Garden Organic

A healthy diet is essential to every mother-to-be, and increasing numbers are choosing an organic lifestyle.

Garden Organic is Britain's leading organic charity aimed at researching, developing and promoting organic gardening, farming and food. Also known as HDRA - the Henry Doubleday Research Association - it was founded in the 1950s as a membership network for gardeners who did not want to rely on the burgeoning agrochemical industry. It now has well over 30,000 members nationwide, who are people who care about the environment and a healthy lifestyle.

Members enjoy

• access to a wealth of information for those who want to grow their own fruit and vegetables, including editions of the seasonal magazine The Organic Way
• access to the members' web site and advice line
• discounts on orders for The Organic Gardening Catalogue
• free entry to selected visitor gardens around the UK.
  

Garden Organic also promotes organic gardening in hundreds of schools and its research is helping to change the nature of professional growing and waste management. Its Overseas Organic Support Group funds vital work to help small-scale farmers grow organically in developing countries.

A 3-month free trial membership is currently available for those who would like to find out more.

See the web site www.gardenorganic.org.uk and find out about Garden Organic membership here.

COTS - Childlessness Overcome Through Surrogacy UK

Providing advice, help and support to surrogates and intended parents.

COTS was founded in 1988 and now has over 750 members and we celebrated our 500 surrogate birth in August 2004. Photos of the 500th party click here. It is run without financial gain by people dedicated in helping others through surrogacy.

Traditional (Straight) surrogacy: The surrogate uses her own egg fertilised with the intended father's sperm. This is done by artificial insemination using a syringe or there are an increasing number of infertility clinics willing to help with traditional surrogacy. Please contact our secretary if you need advice. COTS can supply a list of hospitals and clinics willing to help in traditional surrogacy, this can also be accessed from our web pages.

Gestational (Host IVF) surrogacy: The surrogate carries the intended parent's genetic child conceived through IVF, for which specialist doctors are needed. For this treatment the infertile woman must still have working ovaries. COTS have a list of IVF hospitals and clinics in the UK willing to help in gestational surrogacy. Our Information booklet informs you what to expect when embarking upon gestational surrogacy - contact our secretary for information.

Verity - Sharing the truth about PCOS

About Verity

Verity is the UK charity for women whose lives are affected by Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). If you have been diagnosed with PCOS, think you may have PCOS or know someone with the condition - then Verity is here to help you. Verity currently has no paid members of staff. We rely on the support of our volunteers and members.

Join Verity

By becoming a member of Verity you will receive an information pack, regular newsletters and invitations to Verity conferences and events. Most importantly you will be supporting Verity in its mission to share the truth about PCOS. Joining Verity is very simple. You can Join Online by filling in and submitting the form below.

To join by post print a copy of the Membership Form and return it with a cheque or postal order for £20 (£12 - concessionary fee - full time students and those on benefits†) to:

Verity Membership

Unit AS20.01 - The Aberdeen Centre

22-24 Highbury Grove

London N5 2EA

Verity relies totally on the support of its volunteers and will strive to process your membership as quickly as possible. Due to the large volume of enquiries you may have to wait four to six weeks for delivery. Your patience is greatly appreciated.

Foresight, the Association for the Promotion of Preconceptual Care

First established in 1978, Foresight is a charitable organisation whose primary role is to promote the importance of good health and nutritional status in both parents before conceiving a baby, and to provide sensible, acheivable information and advice on how to do this.

Foresight has put together a thoroughly researched pre-conception programme, which identifies and addresses various areas of concern in the health in any pair of prospective parents. The objective is to optimise the health of both prospective parents well before conception occurs so that a pregnancy can be started with a normal, strong sperm and ova and the embryo can implant and develop under optimum conditions in a healthy uterus, with no danger of damage from nutritional deficiency, toxins or disease. Over the years, Foresight has found that under these conditions it is possible to have uncomplicated pregnancies resulting in strong, healthy and perfectly formed babies, even in many couples who may have previously experienced the distress of miscarriage, stillbirth, birth defects, unexplained infertility, post-natal depression, health problems in the child, and other problems relating to conception, pregnancy and birth.

It is a sad fact that the modern, busy lives that many people lead today, with our polluted air and our over-stored, over-processed and over-packaged foods, are not conducive to healthy living. Unfortunately, our fertility and our ability to reproduce is one of the first things to be affected (albeit mildly in many cases) although symptoms of 'sub-fertility' often do not not become apparent until problems with conception or pregnancy result.

Many couples experiencing reproductive problems of one form or another would otherwise consider themselves to be perfectly healthy.

Our web site contains a great wealth of information, drawn from many different sources, and put together for the benefit of the public, so please take time to look around it. Whatever your reason for seeking us out, we hope you find the answers you are looking for.

Foresight welcomes enquiries and all support and interest. All prospective parents approaching Foresight are given genuine and specific advice. For more information about contacting or joining Foresight, please click here.