Gosport breastfeeding welcome scheme

The Gosport Breastfeeding Welcome Scheme is a partnership project with the primary aim of supporting an environment which enables mothers to breastfeed easily when out and about.

Businesses and public buildings that are participating in the scheme will display a Breastfeeding Welcome Scheme window sticker, to show mothers that they are welcome to breastfeed at their premises.  The scheme agreement will also be on display inside the premises so that customers are aware of what it means to be a 'breastfeeding welcome' venue.

The agreement states that the organisation will ensure that:

• Breastfeeding is welcome in any public area of its venue.
• A mother who is breastfeeding will not be asked to move or to stop breastfeeding
• The Gosport Breastfeeding Welcome Scheme window sticker will be displayed at all times.
• Their staff are aware of the scheme and how to be supportive to the needs of breastfeeding mothers.
• Breastfeeding Welcome is included in customer care procedures and polices where appropriate, and guidance is available for staff on how to effectively respond to a potential complaint about breastfeeding from another customer.
• A private area may be made available if needed and if space allows.

The scheme has been developed by a local partnership which includes Gosport Borough Council, Southern Health, NHS Trust Foundation, Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust and the Fareham & Gosport Breastfeeding Network.

Although businesses and public buildings listed below are signed up to this scheme, it is important to note that it is unlawful for a business to discriminate against a woman because she is breastfeeding and you are welcome to breastfeed in any public place.

Who has joined the scheme?

The following organisations are participating in the Gosport Breastfeeding Welcome Scheme (alphabetical order);

• Bayside Cabin, Stokes Bay Road, Stokes Bay, Gosport
• Bookworm Cafe, Gosport Discovery Centre, High Street, Gosport
• Bridgemary Library, 74 Brewers Lane, Gosport
• Bridgemary Medical Centre, 2 Gregson Avenue, Gosport
• Broadway Bakery, Palmyra Road, Elson
• Craft Coffee, 130 High Street
• Citizens Advice Gosport, Martin Snape House, 96 Pavillion Way, Gosport
• Costa Rowner, Alver Village Square, Grange Road, Rowner
• Elson Library, 136 Chantry Road, Elson
• Forton Medical Centre, Whites Place, Forton Road, Gosport
• Gosport Borough Council, Town Hall, High Street, Gosport
• Gosport Discovery Centre, High Street, Gosport
• Gosport Leisure Centre, Forest Way, Holbrook
• Gosport Medical Centre, Bury Road, Gosport
• Gosport Methodist Church, Stoke Road, Gosport
• Gosport Voluntary Action, Martin Snape House, 96 Pavillion Way, Gosport
• Joys of Alverstoke, 47 Village Road, Alverstoke
• Lee-on-the-Solent Library, High Street, Lee-on-the-Solent
• Leons Bistro, Marine Parade West, Lee-on-the-Solent
• LJ's Hair Studio, 39 Stoke Road, Gosport
• Monkey Bizness Gosport, Unit 1, Frater Gate Business Park, Aerodrome Road
• Nimrod Centre, Nimrod Drive, Rowner
• Rowner Family Centre, Nimrod Drive, Rowner
• Rowner Surgery, Rowner Health Centre, 143 Rowner Lane
• Sapori Italian Restaurant, 108 High Street, Lee-on-the-Solent
• Stoke Road Medical Centre, 66-68 Stoke Road, Gosport
• Subway, Unit 4 Alver Village Square, Grange Road, Rowner
• Waterside Medical Centre, Mumby Road, Gosport

If your business or organisation is interested in joining, please see the contact details below.

Breastfeeding has many benefits. According to the latest research, babies who are breastfed have a smaller chance of:

• Being obese and developing diabetes when they are older
• Developing eczema
• Getting ear, chest and tummy infections resulting in hospital visits
• Being fussy about new foods
• Being constipated

There are advantages for mums who breastfeed too:

• Lower risk of breast and ovarian cancer
• Breastfeeding uses up about 500 extra calories a day so it may be easier to lose pregnancy weight
• It saves money - formula feeding can cost £50 or more per a month
• It is a lot less hassle - there is no need to clean and sterilise bottles, boil kettles and wait for the milk to cool every few hours during the day and night

Click here for more information about more health benefits of breastfeeding.

Information about the law

A business cannot discriminate against mothers who are breastfeeding a child of any age.

The Equality Act 2010 has specifically clarified that it is unlawful for a business to discriminate against a woman because she is breastfeeding a child.

A business may ask a breastfeeding woman to leave their premises if the reason for this request is not due to her breastfeeding.  However, if the woman later claims that discrimination occurred because she was breastfeeding, the business will have to prove that there was in fact no discrimination.

Help and Support with Breastfeeding

The Breastfeeding Network; where you can find local peer support groups
National Breastfeeding Helpline - 0300 100 0212

NHS: Breastfeeding - the first few days

National Childbirth Trust
Helpline - 0300 330 0700

Association of Breastfeeding Mothers
Helpline - 0300 330 5453

La Leche League GB
Helpline - 0845 120 2918

Healthier Together

To find out about the Breastfeeding Welcome Scheme, join their Facebook page.

Contact us

For details about how to join the scheme, or to make any queries or comments, please contact Julie Petty at Gosport Borough Council on 023 9254 5381 or by email at Julie.petty@gosport.gov.uk