THE NATIONAL Childbirth Trust Dunmow & Braintree (NCT) branch celebrated moving into Great Dunmow with a visit from the mayor this week.

Dunmow Broadcast: Mayoress June Milne joins in with the sing and sign session led by Martine Brockman.Mayoress June Milne joins in with the sing and sign session led by Martine Brockman. (Image: Archant)

Members of the group were thrilled with the move from Flitch Green Community Centre to the Dourdan Pavilion as it brings the group to a more central position that is more accessible for many of the mothers.

Mel Sims, branch chairman, said: “We were very happy at Flitch Green and they were excellent to us but our members are all travelling with babies and we saw the need to having a base that was more central for them.”

The group meets every Monday at the pavillion and offers a safe baby area, an area for toddlers to play and mingle, as well as refreshments, supported by the town’s Tesco store, for parents.

Special guests visit to entertain or educate the children. On Monday Martine Brockman from Sing and Sign visited the group. Mayoress June Milne joined in with the fun session, learning to sign along with the words to songs.

The Dunmow NCT group is going from strength to strength and is already the largest NCT group in the UK. It boasts more than 1,100 members on its Facebook page – coming second to Nottingham.

Despite this, Ms Sims is eager to encourage more people to join. She said: “Everyone is welcome, both mums and dads, but I would especially love to see some nanas coming to our groups.”

Last year NCT won an award for the best baby and toddler group, and Ms Sims puts part of this success down to the countless fundraising events it holds.

The next events will be a First Aid Course specialising in babies and toddlers at Little Goslings, Dunmow, on September 3, from 8pm to 10pm. There will also be a nearly new sale at Braintree Leisure Centre on September 15.

The NCT group meets every Monday at the Dourdan Pavilion from 10am–12pm, Tuesdays at Black Notley Community Centre from 12.45-2.45pm, Braintree District Museum from 10am–12pm on Wednesdays, and on Thursdays at Rayne Village Hall from 10-11.45am.

There is a nominal charge of £2 to attend.

Information is available at nct.org.uk/Dunmow or facebook.com/NCTDunmowandBraintree. Or call Ms Sims on 07796 135165.