P084.1 - Breastfeeding Friendly North Lanarkshire - Leading the way in driving cultural change - update

North Lanarkshire Council · 22 August 2022
Back to People and Communities Committee — 22 August 2022 and its agenda

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North Lanarkshire Council
Report
People and Communities Committee 
Does this report require to be approved? ☒ Yes   ☐ No
Ref LF/AG/MF Date 22/08/22 
P084.1 - Breastfeeding Friendly North Lanarkshire – Leading the
way in driving cultural change - update 
From  Alison Gordon, Head of Children Families & Justice Services/Chief Social
Work Officer  
Email Gordonal@northlan.gov.uk Telephone 01698 332001 
Executive Summary 
Breastfeeding Friendly North Lanarkshire – Leading the Way in Driving Cultural
Change report was approved at Policy and Strategy Committee in June 2021. 
This report gives an update on the commitments North Lanarkshire Council and
partners made to lead the way in driving change to improve breastfeeding rates in
North Lanarkshire. 
By increasing breastfeeding facilities; creating a positive culture around
breastfeeding and building a supportive community around families to support
breastfeeding, North Lanarkshire will be a place where breastfeeding is the
norm and women feel comfortable to breastfeed for as long as they want. 
It is anticipated that North Lanarkshire Council will have completed all actions
required by Autumn 2022 to enable it to be the first Scottish local authority to be
awarded Breastfeeding Friendly local authority status. 
Significant progress has been made across North Lanarkshire Council services and
partners including: 
• introduction of a Breastfeeding Policy for council employees, 
• all schools and early year establishments are working towards achieving
Breastfeeding Schools and Breastfeeding Friendly Scotland Early Learning
and Childcare status, 
• community based breastfeeding champions have been identified in
Community Learning and Development and the voluntary sector, 
• support given to Foster Carers, 
• and the provision of welcoming spaces in the new town and community hubs
to reinforce the commitment to welcome and support breastfeeding in NLC
premises.

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1. Background 
1.1 In June 2021, the Policy and Strategy Committee approved the
recommendations in the Breastfeeding Friendly North Lanarkshire – Leading
the way in driving cultural change report. 
Since the writing of the above report breastfeeding rates within North
Lanarkshire have shown a slight increase and, encouragingly, drop off rates
are exceeding the targets set by the Scottish Government.
2020/21 Ever
Breast FED
BF at
HV  1ST
Visit
BF at 6 – 8
weeks
Drop off
at 6-8
weeks
Drop off
target
20/21 (less
is better)
Drop off
target
24/25 (less
is better)
Scotland 65.4% 54.9% 44.8% 30.8% 32.8% 31.4%
NHS
Lanarkshire
50% 39.7% 31.1% 37.3% 44.1% 42.1%
North
Lanarkshire
46.1% 35.7% 27.8% 39% 47.3% 45.2% 
Work continues with colleagues from NHS Lanarkshire and Scottish Government
Advocacy and Culture Lead to ensure that North Lanarkshire Council is the first
Scottish local authority to gain the Breastfeeding Friendly Award. 
The co-produced framework has been updated as milestones have been reached
and will give a blueprint for other local authorities in Scotland to gain this award. 
Recommendations 
It is recommended that the People and Communities Committee: 
(1)  Acknowledge the significant progress made to becoming the first Scottish Local
Authority to gain Breastfeeding Friendly award
(2) Approve the continuation of approach as set out in this report. 
The Plan for North Lanarkshire
Priority  Improve the health and wellbeing of our communities
Ambition statement
(10) Engage with children, young people, parents, carers, and
families to help all children and young people reach their full
potential

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However, the rates are still not at the desired level, and of particular concern
is that breastfeeding rates can be linked to levels of deprivation. Those from
the least deprived areas are much more likely to breastfeed. Increasing
breastfeeding rates in our most deprived areas would help reduce health
inequalities. The Council, along with partners, are committed to change this
and have been working across our communities to change attitudes and
create a positive culture around breastfeeding. 
1.2 The benefits of breastfeeding for babies, mothers, and public health are well
established. Breastfeeding is a natural 'safety net' against the worst effects of
poverty.  “Exclusive breastfeeding goes a long way toward cancelling out the
health difference between being born into poverty and being born into
affluence. It is almost as if breastfeeding takes the infant out of poverty for
those first few months to give the child a fairer start in life and compensate for
the injustice of the world into which it was born.” (James P Grant, Executive
Director of UNICEF). 
1.3 Breastfeeding Friendly Scotland is a national award scheme that recognises
businesses, organisations and public premises where staff are aware of their
obligations under the Breastfeeding etc. (Scotland) Act 2005. The award
enables new mums to recognise places that they can be supported, and their
babies protected when breastfeeding whilst out and about. However, this
award can and should be so much more. The award can help with culture
change across Scotland as it helps breastfeeding become more visible in our
communities. This in turn can help improve breastfeeding rates in North
Lanarkshire and across Scotland. 
1.4 The draft co-produced Framework document included in Appendix One has
been updated and further refined and approved by colleagues in NHS
Lanarkshire and Scottish Government.   North Lanarkshire Council’s
commitment and ground-breaking partnership approach sets the context, and
this draft accreditation framework sets out the blueprint as to how local
authorities in Scotland could become Breastfeeding Friendly accredited. 
2. Report 
2.1   North Lanarkshire Council recognises the short and long-term advantages of
breastfeeding for both mother and baby and supports breastfeeding as the
optimal infant feeding choice for all parents.  To support this a new
Breastfeeding Policy was implemented in May 2022. It enhances the current
provisions with clear and precise information to ensure working and returning
mothers have the ability and confidence to continue to breastfeed.  An e-
learning module is available to managers which outlines their responsibilities
and enables them to be better placed in supporting returning staff.

