Powys is Breastfeeding Friendly
Following the launch of the Breastfeeding Welcome Scheme in Powys, Powys Teaching Health Board and Powys County Council have pledged that all public facing spaces across Powys will be breastfeeding friendly.
So far over 250 businesses and organisations across Powys have signed up to the scheme.
Breastfeeding is recognised as being one of the most important interventions for improving child health and has health benefits for mothers too. For babies, breast milk meets all of baby’s nutritional needs, and it offers protection against infections and diseases. Mothers also gain health benefits including strengthening the mother-baby bond and lowering risk of certain cancers, diabetes and obesity. The longer a mother breastfeeds, the more health benefits both she and her baby will receive.
In Powys, the Breastfeeding Welcome Scheme was launched in August 2024. The scheme aims to empower breastfeeding mothers and their families to feel safe and confident when breastfeeding out and about. It aims to normalise breastfeeding by enabling businesses and communities to demonstrate that they welcome and support breastfeeding.
Mererid Bowley, Executive Director of Public Health (Powys Teaching Health Board) is supportive of the scheme and said, ‘Breastfeeding is a highly cost-effective public health intervention, offering health benefits for both mothers and babies. It’s pleasing to see that both Powys Teaching Health Board and Powys County Council have pledged to support this important initiative’.
Cllr Sandra Davies, Powys County Council's Cabinet Member for Future Generations, said: "It's fantastic to see so many businesses and organisations have signed up to this initiative. I'm able to speak from first-hand experience about the advantages of breastfeeding, which gives babies the best possible start in life and has many benefits for both mother and child.
"We want to do all we can to encourage and support breastfeeding, and one of the ways we can help mums in Powys to continue breastfeeding is by making it as easy and comfortable as possible to feed while they are out and about.
"If you spot the Breastfeeding Welcome poster, you'll know it's a comfortable and supportive environment for you to feed your baby. We'd love as many businesses as possible to sign up and show their support for mums."
Laura, a mum who is currently breastfeeding her nine-month-old baby said of the scheme “I think it’s brilliant, it just gives breastfeeding mums that confidence to know that you can feed in public and that there’s venues that are really welcoming and supportive of it”.
To date, over 250 businesses and organisations have signed up to the scheme, including libraries, leisure centres, cafés and restaurants, hairdressers, GP practices and many more. All venues that sign up to the scheme receive a window sticker to demonstrate that they have signed up, and their details are also published on a website to enable families to search for breastfeeding welcome venues when they are out and about in Powys.
Lauren, manager at Builth Golf Club welcomes a small group of mums who visit for coffee every week. She said; “We signed up to the Breastfeeding Welcome Scheme to support local families. It’s also extremely beneficial for my business. The mums and babies meet at a baby group every week, they then come here and are able to have something to eat and drink. It’s a nice warm and welcoming environment and it’s a nice space for them to meet with their babies”.
If you would like more information about the scheme, or if you would like to sign your organisation or business up, please contact Fiona Valentine – Fiona.Valentine2@wales.nhs.uk or visit Powys Breastfeeding Welcome Scheme.
Released: 19/05/2025