark & Lambeth format
until both new branches are ready to publish on their own.
We have had a busy time since Southwark & Lambeth branch split last
year. Riverside branch was launched at the beginning of October, headed
by a brand new team of shiny volunteers! We have been working with
enthusiastic local mums who are already providing a variety of initiatives,
we have investigated services being provided across the branch, and have
been finding out what you think about services and support in your area.
But there is still a lot to do to pull all this hard work together into a fully
functioning NCT branch.
Riverside is lucky to receive a lot of support from our more-experienced
neighbours, and we would like to say a huge thank you to the committees
of both BDS and Clapham for all their help, as well as Sherry Bevan and
Liza Taylor for lots of timely advice. The new committee has been whittling
the Riverside branch out of the enthusiasm of a few first-time mums, and
this has at times been a slow and frustrating process. We have had our fair
share of technological setbacks and ‘computer says no’ moments! However,
from our own very varied experiences of becoming and being parents, we
have a huge motivation to get this branch helping new parents in every way
it can. We know this aspiration is reflected by our members and we really
hope you will join us in making a success of Riverside.
Read what we’ve been up to since launching in October and our plans for
the year ahead in Anne’s Branch Buzz. We are teeming with exciting ideas,
but we really need more people to help us turn these into a reality. Please
see the volunteers pages to find out the roles we have to fill, and please
get in touch if you want to get involved in any way - from hosting a first aid
workshop or planning the craft fair, to sending us your feedback or meeting
up with someone to discuss shared experiences. The branch is run for you,
by you - we will be nothing without you.
Claire Lützow
Riverside Co-Chair
Welcome
Claire Lützow
Co-chair, Riverside branch
Newsletter Spring 5