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2.1.1  The Breastfeeding Schools Award aim is “To contribute to social and cultural
change by promoting an environment where breastfeeding is seen as the
normal way to feed infants and young children.”  A task group comprising
representatives from NHS Lanarkshire and the Scottish Government worked
alongside council officers to produce a support pack which clearly lays out the
commitments from Scottish Government and NHS and the requirements of local
authorities.  This pack acknowledges that breastfeeding is part of the
Curriculum for Excellence and makes links to relevant experiences and
outcomes.  It also recognises the need to introduce this subject to our young
learners if the aim of cultural change is to be achieved.  It is anticipated that all
evidence will be submitted by autumn 2022 and North Lanarkshire Council will
then be awarded Breastfeeding Friendly Gold status. 
Breastfeeding Champions in all primary and secondary sectors have been
identified and CPD sessions delivered by NHS Lanarkshire were well received. 
Work has now begun by the Breastfeeding Champions to collate evidence of
the learning that is taking place within our schools.  This evidence will lead to
schools receiving the Breastfeeding Schools award. Evidence is submitted
every 3 years to maintain the award.
2.1.2  Commitment has been made to gaining the Breastfeeding Friendly Scotland
Early Learning and Childcare status across our ELC Establishments and
partner nurseries.  With. Nominated champions and a working group have
been established to work alongside partner nurseries and health colleagues.
This will ensure partnership working and consistent messages within our
communities.   An e-learning module has been added to MYNL and is
available to all ELC practitioners.  Baby bottles and dummies have been
removed from establishments as part of the commitment to normalise
breastfeeding. Resources including books and toys convey the breastfeeding
message. To date 5 ELC settings have now completed all tasks to gain their
Breastfeeding Friendly Scotland Early Learning Award.
2.1.3  Community Breastfeeding Champions have been identified in the Community
Learning and Development service to share the Breastfeeding Friendly
message with colleagues, networks and communities with a particular focus
on our most vulnerable communities.  Male and female staff, along with
voluntary sector partners attended Breastfeeding Champions training which
was delivered by NHS Lanarkshire colleagues. This has enabled them to have
more effective conversations with parents and carers and to link to learning
opportunities already provided.
Staff are also developing partnerships with community breastfeeding support
groups and actively seeking community views and identifying needs to enable
breastfeeding to take place.  The community Breastfeeding Champions meet
regularly with NHS Public Health Nutritionist, Infant Feeding Development
Midwife and Health Improvement Practitioner in maternal and infant nutrition
to enable ongoing learning, sharing of information and joint working to identify
further actions.

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2.1.4  Investing in town and community hubs is at the heart of The Plan for North
Lanarkshire where welcoming and discreet spaces for breastfeeding mums be
available.  The first space will be in the Newmain’s hub which is due for
completion before the end of 2022 followed next year by Chryston and
Coatbridge. 
2.2  National Breastfeeding Week Scotland was celebrated in North Lanarkshire in
June 2022.  One of the highlights of the week was a community event held in
Gartlea Community Centre.  NLC and NHS Lanarkshire colleagues hosted the
day which gave local families the opportunity to find out about support that is
on offer to new mums and parents in their community.   
Staff from North Lanarkshire Council, along with some families, were also able
to join NHS Lanarkshire colleges at their Breastfeeding Conference.  The theme
of the conference this year was nurturing and enabling communities to support
breastfeeding whilst recovering from the pandemic. The keynote speaker for
the day was Professor Amy Brown who led a session exploring families'
experience of childbirth and breastfeeding during the pandemic. She discussed
how the focus should not only be on recovery but the need to ensure that every
woman has a nurturing and supportive community whilst on their breastfeeding
journey.  North Lanarkshire Council’s Chief Executive shared the vision and
commitment to achieve Breastfeeding Friendly status and gave everyone the
opportunity to hear how work is progressing in North Lanarkshire to normalise
breastfeeding, to create a supportive, nurtured community and provide safe
welcoming spaces to enable breastfeeding outside the home to continue for as
long as mothers and babies wish it to. 
3. Measures of success 
3.1 See Appendix 1.   
4. Supporting documentation 
Breastfeeding Friendly Accreditation Framework 2022 (Draft) 
Alison Gordon
Head of Children Families & Justice Services/Chief Social Work Officer

