COLCHESTER Council has joined a new collaboration aimed at increasing the number of places mothers can breastfeed comfortably. 

The council has paired up with Anglian Community Enterprise (ACE) for the scheme, which aims to create more environments that are welcoming and supportive to breastfeeding mums across the town.

Officers from the council’s Environmental Health Team will start encouraging catering establishments to join the Breastfeeding Welcome Scheme when they carry out routine food hygiene inspections.

On average, more than 80 per cent of new mums in North East Essex start off breastfeeding, but many stop for reasons including a lack of suitable venues and public spaces where they can comfortably breastfeed.

Venues which sign up to Breastfeeding Welcome will be offered free training on the benefits of the scheme as well as leaflets and window stickers to advertise their participation.

Hayley Hill, ACE’s lead for infant feeding and clinical support development, said: “The scheme will promote venues where mums are welcome to breastfeed ‘out and about’ in North East Essex and where they can be assured of support.

"It will also highlight the significant and numerous benefits of breastfeeding to both mothers and their children, while emphasising breastfeeding as the norm."

The Equality Act 2010 says it is discrimination to treat a woman unfavourably because she is breastfeeding, and makes it an offence for anyone providing services, benefits, facilities and premises to the public to discriminate, harass or victimise a woman because she is breastfeeding.

Councillor Tina Bourne, portfolio holder for housing and public protection, said: “I am delighted that our partnership with Anglian Community Enterprise is already helping to attract the involvement of local businesses in this wonderful scheme.

“With the World Health Organisation strongly recommending that babies are fed exclusively on breast milk for at least their first six months of life, businesses have not only a legal duty but also a social and moral responsibility to ensure that new mothers are made welcome to breastfeed their babies when they need to.

"This initiative will go far to ensure that there are supportive venues and public bodies throughout the borough which will enable them to do so."