Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) is one of several organisations supporting South Cambridgeshire‘s #FreeToFeedCP campaign, which is celebrating its anniversary during World Breastfeeding Week this week.

More than seventy venues in the District have signed up to support the campaign during the last twelve months, with GTR among the first.

Other supporting venues include the Eco Hub at Gamlingay, community centres, cafes, restaurants, a business conference centre and Shepreth Wildlife Park.

Venues supporting the campaign ensure that their staff know about breastfeeding, are pump-friendly, and display campaign stickers and promotional material in their premises.

Breastfeeding mums Kat O’Shea and Lucy Borg, who attend Gamlingay Eco Hub’s mums and tots group, Cha Char Chimps, say that #FreeToFeed gives parents confidence knowing that venues will welcome them and understand their needs.

NHS Cambridgeshire and Peterborough‘s Infant Feeding Team and the ‘Family Hubs’ partnership support the campaign, which receives funding from Cambridgeshire County Council’s Public Health team from their Healthy Weight grant, as breastfeeding may reduce obesity risk by up to 25 per cent.

The project also supports the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Integrated Health System’s aim to support people by providing opportunities to be as healthy as possible.

The campaign is now being extended into East Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.

For more information and how to get involved, visit the South Cambridgeshire District Council #FreeToFeedCP webpage or Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust website.

Venues which would like to take part in the scheme by become breastfeeding- and pump-friendly are asked to email email: [email protected]

World Breastfeeding Week is held in the first week of August each year, and is organised by the World Health Organisation and supported by UNICEF and many Ministries of Health and civil society partners.

The Week promotes breastfeeding is as a way to feed your baby that is free, does not require preparation of equipment, is sterile, quick and has many health benefits.  good from a cost perspective, you don’t need to prep bottles, it is quick, helps soothing and bonding, and has many health benefits.

Kat O’Shea, who is breastfeeding her third baby, son Lucas, who was born last month, said: “The #FreeToFeed project is a brilliant campaign as it is easy to look for the sticker in a window. It can make a significant difference to help women feel more comfortable about going in to feed their children. Having that welcoming atmosphere can really empower women to feel safe. Plus, I’m sure it will encourage women to return if they know they can relax in a welcoming environment, so it’s good for business too.”

Mum Lucy Borg, 23, who breastfeeds her first baby, ten-month-old son Ashton Ramsay, said: “We love to go out and about, and for me breastfeeding is easy as I don’t have to pre plan packing up bottles. It is also good for Ashton. There’s not always a designated place where you can go to feed and while I’m happy to feed him in the open, not everyone is comfortable, so the #FreeToFeed project is great for helping give women confidence to feed in public. Seeing a #FreeToFeed sign is a great way to know you’ll feel welcomed by staff. It can make such a difference. I know of mums who have felt anxious breastfeeding in public especially when first learning, so knowing you can find a safe space to go is really helpful.”

Cllr Bridget Smith, Leader of South Cambridgeshire District Council, said: “We are delighted at how successful #FreeToFeedCP has been in the last year. Breastfeeding is proven to be very beneficial to the health of the mother and baby, so it should not be daunting to breastfeed or pump in public while families are out with their children. As someone who breast fed all three of my sons, I feel strongly that normalising breastfeeding and pumping in public is really important.”

Nina Morley, Infant Feeding lead, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Health Visiting Service, said: “Feeding in public can be daunting for some, so having venues that people can go to knowing that they will welcome and cater for breastfeeding or pumping mother’s is very important. #FreeToFeedCP is such an exciting initiative that we want to grow in the community. We hope it will help families feel confident and ‘free to feed’ wherever they are.”

Helen Freeman, Commissioning Team Manager of the Healthy Child Programme for Public Health Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, said: “We are excited to see #FreeToFeedCP grow and develop across county. This important campaign raises awareness with community hubs and local businesses. It’s also a great way to support local families and we hope it is inspiring, giving confidence for them to go out and enjoy quality time together – which is good for the wellbeing of the whole family.”

Cllr Susan van de Ven, vice-chair of the Adults and Health Committee at Cambridgeshire County Council and local member for Melbourn and Bassingbourn, said: “Breastfeeding is well known to lead to positive health outcomes for both mother and baby, so we were very pleased to support the work of #FreeToFeedCP as part of our commitment to help the residents of Cambridgeshire to be as healthy as they can be. We are now delighted to hear how successful the campaign has been in its first year. I was surprised to learn that breastfeeding rates in the UK are among the worst in the world so it’s vital that projects that destigmatize both breastfeeding and pumping in public continue to be supported.”

Jenny Saunders, Customer Service Director for Thameslink and Great Northern, said: “Congratulations to FreeToFeed on such a successful first year. We’re committed to making our services as comfortable and accessible as possible for everyone, and that includes making breastfeeding and pumping normal everyday activities on the train, so that no-one feels awkward about it. We want families to have the confidence to travel with us and feel ‘FreeToFeed’. I breastfed both my kids, and on trains too, so this is something I really endorse.”