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5. Impacts ( http://connect/report-template-guidance ) 
5.1 Public Sector Equality Duty and Fairer Scotland Duty
Does the report contain information that has an impact as a result of the Public
Sector Equality Duty and/or Fairer Scotland Duty?
Yes ☒ No ☐
If Yes, please provide a brief summary of the impact? 
The establishment of the local authority Breastfeeding Friendly Accreditation
Framework, and achievement of accreditation, will drive the achievement of
outcomes that are designed to tackle poverty and socio-economic disadvantage thus
contributing to the Council’s requirements under the Fairer Scotland Duty. The
integrated Fairer Scotland/Equality Impact assessment carried out during the
development of the framework has highlighted that the implementation of the related
communication strategy needs to ensure that any promotional/ launch information is
available in alternative languages and formats, including BSL and Easy Read. That
awareness raising and understanding of the needs of young women, disabled
women, women whose first language is not English, women experiencing socio-
economic disadvantage, and cultural and faith-based requirements, is undertaken
with services and other employers / organisations (who participate in the
breastfeeding friendly initiatives) to ensure that their facilities are accessible and
inclusive to all breastfeeding women. 
If Yes, has an assessment been carried out and published on the council’s website?
https://www.northlanarkshire.gov.uk/your-community/equalities/equality-and-fairer-
scotland-duty-impact-assessments
Yes ☐ No ☐
5.2 Financial impact
Does the report contain any financial impacts?
Yes ☐ No ☒
If Yes, have all relevant financial impacts have been discussed and agreed with
Financial Solutions?
Yes ☐ No ☐
If Yes, please provide a brief summary of the impact? 
To date all actions in support of the the Breast Feeding Framework have been
achieved within existing resources and through alignment with relevant programmes
of work with in-kind support and advice provided through key NHS Lanarkshire
leads. It is anticipated this will apply also to future development work with any
additionality subject to funding availability. 
5.3 HR policy impact 
Does the report contain any HR policy or procedure impacts?
Yes ☒ No ☐
If Yes, have all relevant HR impacts have been discussed and agreed with People
and Organisational Development?
Yes ☒ No ☐
If Yes, please provide a brief summary of the impact? 
As noted within the report a Breast Feeding Policy has been introduced for Council
Employees

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5.4 Legal impact
Does the report contain any legal impacts (such as general legal matters, statutory
considerations (including employment law considerations), or new legislation)?
Yes ☐ No ☒
If Yes, have all relevant legal impacts have been discussed and agreed with Legal
and Democratic Solutions?
Yes ☐ No ☐
If Yes, please provide a brief summary of the impact? 
5.5 Data protection impact 
Does the report / project / practice contain or involve the processing of personal
data?  
Yes ☐ No ☒
If Yes, is the processing of this personal data likely to result in a high risk to the data
subject?
Yes ☐ No ☐
If Yes, has a Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) been carried out and e-
mailed to dataprotection@northlan.gov.uk 
Yes ☐ No ☐
5.6 Technology / Digital impact
Does the report contain information that has an impact on either technology, digital
transformation, service redesign / business change processes, data management, or
connectivity / broadband / Wi-Fi?
Yes ☐ No ☒
If Yes, please provide a brief summary of the impact? 
Where the impact identifies a requirement for technology, has an assessment been
carried out (or scheduled) by the Enterprise Architecture Governance Group
(EAGG)? 
Yes ☐ No ☐
5.7 Environmental / Carbon impact
Does the report / project / practice contain information that has an impact on any
environmental or carbon matters?
Yes ☒ No ☐
If Yes, please provide a brief summary of the impact? 
Breastfeeding uses fewer water or land resources, produces no carbon and minimal
waste. Studies have shown that, for example, breastfeeding for 6 months saved 95-
153kg CO2e (carbon dioxide equivalents per baby compared to formula feeding). 
5.8 Communications impact
Does the report contain any information that has an impact on the council’s
communications activities?
Yes ☒ No ☐
If Yes, please provide a brief summary of the impact? 
An important first for North Lanarkshire, the Council’s strategic communications
team has been involved from the outset in the development of the Framework. 
Images and key messages promoting breastfeeding and North Lanarkshire as a
supportive and welcoming place is communicated via NLC social media channels.

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5.9 Risk impact
Is there a risk impact?
Yes ☒ No ☐
If Yes, please provide a brief summary of the key risks and potential impacts,
highlighting where the risk(s) are assessed and recorded (e.g. Corporate or Service
or Project Risk Registers), and how they are managed? 
The draft local authority Breastfeeding Friendly Accreditation Framework details a
number of measures that link directly to supporting mitigation of key Corporate Risks
such as Tackling Poverty

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Appendix 1 
[INSERT LOCAL AUTHORITY LOGO]       
[INSERT NHS BOARD LOGO]                                                       
Breastfeeding Friendly Scotland – Local Authority
Accreditation Framework

