Enfield businesses encouraged to offer support for breastfeeding mums

The ‘We Welcome Breastfeeding’ scheme urges local firms to help parents find “safe, comfortable and welcoming venues”

The 'We Welcome Breastfeeding' event (credit Enfield Council) — The ‘We Welcome Breastfeeding’ event (credit Enfield Council)

Enfield’s local businesses and public venues are being encouraged to participate in a newly-launched scheme designed to show support for breastfeeding mums.

The ‘We Welcome Breastfeeding’ initiative aims to highlight the legal right to public breastfeeding and highlight participating venues in the scheme, helping parents “find safe, comfortable and welcoming venues” to breastfeed their babies.

Venues can register for free and will receive a welcome pack with materials, including window stickers, to show they are participants in the scheme.

When a venue signs up to the scheme, they agree to clearly displaying the “We Welcome Breastfeeding” sticker, and sign a certificate of commitment which adheres to a set of principles.

These principles include making mums feel welcome to breastfeed their child in any public area; help parents find the most comfortable place for them to feed their baby; never asking parents to leave or move because they are feeding their baby; and ensuring all staff understand and share these commitments.

The scheme was launched locally on Tuesday (23rd) at Skylight Restaurant within the Pearsons department store in Enfield Town.

Special guests included Chris Dey, the council’s cabinet member for children’s services, as well as representatives from campaign group The Breastfeeding Network and other key partners.

Dudu Sher-Arami, director of public health at Enfield Council, added: “We want mums to feel comfortable wherever they are in Enfield. Not only is breastfeeding protected by law, but it is also an important part of healthy babies’ development.

“However, we know that there is still stigma around public breastfeeding and, as a council, we want to dismantle any barriers that will make our mums doubtful. This is why we have partnered with The Breastfeeding Network to launch Enfield’s Breastfeeding Welcome Scheme to encourage positive experiences for mums in any public spaces in Enfield.

“In the last four years, there has been 7% increase in breastfeeding in the borough and we would like to continue showing support.

“I would encourage our local businesses, restaurants or any public venues to sign up to this scheme to ensure mums know they will be welcomed.”

The council achieved the first stages of accreditation for the Unicef Baby Friendly Initiative in community standards and is currently working towards full accreditation. This recognition is a pledge to ensure the council is developing “a robust infant feeding policy to support all families”.

To find out more about the scheme and how to sign up:
Email [email protected]
Visit enfield.gov.uk

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