Congratulations to Elderpark Housing Association in Govan. They’ve recently signed up to the Breastfeeding Friendly Scotland Scheme. 

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

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.

Jacalyn McIIwham, from our Health and Social Care Partnership’s (HSCP) South 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. We’re delighted that Elderpark Housing Association has signed up to the scheme and ask any other organisations in Glasgow to get in touch and we will help them register.

“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.”

The national BFS scheme has progressed well this past year. In 2022 several Glasgow City Council community venues, including libraries, sports venues and museums, Homestart, Early Years Scotland and local pantries, have been updated via online awareness sessions and signed up to the new scheme. 

Jacalyn continued: “Within the HSCP, training has been delivered to Children and Families admin staff, health centre reception staff and Social Work admin managers. To date we have over 1,900 members in Glasgow.”

Donna Gentles, Corporate Services Administrator, Elderpark Housing Association said: “Being a member of the Breastfeeding Friendly Scotland Scheme assures mothers that they can breastfeed comfortably and undisturbed in our offices. As an organisation we’re extremely excited to have signed up and look forward to welcoming breastfeeding mums and their families.”

When you sign up to the scheme your business or premises are added to a nationwide google map. 

To sign up and become a member of the BFS Scheme email annette.dougan@ggc.scot.nhs.uk, jacalyn.mcilwham@ggc.scot.nhs.uk or fiona.hughes@ggc.scot.nhs.uk.