Agenda item

Alex Hawley (Public Health Consultant) and Sam Longley (Public Health Specialist) to present

In accordance with Minute No. 8 of 28^th June, 2023, Alex Hawley (Public Health Consultant) presented an update on the Rotherham Breastfeeding Friendly Borough Declaration with the aid of the following powerpoint:-

UNICEF Breastfeeding Friendly Accreditation

-        Family Hub funding from the infant feeding workstream utilised to pay for the accreditation process

-        3 training spaces secured for Breastfeeding Friendly Champions to support sustaining the work beyond the Family Hub Project

-        Breastfeeding Friendly guardians identified

-        Aiming to achieve level 1 accreditation by March 2025

Breastfeeding Friendly Spaces

-        RMBC Health and Wellbeing page in development to allow businesses to register

-        Business packs with signage available

-        Libraries and Children’s Centres provided with signage

-        Grimm & Co. used as a community venue for the Big Latch on and also a breastfeeding support group

Infant Feeding Support

-        Family Hub Strategic Infant Feeding Co-ordinator plus a band 5 nurse in post until March 2025

-        Voluntary Action Rotherham co-ordinating peer supporters and volunteers have increased to 20

-        Midwifery have increased their support for tongue tie

Community Events

-        Rotherham Show 2023 and plans to attend again in 2024

-        Big Latch On event 12^th April 2024 was very successful with 70+ attendees at Grimm & Co

-        World Breastfeeding Week 2^nd August 2024 picnic in Clifton Park with approximately 80 attendees

Next Steps

-        Prepare for level 1 UNICEF BFI accreditation assessment in children’s centres by March 2025

-        To focus on sustaining transformation of infant feeding practice beyond the end of Family Hub Funding

-        Whole Family Hub Partnership members to be supported by Public Health to work together to increase initiation and continuation of breastfeeding in Rotherham

-        Increase business sign-up to the Rotherham Breastfeeding Friendly Spaces Scheme

Discussion ensued on the presentation with the following issues raised/clarified:-

•         Breastfeeding uptake rates in Rotherham was continuing to rise and narrowing the gap with the national picture

•         It should not be forgotten that breastfeeding was not for everyone

•         On track to achieve level 1 accreditation by March 2025

•         The desire to increase the take up of Breastfeeding Friendly Champions preferably who were in the locality of the 3 family hubs

•         Any business signed up to the initiative would be advertised on the website.  The majority were cafes/places that Mums attended enabling a breastfeeding Mum to look at the website and see where they would be made welcome

•         Consideration would be given as to the target for the number of businesses hoped to see signed up to the Declaration

•         The need to set new targets for the number of women breastfeeding as the existing target had been met (35%)

•         The need to eliminate the stigma for those women who were unable to breastfeed

•         Possibility of reward/incentive for those businesses embracing breastfeeding

•         The need to train more people to provide peer support

Alex was thanked for his presentation.

Resolved:-   (1)  That the achievements made to become a Breastfeeding Friendly Borough be noted.

(2) That the work being undertaken in preparation to achieve level 1 Unicef BFI accreditation assessment in children’s centres by March 2025 be noted.