The new Breastfeeding Friendly Scotland Scheme (BFS) has been recently launched across Scotland to help provide mothers with positive experiences of breastfeeding when out and about. This will help mothers to feel confident and supported when breastfeeding in public areas. Businesses and organisations can actively support mothers to feed on their premises by signing up to the Breastfeeding Friendly Scotland Scheme by displaying their BFS sticker. This gives a visual reassurance that breastfeeding families will be welcomed in a warm and supportive environment.

Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) staff aim to positively promote and actively contribute towards a breastfeeding culture and increase national and local breastfeeding rates within Glasgow’s communities. Our HSCP staff work with businesses, local authorities, education and breastfeeding families to foster and promote changing attitudes. We also ensure that organisations are aware of their rights and responsibilities in line with Scottish and UK legislation – Breastfeeding etc. (Scotland) Act 2005 and the Equality Act 2010. The Breastfeeding Act makes it an offence to deliberately stop or attempt to stop a person from feeding a child in a public place.

Annette Dougan, from our HSCP’s Health Improvement Team, said: “Our staff work with mothers, their families, local communities and organisations to promote the benefits of breastfeeding and the importance of a healthy diet throughout early childhood.

“The Scottish Infant Feeding Survey 2017 identified that mums understood they could breastfeed in public areas. However, almost half of the mums lacked confidence in doing so. The Scottish Government want establishments to show support by joining the new scheme and display the logo in a prominent place to provide reassurance to a breastfeeding mum that she would be welcome.”

Our HSCP staff have worked with many organisations to support them to become Breastfeeding Friendly. These include Glasgow Science Centre along with Glasgow Life, Glasgow Clyde College and Glasgow Emirates. All have recently signed up to the BFS scheme to continue with their commitment and support for breastfeeding families in our communities to progress towards a Breastfeeding Friendly Scotland.

Gerry McCann, Customer Experience Manager, Glasgow Science Centre said: “Glasgow Science Centre is a five-star visitor attraction, and we do our upmost to welcome all our visitors and work hard to make sure our facilities at Glasgow Science Centre are accessible and inclusive to everyone. As a visitor attraction we have committed to our changing culture towards breastfeeding mums and their families. 

“In 2013 Glasgow Science Centre became a breastfeeding friendly environment and we are proud that this encourages, assures mothers that they can breastfeed comfortably and undisturbed in all areas of the Science Centre. As an organisation we’re extremely excited to have signed up for the Scottish Government Breastfeeding Friendly Scotland scheme and look forward to welcoming breastfeeding mums and their families.”

To sign up and become a member of the Breastfeeding Friendly Scotland Scheme please email Annette.dougan@ggc.scot.nhs.uk, Jacalyn.McIIwham@ggc.scot.nhs.uk or Fiona.Hughes@ggc.scot.nhs.uk.