Breastfeeding Support

South Lanarkshire Council’s goal is to ‘ensure we provide a welcoming and supportive environment for breastfeeding mums’. To help us achieve this, we have signed up all our public facing premises to the “Breastfeeding Friendly Scotland” scheme and are working towards the “Breastfeeding Friendly Scotland” Local Authority Award.

Breastfeeding Friendly Scotland

Breastfeeding Friendly Scotland is a national award scheme that recognises businesses, organisations, and public premises where staff are aware of their obligations under the Breastfeeding etc. (Scotland) Act 2005 and Equality Act 2010. Creating a culture where mothers feel comfortable, supported and their babies protected when breastfeeding whilst out and about.

Key Points of the Scheme

Our aim is to normalise breastfeeding in all communities across Scotland and this means addressing four key issues:

1. increasing maternal confidence in breastfeeding in public places (The Breastfeeding Friendly Scotland Scheme)
2. working across communities to change attitudes and create positive culture around breastfeeding (The Breastfeeding Friendly Scotland Local Authority Scheme)
3. introducing breastfeeding before any negative attitudes are formed (The Breastfeeding Friendly Scotland Early Learning Scheme)
4. increasing knowledge of breastfeeding as our young people progress through their school career (The Breastfeeding Friendly Scotland Schools Scheme)

Your Role

Anyone working or volunteering in a SLC Breastfeeding Friendly premises: 

Awareness: understand that mothers will breastfeed within our premises and the baby has a right to be fed

Assistance: be welcoming and helpful never ask someone to stop feeding, cover up or move their seat

Support: support mums to feel more comfortable breastfeeding their child

What if someone complains?

Ensure that your approach is supportive. Re-assure the family and politely explain to the customer/person that we are signed up to the Breastfeeding Friendly Scotland scheme and the child’s right and the law to be breastfed whenever and wherever children are normally allowed. Refer them to the Breastfeeding etc. (Scotland) Act 2005. Perhaps offer to relocate the complainant.

Workforce

We all have a role as managers and colleagues to create a culture where our colleagues who wish to continue breastfeeding when returning to work are supported. All employees must understand that it is discriminatory, unlawful and an offence to stop or prevent someone from breastfeeding as per the Breastfeeding Scotland Act (2005) and the Equality Act (2010).Remember to display the Breastfeeding Friendly Scotland award in a prominent position such as a front window or glass entry doors (not a toilet or changing area). Please refer to the Breast Feeding and Return to Work Policy.

Summary

This council is committed to doing everything we can to support, promote and protect breastfeeding across South Lanarkshire. We are exploring how each of our services can be breastfeeding friendly, whether through education and awareness, ensuring policies are up to date. We have a workplace culture which supports employees who wish to breastfeed when returning to work, and to breastfeeding families on our premises. We are working with our partners to ensure that South Lanarkshire welcomes breastfeeding and provides a supportive environment to enable more mothers to breastfeed in the community, at work or at home.