The Walsall Welcomes Breastfeeding Scheme, set up by Walsall Family Hubs in 2024, aims to ensure public places welcome anyone who wishes to breastfeed and help them feel comfortable and supported.
Venues display a blue ‘Walsall Welcomes Breastfeeding’ sticker to show that all their public areas are breastfeeding friendly, as well as designated spaces should anyone wish to breastfeed or express milk in private.
Venues include all four Family Hubs, leisure centres, community groups and associations, cafes and restaurants, nurseries, libraries and many more.
Guidance has also been provided to the venues to promote a breastfeeding friendly environment. This includes offering support, displaying clear signage and providing information to staff to help them understand the needs and rights of breastfeeding mothers.
Councillor Adam Hicken, Portfolio Holder for Children, Families and Education at Walsall Council said: “It is really encouraging to hear that we now have over 40 venues across Walsall signed up to be breastfeeding friendly.
“Breastfeeding is one of the most effective ways of giving every child the best start in life. Let’s continue to work together as a community, so women feel comfortable and able to breastfeed wherever they choose.”
Walsall Leisure is one of the many partner organisations whose leisure centres are proud to support the scheme and breastfeeding mothers by creating a welcoming and inclusive environment: “We have implemented the 'Breastfeeding Welcoming Venue Guidance' to ensure that all public areas are breastfeeding-friendly, not just designated spaces. Our staff are trained to offer support and assistance to breastfeeding mothers, helping them find comfortable places to sit and providing necessary amenities. We believe that normalising breastfeeding and supporting mothers in public spaces is crucial for the wellbeing of both mothers and their babies."
Any group, organisation or venue can become breastfeeding friendly. To sign up complete the online form or email family.hubs@walsall.gov.uk for further information.
Families are also invited to share any feedback about their experiences of breastfeeding by emailing the above Family Hubs email address.
For details of the breastfeeding friendly locations and further support on feeding your baby, visit the Walsall Family Hubs website.