Description:

Sundridge Cafe is first Bromley venue to register for Breastfeeding Welcome Scheme

Lavender Cafe in Sundridge is the first Bromley venue to register interest in the new Breastfeeding Welcome Scheme launched by Bromley Primary Care Trust (PCT) in collaboration with volunteers from NCT and La Leche League. The Breastfeeding Welcome Scheme provides local cafes, restaurants, leisure centres or other public venues with a toolkit to let mums know they are welcome to breastfeed.

The Breastfeeding Welcome scheme is looking for more venues across the borough to register interest and claim their free toolkit which includes a poster and adhesive window sticker, as well as a free listing at www.breastfeedingwelcomescheme.org.uk. Venues that want to register should email info@breastfeedingwelcomescheme.org.uk.

Bromley PCT is one of the first areas in the UK to adopt the Breastfeeding Welcome Scheme which was developed by the Breastfeeding Manifesto Coalition (BMC) to make it easier for mothers to know where they would be made especially welcome to breastfeed.

Under the new Equality Act, passed in April 2010, mums cannot be discriminated against, asked to leave a venue or treated unfavourably because they are breastfeeding when out and about in England and Wales¹. Support from local services can give mums confidence to breastfeed when in public, and give their baby the healthiest possible start in life2.

Carol Medcalf, Branch Coordinator, NCT Bromley & Chislehurst, said: “It is fantastic that mums now have the right to breastfeed when they’re out without worrying. However surveys have shown that two in three breastfeeding mums have faced unsupportive comments or behaviour - seeing the new Breastfeeding Welcome sticker in a cafe or restaurant window will be a real boost to a mother’s confidence to breastfeed in public.”

Nicky Brown, Project Manager for Baby Friendly Initiative at Bromley PCT, said: “Bromley PCT wants to see more support for mothers to breastfeed when out and about because we believe this will help drive a positive change in culture and acceptance of breastfeeding, giving women more confidence and thereby increase breastfeeding initiation and continuation rates in the area”.