Bath businesses and community venues join scheme to support breastfeeding parents

Leisure centres, cafes, libraries and community hubs in the Somer Valley have pledged to support parents to breastfeed when they are out and about with their babies.

The venues have signed up to the Breastfeeding Welcome Scheme to show that breastfeeding is welcome in all their areas and included in written customer care policies.

The scheme also requires member venues to uphold the right to breastfeed by ensuring that if someone complains they are moved, not the breastfeeding parent; to allow space for pushchairs or prams; offer a clean baby feeding area and have somewhere a baby’s nappy can be changed.

Councillor Nick Toogood, Radstock Town Council Mayor, said: “The Radstock Community Hub and Library has been open over three years to serve the local community and provides a warm, welcoming and inclusive space for all to use. We have lots of parents visit and many mums use the space already. It is nice to join this programme and make the venue officially Breastfeeding Welcome.”

Councillor Dine Romero, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, and Communities, said: “We are delighted to have launched a Breastfeeding Welcome scheme in the Somer Valley. Although the Equality Act 2010 states that it is sex discrimination to treat a woman unfavourably because she is breastfeeding, some don’t always feel confident breastfeeding when out and about. This scheme encourages venues to display a sticker to make it clear they are breastfeeding friendly and have introduced measures to support parents who visit.”

Full details of the scheme can be found on the council website and a list of venues that have signed up is on the Live Well pages.

Somer Valley organisations that would like information about the scheme can email: Breastfeeding_Welcome@bathnes.gov.uk. Information on breastfeeding help and support can be found on the NHS website.