Kent businesses can apply for a grant of £1,000 to support breastfeeding mothers

Kent businesses and organisations including voluntary, community and social enterprise groups can apply for a £1,000 grant from Kent County Council (KCC) to make their premises more breastfeeding friendly for customers.

The reminder comes during National Breastfeeding Week (18th – 24th September), whose 2023 theme is ‘Everyone has a part to play in helping mums to breastfeed’.

Many venues already provide safe and comfortable places for mothers to feed their baby while out and about in Kent; and now more cafes, restaurants, shops, hairdressers and health and beauty salons are among the places being encouraged to apply for funding to make it easier to breastfeed away from home.

For details about the grants, including how to apply by the 30th November 2023 deadline, visit KCC’s kent.gov website.

Two women - one pregnant and one nursing a young baby - sat on a grey sofa

Grants to help Kent become more breastfeeding friendly are being funded by the Start For Life programme.

Kent County Council’s Director of Public Health, Dr Anjan Ghosh, said: “Breastfeeding has valuable health benefits for both mother and baby, especially in the first few months.

“Women also have a legal right to breastfeed in a public space but finding safe, comfortable places for mums to feed their baby when they are away from the comfort and convenience of home really helps.”

Training staff to support mothers, and offering a family-friendly area where a mum can feed a baby while keeping an older sibling occupied with books, toys or drawing, are just two actions that can make breastfeeding easier.

Other adaptions businesses and organisations can make include:

For more information about supporting breastfeeding mums visit the We Are Beside You website.

Visit nhs.uk for information about:

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