About peer support volunteering in Lancashire
NCT is commissioned by Lancashire County Council to provide peer support to families in a variety of ways, including:
- Hospital Maternity Wards - Supporting parents in the hours and days post birth, often with their first experiences of breastfeeding. Offering a listening ear and sharing information on a range of topics and signposting to local support once they leave hospital.
- Peer-Led Support Groups - Supporting new and expecting parents at free local groups focused on infant feeding and breastfeeding support. Volunteers offer emotional and practical support, share information, and help facilitate social connections.
- Telephone Support – Contacting parents within 48 hours and providing ongoing support after discharge from hospital. Volunteers provide support over the phone, offer a listening ear, share helpful information, and signpost to local services.
- Social Media Support – Engaging with parents online through NCT’s social media platforms. Volunteers offer encouragement, share evidence-based information, and signpost to local services and support groups, helping families feel connected and informed.
To deliver this support, we offer several volunteering opportunities:
Trained Peer Supporter
Volunteers can train to support families on maternity wards, via telephone, at groups, or through social media.
Please note: To become a trained peer supporter, you must have personal experience of breastfeeding or expressing your own breastmilk. Lived experience enables volunteers to offer meaningful peer support, which has been shown to positively impact families on their feeding journey.
Meet and Greet Volunteer
Volunteers can help welcome families at support groups without undergoing formal training.
Training Details
- The training course is delivered online over 7–8 weeks.
- It includes one online training session per week and approximately one hour of homework.
- Upon successful completion of the workbook, you will receive an OCN-accredited qualification in peer support.
If you're ready to commit to the training course or would like to volunteer as a meet and greet volunteer and can offer around two hours per week for at least six months after training, we welcome your expression of interest.