The Crichton joins Breastfeeding Friendly Scotland scheme

The Crichton Trust is now officially a Breastfeeding Friendly Scotland Scheme (BFS) business, welcoming families to its three establishments: Crichton Central, Easterbrook Bistro, Easterbrook Hall and promoting the scheme with the 165 other businesses on the Crichton Estate.

The Crichton Trust joins 200 businesses and community spaces in the region registered since the Scottish Government scheme was first launched in Dumfries and Galloway in 2022 by the local NHS Infant Feeding Team.

The scheme locally is part of the national Scottish Government Breastfeeding Friendly Scotland programme and encourages businesses and community venues to let breastfeeding families know that they are welcome.

Stemming from the Breastfeeding etc. (Scotland) Act 2005, the scheme aims to make feeding in public normal and visible, helping to build confidence for parents, and showing Dumfries and Galloway as a family friendly region.

Once registered, a business receives a welcome window sticker and posters to display and is added to the national Breastfeeding Friendly database, and the interactive Google map displayed on the Parent Club website.

Elizabeth Broughton, Infant Feeding Advisor with NHS Dumfries and Galloway, said: “I’m delighted to be here with my colleague Jenny to meet with Gordon Clark and some of the staff at The Crichton Trust to put up the display showing their business as an official participant in the scheme.

“It’s free and simple to take part with businesses completing a short pledge confirming that they and their staff support families to feed their babies on their premises.”

Eithne Clarke, Infant Feeding Coordinator with NHS Dumfries and Galloway, said: “Breastfeeding is recognised in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). The Scottish Government’s vision for Scotland is to be a society that values breastfeeding and supports mothers to breastfeed. Aiming to normalise breastfeeding in all communities across Scotland means addressing key issues – one of which is about increasing maternal confidence in breastfeeding in public places.

“The Breastfeeding Friendly Scotland Scheme (BFS) raises the profile of breastfeeding as a natural way to feed your baby. We hope that expectant mums or mums to newborn babies in the region might consider breastfeeding knowing that they will be welcomed by many businesses and community venues throughout.”

Gordon Clark, Head of Property Services for The Crichton Trust, said: “We are proud to support the Breastfeeding Friendly Scotland (BFS) scheme in Dumfries and Galloway. Community is at the very heart of The Crichton Trust and the Crichton Estate, and with one of our aims being to create a welcoming environment where everyone feels valued and included when visiting the many businesses and organisations housed here.”

Considering signing up to be part of the scheme?

Find out more online here or contact the Infant Feeding Team at NHS Dumfries and Galloway by email at dg.breastfeeding-welcome-scheme@nhs.scot.

For information, help, and support with breastfeeding speak to a health professional or join the NHS Dumfries and Galloway Breastfeeding Information page on Facebook.

Families can find out more about breastfeeding while out with their baby at the Parent Club website.