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Corporate Statement
Chief Executive 
The ambitious Plan for North Lanarkshire is centred around improving the quality of
life, health and wellbeing of people who live here and reducing inequalities that affect
them. That means we need people to feel supported and encouraged at all stages of
their life, including helping to give people the best start in life.  
Breastfeeding has proven health benefits to both baby and mum, with breast milk full
of vital disease-fighting properties that protect babies from illness and breastfeeding
can help mums recover from childbirth more quickly.   
Both the NHS and World Health Organisation (WHO) recommend breastfeeding
exclusively for the first six months of life. Yet the rates in North Lanarkshire fall far
below the Scottish average, with just 27.2% of new mums still breastfeeding at six to
eight weeks. 
It’s crucial that we as a council review our services internally and work closely with
our partners to help create a more supportive and enabling environment to
encourage breastfeeding. There is no simple way to change public attitudes to
breastfeeding but this council is committed to doing everything it can to support and
encourage breastfeeding across North Lanarkshire.  
We are committed to exploring how each of our services can support breastfeeding,
whether through education and awareness, making our workplaces more
breastfeeding-friendly or providing support and encouragement. We are also
committed to working with our partners to ensure that North Lanarkshire welcomes
breastfeeding and provides a supportive environment to enable more mothers to
breastfeed in the community, at work or at home.   
Framework Endorsement 
(NHS Board, Chief Executive)

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Breastfeeding Friendly Scotland Scheme 
Our vision is that Scotland becomes a society that values breastfeeding and supports
mothers to feed in the way that is best for them and their baby. 
Breastfeeding is a global public health issue, and recognised in the United Nations
Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). Breastfeeding is much more than
nutrition. Breast milk is full of essential nutrients to help babies to grow, it also protects
them from infection and encourages development of a close and loving relationship
between mother and baby. Due to the positive impact on the health of both mothers
and babies, breastfeeding is viewed as an important public health intervention that
impacts on health inequalities through building on the potential of every child by
optimising physical, mental and social health. This has resulted in a global effort
towards promoting, supporting and protecting breastfeeding. 
Within Scotland, breastfeeding rates remain lower than we would wish them to be. Of
particular concern is that breastfeeding rates can be linked to levels of deprivation and
to maternal age; older mothers and those from the least deprived areas being much
more likely to breastfeed. Increasing breastfeeding rates in our most deprived areas
would help reduce health inequalities. The impact of COVID-19 on families will widen
the health inequalities gap even further. 
We are committed to changing this and are working across our communities to change
attitudes and create a positive culture around breastfeeding.
This document uses the words mother or mum to describe the parent who is
breastfeeding. We acknowledge that there are parents who are breastfeeding who
may have a gender identity other than female, and may use terms other than ‘mother’
to describe themselves. We also know that some parents may prefer ‘chest feeding’
to ‘breastfeeding’. We are clear that all parents should be treated with dignity and
respect when accessing support. When we are asked to use pronouns, terms, and
descriptors other than those in this document we will use the preferred words as part
of individualised care
Breastfeeding Friendly Scotland is a national award scheme that recognises
businesses, organisations, and public premises where staff are aware of their
obligations under the Breastfeeding etc. (Scotland) Act 2005 and Equality Act 2010.
The award enables new mums and families to recognise places that they can be
supported, and their babies protected when breastfeeding whilst out and about. 
Our aim is to normalise breastfeeding in all communities across Scotland and this
means addressing four key issues: 
• Increasing maternal confidence in breastfeeding in public places
(Breastfeeding Friendly Scotland Scheme). 
• Work across communities to change attitudes and create positive culture
around breastfeeding (Breastfeeding Friendly Scotland – Local Authority). 
• Introducing breastfeeding before any negative attitudes are formed
(Breastfeeding Friendly Scotland - Early Learning).

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• Increasing knowledge of breastfeeding as our young people progress through
their school career (Breastfeeding Friendly Scotland - Schools)
The benefits of breastfeeding for babies, mothers, and public health are well
established. It protects children from a wide range of illnesses including infection,
diabetes, asthma, heart disease and cot death (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome), as
well as obesity, a major public health priority. It protects mothers from breast and
ovarian cancers and heart disease. In addition, it supports the development of a
positive mother-baby relationship and the mental wellbeing of both baby and mother.
Breastfeeding is a natural 'safety net' against the worst effects of poverty. Exclusive
breastfeeding goes a long way toward cancelling out the health difference between
being born into poverty and being born into affluence. It is almost as if breastfeeding
takes the infant out of poverty for those first few months in order to give the child a
fairer start in life and compensate for the injustice of the world into which it was born.
(James P Grant, Executive Director of UNICEF).
Anxiety around breastfeeding in public is a common reason cited by mothers for not
breastfeeding or stopping breastfeeding. This has never perhaps been more pertinent
as families come out of lockdown and are taking their babies out for what can be the
first time in many months or indeed, ever.
There were various breastfeeding welcome schemes across Scotland and these used
different images and words. Consultation with families evidenced that they would
prefer a national scheme with the same branding. In this way as families travelled form
one area to another they could easily recognise the branding and be confident that the
same scheme protected them in the same way. The Breastfeeding Friendly Scotland
(BFS) scheme was developed and further iterations include BFS Early Learning and
BFS School schemes. The BFS Local Authority would be part of the BFS family and
therefore families would instantly recognise this visible support for breastfeeding
wherever they are in Scotland.
UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative
The Baby Friendly Initiative (BFI) is transforming healthcare for babies, their mothers,
and families in the UK, as part of a wider global partnership between the World Health
Organization (WHO) and UNICEF. All maternity, health visiting and family nursing
services across Scotland are accredited as Baby Friendly. Becoming a Breastfeeding
Friendly Scotland Local Authority will help to maintain this prestigious accreditation.
More information can be found in the documents listed below.
The BFI standards provide the evidence base to empower families around
breastfeeding and developing close and loving relationships, ensuring babies get the
best start in life.
By working collaboratively with both statutory and community partners we can change
breastfeeding culture across Scotland. This would have a positive impact on the
health and well-being of our population in the short, medium, and long term.
To complement the work around Baby Friendly Initiative Accreditation, and to address
the concerns of breastfeeding families around feeding outside the home in Scotland,

