All change for Wigan families as breastfeeding charity’s service comes to an end

Breastfeeding Together has supported babies and parents since 2011, with home visits, telephone calls, drop-in groups and workshops.

But its contract with Wigan Council finished yesterday after the local authority decided to provide breastfeeding support alongside other help for families through its Start Well scheme.

Project manager Elinor Halliwell said: “Breastfeeding Together are devastated that the contract with Wigan Council has come to an end and there will be no breastfeeding peer support service in Wigan borough. To find out that the priorities were changing in Wigan and we just didn’t fit into those future plans was extremely disappointing, especially as there is clearly a need for breastfeeding peer support in the borough. We have been inundated with hundreds of messages of support. Families within the borough are shocked and confused as to why such an essential service is ending.

“Breastfeeding Together is an award-winning charity (The Queens Award for Voluntary Service 2020, the MBE for voluntary groups) and we are committed to continuing to try to provide some of our much-needed essential services to families. Breastfeeding Together have 65 experienced and dedicated breastfeeding and infant feeding peer support volunteers who are willing to give their time to ensure mums and families will be able to access additional services and support within Wigan borough in the absence of an infant feeding offer from Wigan Council.”

She said families could continue contacting the charity for support by calling 01942 777903, using live chat on its website or going to support group Breastfeeding Together Connect and Share on Facebook.

In a Facebook post, the charity said it did “everything it could to try to continue” but “chose not to put up a fight”.

Breastfeeding Together has offered a range of support in recent years, from helping new mums to breastfeed to encouraging Wigan businesses to be breastfeeding friendly.

On Sunday, 66 people breastfed at the same time for its annual Big Latch On event, which was held virtually to mark World Breastfeeding Week.

Now the contract has come to an end, the council said it is working with health partners to offer a wider range of support for families from the moment they access ante-natal care. This will include infant feeding, oral health and children’s weight management.

It will be available to all parents in the borough through Start Well and includes a new digital offer allowing families to access information, advice and guidance during pregnancy, the early years and beyond.

Families will continue to receive support from their midwife and health visitor.

A council spokesman said: “We wanted to create an improved offer which was more inclusive and flexible, and supported mums to do what they feel is best for their baby.

“In the Start Well consultation one of the strongest asks from mums was to have regular community-based groups, where they could meet socially, receive information and advice and ask questions of professionals if they needed to. We only provided this level of support for mums who chose to breastfeed.

“We also had feedback that this can be isolating for mums choosing to bottle-feed and that they’d also welcome more support on wider issues including sleeping, toilet training and introducing solid food.

“Parents will be given information about a whole range of topics and supported to make their own decisions on what they feel is right for their baby.

“This tailored support will enable us to support each child in the borough, ultimately helping us to further improve school readiness and improve the overall health and wellbeing of children and families.”