The Forth Valley Sensory Centre has become the first organisation in Forth Valley to sign up to the Breastfeeding Friendly Scotland Scheme. With the support of NHS Forth Valley, the centre is committed to promoting, supporting and welcoming women who want to breastfeed on their premises.

Lesley Hetherington, NHS Forth Valley’s Infant Feeding Coordinator, congratulated the Centre on being the first in the area to sign up to the scheme. She said: “It is great to have the Sensory Centre on board as it supports people of all ages and has a public cafe as well as other super facilities.

“We hope this will be the first of many local organisations to sign up to the Breastfeeding Friendly Scotland Scheme in the area and help make Forth Valley a truly Breastfeeding Friendly place to be.”

Sensory Centre manager, Jacquie Winning, said: “One of our key principles is to be open and accessible so we were delighted to be invited to sign up to the Breastfeeding Friendly Scotland Scheme. As well as the café we also have a sensory room and sensory garden, both of which are popular with young families and we want breastfeeding mums to feel welcome and comfortable”

“This is a really good idea and we hope that more organisations and public spaces will follow our lead and sign up so that women know they will be supported to feed their child without fear or prejudice.”

Breastfeeding Friendly Scotland (BFS) is a free national scheme for businesses and organisations to join and actively support and protect the rights of mothers who breastfeed in public places.

Businesses and organisations who join the scheme will display a certificate and stickers with the BFS logo so that mothers not only know that breastfeeding is welcome but also that the business understands the law.

For more information on how you can become a Breastfeeding Friendly Scotland organisation visit https://www.mygov.scot/breastfeeding-and-your-business/