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we need a collaborative approach to build a breastfeeding friendly society.   The Public
Bodies (Joint Working) (Scotland) Act 2014 brings NHS boards and Local Authorities
into closer working relationships and provides the opportunity to work in partnership
to deliver this. This award aligns with national policy priorities and actions to ensure
children have the best start in life by supporting breastfeeding with the aim of reducing
the drop off in breastfeeding rates at 6-8 weeks by 10% by 2025 (A Healthier
Future – Scotland’s Diet & Healthy Weight Delivery Plan, 2018).It also aligns with
several of the Scottish Public Health Priorities; more specifically Priority 2  - A Scotland
where we flourish in our early years. 
Breastfeeding Friendly Scotland - Local Authority 
Strategic vision: Scotland becomes a society which values breastfeeding and
supports mothers and parents to feed in the way that is best for them and their baby.
Objectives: 
• Help to change the culture across Scotland and enable breastfeeding to
become visible in our communities. 
• To promote an environment where breastfeeding is seen as the cultural norm,
including by our children and young people 
• To ensure that breastfeeding is supported at all levels of the organisation and
this promotion, support and protection is visible in our communities and to our
partners 
• To provide staff training for breastfeeding, the level of training to be dependent
on role and responsibilities
• To be aware of local services where breastfeeding families can access support
and information and to signpost families to this support. 
Scottish Government will provide:
• Work in partnership with the NHS Board to evaluate evidence and approve
accreditation. 
NHS Board will provide:
• Commitment to work in partnership with their Local Authorities to improve
breastfeeding rates.
• A Scottish Government approved framework.
• Support to gather and submit evidence to the Scottish Government for approval
to award accreditation
• Award accreditation certificate.
• Training as required 
Local authorities are asked to:
• Work collaboratively to implement Breastfeeding Friendly Scotland Local
Authority Scheme with the Scottish Government and the local NHS Board to
achieve accreditation using the national BFS logo and branding.

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• Implement the framework which sets out the direction for the Local Authority,
Partners, and most importantly enables each of our communities to promote,
support and protect breastfeeding. 
• Carry out conformity assessments, testing and inspections and submit
evidence to the local NHS Board
• Develop an implementation and monitoring governance group with cross
partnership and third sector representation
• Submit evidence 2 yearly as part of reaccreditation process 
The accreditation process details 3 levels of award; bronze, silver and gold. Each level
evidence progression and increased commitment to monitoring and evidencing
change. Local Authorities can choose which level they wish to submit evidence
towards. 
Breastfeeding Friendly Scotland – Local Authority Framework 
The following draft template framework sets out the commitment expected from local
authorities and partners to the Breastfeeding Friendly Scotland – Local Authority
scheme. 
Scotland’s 32 Local Authorities have delegated legal responsibilities for a number of
key strategic and operational functions key to ensuring a breastfeeding friendly culture
including, but not limited to:
• Economic development
• Human Resource Management
• Procurement
• Tackling Poverty & Inequality 
• Advancing equality 
• Education
• Social work services
• Leisure & Cultural services
• Environmental services
• Community Planning
• Community & Voluntary Sector support
• Communications
• Community Engagement and Empowerment
Strategic commitment is essential; to be sustainable in terms of implementing and
sustaining the Breastfeeding Friendly Scotland scheme, Local Authorities should
consider how Standards can be threaded through each of the above delegated duties.
This list is not exhaustive and may change as we work to embed and mainstream the
work in such a way that organisational culture change would flow from this. We will be
learning over time and will share the learning, taking a quality improvement approach.
The following recommendations, detailed in the draft framework, detail ways in which
local authorities in Scotland would become a Breastfeeding Friendly Scotland Local
Authority. These recommendations have been drafted based on knowledge acquired
through partnership working.

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For each individual work stream, bespoke training is available and can be delivered in
various formats to meet the needs of the specific service area. The use of technology
can enable testing of delivery of training which is easily accessible to staff but delivers
the required learning and attitudinal change.
As part of our shared ambition for inclusive growth and prosperity for all, Local
Authorities and Partners are committed to working together to promote, support and
protect breastfeeding across Scotland. This will help achieve our aim of reducing
inequalities and ensure that every child has the best start in life, optimising their
physical, emotional and social health. To this end, Local Authorities and Partners,
should detail their actions to support the Breastfeeding Friendly Scotland
requirements. 
Governance Structure/Approval Process
The framework should be agreed and approved through the following structures and
within the timescales agreed below. 
Scottish Government/Advocacy and Culture Lead for Scotland
↑
NHS Board/HSCP (MIN and infant feeding leads)
↑
Local Authority Chief Executive sign off
↑
Local Governance group
↑
Local Authority Head of Communities
↑
Local Authority Service Managers (suggested list as per above)

