Thu. Oct 10th, 2024

HOUSING ASSOCIATION SIGNS UP TO BREASTFEEDING FRIENDLY SCHEME

 Breastfeeding mothers inCountyDurhamwill receive a warm welcome from a local housing association after it pledged its support for a new Breastfeeding Friendly Scheme.

 Cestria Community Housing, inChester-le-Street, opted to join the scheme to ensure it could offer a welcoming atmosphere to breastfeeding mums at its offices and during events and conferences.

 Association staff have undergone awareness training from Durham County Council’s Healthy Lifestyles Team, which runs the scheme, with Cestria’s Chief Executive Paul Fiddaman demonstrating the organisation’s support by signing the official Breastfeeding Friendly Pledge.

 Joining the scheme was one of a number of initiatives carried out as part of Cestria’s recent Equality and Diversity Month, which aimed to raise awareness of different equality issues and ensure the Association’s services are accessible to everyone.

 Cestria Housing Officer Helen Roxborough, who organised the training, said: “As part of E&D month we felt we could benefit from some help and guidance with promoting ourselves as a Breastfeeding Friendly organisation.

 “We have a wide range of tenants, residents, customers and stakeholders who may have babies or small children and we are keen to ensure that any contact they may have with Cestria is positive and accommodating.

 “We often hold events and conferences and up until now have not really provided any facilities for anyone who would like to attend but may be breastfeeding. We also have a main office and a shop inChester-le-Streetwhere we may need to provide facilities for a woman to feed her baby.

 “The Council’s Breastfeeding Friendly Scheme is a great idea and we were really keen to pledge our support by signing up.”

 Cestria is one of the first businesses to sign up to the Breastfeeding Friendly Scheme, and the largest organisation so far to join.

 Durham County Council’s Jane Buckton, part of the Healthy Lifestyles team that runs the scheme, said: “Being breastfeeding friendly is good for business, it can improve your customer service, attract new customers and improve existing customer loyalty.

 “By signing up to the scheme businesses can provide mums with a welcoming and supportive atmosphere in which to breastfeed.

 “We are really pleased to have Cestria on board and hope that many other organisations follow in their footsteps by signing up to the pledge.”

 Other initiatives taking part during Cestria’s E&D Month included staff learning British Sign Language, organising a cross-cultural music night and one member of staff spending the day in a wheelchair to highlight issues around access and disability.

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By Penny McCarthy

Penny McCarthy is a seasoned entrepreneur and co-founder of Parents News UK, a pioneering publication launched in 1993 to serve the needs of busy parents in Southwest London. Alongside her husband, Fergus McCarthy, Penny played a crucial role in the rapid expansion of the printed edition, which grew from a local startup to a widely circulated monthly publication with a reach of 192,000 copies across Kent, South London, and beyond. Under Penny’s leadership, Parents News quickly became a trusted resource for families, providing valuable information on education, entertainment, sports, and family-friendly events. Her vision helped the publication extend its influence with franchises in Northern Ireland and Cornwall, catering to a growing demand for accessible, family-oriented content. In 1997, recognising the importance of digital media, Penny spearheaded the launch of Parents News UK Online. The website initially mirrored the content of the printed editions and has since evolved into a comprehensive online resource for parents, achieving significant popularity with up to 700 daily hits. In 2017, the publication transitioned fully to an online platform, continuing to inform and engage families across the UK. Today, Penny remains deeply involved in the ongoing success of Parents News UK, focusing on innovative advertising opportunities and future growth plans. Her dedication to supporting families through accessible and practical content has made Parents News a cherished name in households across the country.

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