Bolton’s Best Start Family Hubs has achieved UNICEF’s stage 1 Baby Friendly Initiative status, recognising the quality support it provides for parents and babies to protect them throughout life.
Bolton’s hubs, delivered in partnership with Bolton Council, Bolton NHS Foundation Trust, Bolton Together, Bolton CVS and GMMH NHS Foundation Trust, have been awarded the Baby Friendly Initiative by the UK Committee for UNICEF.
The award embraces the positive work culture, and staff knowledge, skills, and care provided to support parents, and it is the first step in assessments over several years that can lead to the highest Gold Award.
The UNICEF award establishes high standards globally in maternity, neonatal, and community health services to benefit babies, mothers, and families.
Encouraging more mothers to breastfeed is the main aim of UICEF as it supports parents to form close bonds with their children and also provides many other health benefits for both babies and mothers.
In particular, breastfeeding provides greater protection against infections, asthma, diabetes, and sudden infant death syndrome for the infant, and reduces the risk of cancer and heart disease for mothers.
The added health protection for infants also reduces the need for expensive medications and hospital visits throughout life.
Vicky Davies, Specialist Health Visitor and Infant Feeding Co-ordinator for Best Start Family Hubs said:
“We’re delighted to have achieved stage one accreditation, as it recognises the work we’ve done to embed a firm foundation from which we can work towards full accreditation.
“I want to thank all the staff working within the hubs for their support in helping to achieve this exciting milestone.”
Cllr Rabiya Jiva, Bolton Council’s Executive Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, said:
“This award from the UNICEF recognises Bolton’s strong commitment to partnership working and to delivering a comprehensive antenatal offer for families.
“This includes peer to peer support, digital resources, and sessions to prepare parents both for parenthood and for breastfeeding.
“Our commitment has always been to support every mother and baby in building a close loving bond, regardless of their feeding choice, as this lays the strongest foundation for a baby’s start in life.”
Bolton hubs provide services for families with children aged up to 19-years-old, and up to 25 years for those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities at a network of venues across the borough.
Find out more about the services on offer here ‘Guide to service & Activities for families in Bolton’.