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Breastfeeding Friendly Scotland – Local Authority 
Framework Template 
Breastfeeding Friendly
Scotland – Local Authority
recommendation
Council Action Time
scale
Responsible
Person/s
LA
Priorities
Progress/
Update  
Evidence
Premises The Local Authority to join
the Breastfeeding Friendly
Scotland Scheme and all
premises within the local
authority display the national
branded Breastfeeding
Friendly Scotland window
award sticker 
Economic
Development
The Council’s ALEOs, that
are employers, participate in
the Breastfeeding Friendly
Scotland scheme.     
Employability Support
Services –workplaces are
suitable for mums starting /
returning to employment      
Human Resource
Management
Human Resources (HR)
policies for pregnant and
breastfeeding employees       
Training for managers to be
aware of the small changes
that can be made to support
continued feeding       
Engage with staff around
their right to breastfeed on
return to, and whilst at, work

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Breastfeeding Friendly
Scotland – Local Authority
recommendation
Council Action Time
scale
Responsible
Person/s
LA
Priorities
Progress/
Update  
Evidence
Procurement Include statement in all
procurement processes that
asks for a commitment from
those organisations to
support staff who are
breastfeeding and welcome
mums to feed on their
premises where children are
permitted to be      
Tackling Poverty &
Inequality
Promote Breastfeeding as a
prevention of Childhood
Obesity 
(London Child Obesity Task
Force, 2019)1 
Promote breastfeeding as
the climate friendly choice; it
is free, always available and
there is no manufacturing,
preparation or waste 
Advancing
equality 
Pregnancy & Maternity are
protected characteristics
under Equality Act       
Ensure recognition of
intersectionality of
breastfeeding mothers
(disabled, BAME, lesbian) in
promotional campaigns
/posters  /literature etc 
Education Commitment to, and
attainment of, Breastfeeding
Friendly Scotland Early
Learning Award 
Commitment to, and
attainment of, Breastfeeding       
1 London Obesity Taskforce. (2019). Every child a healthy weight: Ten ambitions for London. Retrieved from London.gov.uk: 
https://www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/every_child_a_healthy_weight.pdf

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Breastfeeding Friendly
Scotland – Local Authority
recommendation
Council Action Time
scale
Responsible
Person/s
LA
Priorities
Progress/
Update  
Evidence
Friendly Scotland Schools
Award 
Infrastructure of all buildings
– is there space for milk
storage / appropriate place
to express milk/ baby to be
brought to mum
(mums are both staff and
community members)       
Community Learning and
Development (CLD) to
include conversations about
breastfeeding , nurture a
responsive parenting
approach and integrate
breastfeeding into healthy
eating agenda across the
service 
Social Work Social Work Children &
Family Services staff to
complete breastfeeding
training, amount of training to
be dependent on role       
Foster carers to complete
NHS Training on responsive
feeding 
Have a policy for
breastfeeding babies
removed from the care of
their mothers       
Infrastructure of Social Work
offices space for milk storage
/ mums to express / baby to
be brought to mum      
Environmental
Health Department 
Environmental health officers
to have short training on the
WHO International Code of
Marketing of Breastmilk
substitutes

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19 
Breastfeeding Friendly
Scotland – Local Authority
recommendation
Council Action Time
scale
Responsible
Person/s
LA
Priorities
Progress/
Update  
Evidence 
There is investigation,
recording and monitoring of
violations of the code
reported by members of the
public      
Active and
Creative
Communities
Libraries that run Bookbug to
make families aware that 
breastfeeding welcome
during the session 
Sport and Leisure Facilities
infrastructure to ensure
spaces for milk storage /
mum to express (mum being
a service user or employee)      
Environmental
Services & Road
Infrastructure 
Include national
Breastfeeding Friendly
Scotland branding on
‘welcome to’ or road signage       
Fleet Vehicles to display
national BFS branding -
‘Breastfeeding Friendly
Scotland’ window award or
vinyl sticker      
Community
Planning 
Community Planning
Partnership (CPP)to highlight
Breastfeeding Friendly
across the authority       
Community Board
representation to consider
membership of local
breastfeeding organisation
representative, a local
breastfeeding mum or Health
Improvement representative
to ensure breastfeeding
remains on agenda       
To work with Community &
Voluntary Sector to engage
with community groups and
raise awareness of support

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20 
Breastfeeding Friendly
Scotland – Local Authority
recommendation
Council Action Time
scale
Responsible
Person/s
LA
Priorities
Progress/
Update  
Evidence
for breastfeeding within
communities
Communications  Corporate position statement
agreed with partners.       
Develop a multi-disciplinary
communications plan that
will support activity from
services and promote
breastfeeding to internal and
external audiences. National 
Breastfeeding Friendly
Scotland logo and branding
to be used on all
communications, resources
and displays       
Develop range of key
messages that addresses
barriers and promotes
benefits of breastfeeding       
Develop a strategy for
obtaining feedback from
parents on the actions
delivered through the
scheme       
Include a link to report
violations of the WHO code
on the LA website      
Approval Processes
The group has agreed that the framework should be agreed and ratified through the following structures and within the timescales agreed below. 
Where By Whom When
Service Managers  
Head of Communities  
Local Authority Chief Executive   
NHS Board  
Joint Delivery Group  
Scottish Government/Advocacy and Culture Lead for Scotland

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21 
Application for Accreditation 
Breastfeeding Friendly Scotland – Local Authority 
Local Authority: 
Chief Executive: 
Contact number: 
Email address 
On behalf of the [insert Local Authority Name] I confirm that we meet the criteria for
the [Bronze/Silver/|Gold *delete as appropriate] Award of the Breastfeeding Friendly
Scotland – Local Authority Accreditation: 
• We have implemented the framework and results
evidence that we meet the thresholds for accreditation 
• We have developed a cross partnership Implementation
and Monitoring group with the NHS Maternal and Infant
Nutrition Group, Infant Feeding staff and third sector
partners 
Signature of Head of Communities 
Signature of Chief Officer, Health and Social Care 
Date

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22 
Breastfeeding Friendly Scotland – Local Authority 
Framework Template 
Breastfeeding Friendly
Scotland – Local
Authority
recommendation
Bronze award 
(Actions for
accreditation)
Silver award 
(maintain
bronze award
actions and
add…)
Gold award 
(maintain
bronze and
silver award
actions and
add…)
Premises The Local Authority to join
the Breastfeeding Friendly
Scotland Scheme and all
premises within the local
authority display the
national branded
Breastfeeding Friendly
Scotland window award
sticker 
100% of premises
display the window
award and staff in
the premises are
aware of their
responsibilities
within the scheme.  
Economic
Development
The Council’s ALEOs, that
are employers, participate
in the Breastfeeding
Friendly Scotland scheme. 
100% of
Council’s
ALEOs, that are
employers,
participate in the
Breastfeeding
Friendly
Scotland
scheme. 
Employability Support
Services – are workplaces
suitable for mums starting /
returning to employment
80% of workplaces
suitable for mums
starting / returning
to employment  
Human Resource
Management
Human Resources (HR)
policies for pregnant and
breastfeeding employees
There is a policy
for pregnant staff
and those
breastfeeding and
returning to work
and monitoring of
implementation is
carried out. 
Training for managers to be
aware of the small changes
that can be made to support
continued feeding 
80% of
managers have
participated in
training 
Engage with staff around
their right to breastfeed on
return to, and whilst at,
work 
There is
questionnaire
sent to all staff 6
months after
return to work to
record
experiences.
The results are
shared and an
action plan
developed for
any necessary
changes.
There is
evidence of
improvements in
the experiences
of pregnant staff
and those
returning to
work.
Procurement Include statement in all
procurement processes that
asks for a commitment from
those organisations to
Statement
included.
Statement
included.
Statement
included.

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23 
2 London Obesity Taskforce. (2019). Every child a healthy weight: Ten ambitions for London. Retrieved from
London.gov.uk: 
https://www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/every_child_a_healthy_weight.pdf
support staff who are
breastfeeding and welcome
mums to feed on their
premises where children
are permitted to be
Tackling Poverty
& Inequality
Promote Breastfeeding as a
prevention of Childhood
Obesity 
(London Child Obesity
Task Force, 2019)2 
Evidence of
breastfeeding
included in policy
and plans related
to healthy weight.   
Promote breastfeeding as
the climate friendly choice;
it is free, always available
and there is no
manufacturing, preparation
or waste
Evidence of
breastfeeding
included in policy
and plans related
to tackling poverty  
Advancing
equality
Pregnancy & Maternity are
protected characteristics
under Equality Act 
Evidenced in the
equality impact
assessment
framework 
Resources / campaigns and
promotional materials
reference and display the
intersectionality of
breastfeeding mothers –
BAME. Disabled people,
lesbian mothers, lone
parents etc   
Evidenced in
local
promotional
materials,
resources and
campaigns 
Education Commitment to, and
attainment of,
Breastfeeding Friendly
Scotland Early Learning
Award 
Commitment to
BFS Early
Learning
scheme 
80% of Early
Learning and
Childcare
Centres have
attained
accreditation 
Commitment to, and
attainment of,
Breastfeeding Friendly
Scotland Schools Award 
Commitment to
BFS Schools
scheme
80% of Primary
and secondary
schools have
attained
accreditation 
Infrastructure of all
buildings – is there space
for milk storage / mums to
express/ baby to be brought
to mum
(mums are both staff and
community members) 
50% have
identified spaces
for this
80% have
identified spaces
for this 
Community Learning and
Development (CLD) to
include conversations about
breastfeeding and nurture
responsive parenting
approach and integrate
breastfeeding into healthy
eating agenda across the
service 
Evidence that
breastfeeding is
included in
parenting and
health weight
work
Social Work Social Work Children &
Family Services staff to
complete breastfeeding
training, amount of training
to be dependent on role 
50% of Children
& Family
Services staff to
complete
breastfeeding
80% of Children
& Family
Services staff to
complete
breastfeeding

Page 24

24 
training, amount
of training to be
dependent on
role
training, amount
of training to be
dependent on
role 
Foster carers to complete
NHS Training on
responsive feeding 
50% of foster
carers have
completed NHS
Training on
responsive
feeding
80% of foster
carers have
completed NHS
Training on
responsive
feeding 
Have a policy for
breastfeeding babies
removed from the care of
their mothers 
Policy
implemented 
Policy
implemented
and evaluation
available 
Infrastructure of Social
Work offices space for milk
storage / mums to express /
baby to be brought to mum 
50% have
identified spaces
for this
80% have
identified spaces
for this
Environmental
Health
Department
Environmental health
officers to have short
training on the WHO
International Code of
Marketing of Breastmilk
substitutes 
50% of officers
have completed
training
80% of officers
have completed
training 
There is investigation,
recording and monitoring of
violations of the code
reported by members of the
public 
Complaints are
investigated and
recorded in such
a way as allows
ease of
monitoring
Complaints are
investigated,
recorded in such
a way as allows
ease of
monitoring and
there is annual
reporting 
Active and
Creative
Communities
Libraries that run Bookbug
to make families aware that 
breastfeeding welcome
during the session
Introduction to
session includes
invitation to feed
baby whenever
they want to 
Sport and Leisure Facilities
infrastructure spaces for
milk storage / mum to
express 
50% have
identified spaces
for this
80% have
identified spaces
for this
Environmental
Services & Road
Infrastructure 
Include national
Breastfeeding Friendly
Scotland branding on
‘welcome to’ or road
signage  
Branding evident
on signs as
these are
renewed 
Fleet Vehicles to display
national branding
‘Breastfeeding Friendly
Scotland’ window or vinyl
sticker  
Breastfeeding
Friendly Award
displayed 
Community
Planning 
Community Planning
Partnership (CPP)to
highlight Breastfeeding
Friendly Scotland across
the authority 
Breastfeeding
Friendly
Scotland is
evidenced on
meeting
agendas
Breastfeeding
Friendly
Scotland sign up
increased in the
locality area 
Community Board
representation to consider
membership of a local
breastfeeding mum or
Health Improvement
representative to ensure
breastfeeding remains on
agenda 
Breastfeeding is
standing item in
meeting
Breastfeeding is
a standing item
and monitoring
of local
breastfeeding
actions and
rates is
evidenced

Page 25

25 
To work with Community &
Voluntary Sector to engage
with community groups and
raise awareness of support
for breastfeeding within
communities 
Local
breastfeeding
support
provision is
shared with local
groups 
Communications  Corporate position
statement agreed with
partners.
Agreed position
statement
Agreed position
statement
shared with
partners
Agreed position
statement
agreed with
partners and
shared widely 
Develop a multi-disciplinary
communications plan that
will support activity from
services and promote
breastfeeding to internal
and external audiences
National  Breastfeeding
Friendly Scotland logo and
branding to be used on all
communications, resources
and displays 
Communication
plan developed.
National 
Breastfeeding
Friendly Scotland
logo and branding
to be used on all
communications,
resources and
displays
Communication
plan delivered.
National 
Breastfeeding
Friendly
Scotland logo
and branding to
be used on all
communications,
resources and
displays
Communication
plan evaluated.
National 
Breastfeeding
Friendly
Scotland logo
and branding to
be used on all
communications,
resources and
displays 
Develop range of key
messages that addresses
barriers and promotes
benefits of breastfeeding
Key messaged
developed
Key messages
shared within
the community
Evaluation of
results and
follow up plan
designed 
Develop a strategy for
obtaining feedback from
parents on the actions
delivered through the
scheme 
Feedback
strategy
developed,
feedback
collected and
monitored
Evolution and
follow up and
follow up plan
designed

Page 26

26 
Works Cited
Brown, A., & Shenker, N. (2020). Experiences of breastfeeding during COVID-19: Lessons for future
practical and emotional support. Maternal & Child Nutrition, 17(1).
doi:https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.13088
London Child Obesity Task Force. (2019). Every child a healthy weight: Ten ambitions for London.
Retrieved from London.gov.uk:
https://www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/every_child_a_healthy_weight.pdf
UNICEF: United Kingdom. (n.d.). Achieving sustainability: standards and guidance. Retrieved 2021,
from UNICEF United Kingdom: The baby friendly initiative:
https://www.unicef.org.uk/babyfriendly/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2018/04/Achieving-
Sustainability-Standards-and-Guidance-Unicef-UK-Baby-Friendly-Initiative.pdf
UNICEF: United Kingdom. (n.d.). Guide to baby friendly initiative standards. Retrieved 2021, from
UNICEF: The baby friendly initiative: https://www.unicef.org.uk/babyfriendly/wp-
content/uploads/sites/2/2014/02/Guide-to-the-Unicef-UK-Baby-Friendly-Initiative-
Standards.pdf
Scottish Government (2018) A Healthier Future – Scotland’s Diet & Healthy Weight Delivery Plan
Retrieved 2021 https://www.gov.scot/publications/healthier-future-scotlands-diet-healthy-weight-
delivery-plan/documents/
Scottish Government (2018) Scotland's public health priorities Retrieved 2021
https://www.gov.scot/publications/scotlands-public-health-priorities/