Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust is celebrating World Breastfeeding Week with a series of free events across Manor Hospital and the local community to support mothers and families. Running from August 1 to August 7, the campaign’s theme is Breastfeeding for a Sustainable Start in Life: Strengthen What Works.
The initiative seeks to advocate for supportive policies, track infant feeding trends, and build lasting lactation support systems.
Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust Organises Free Events for World Breastfeeding Week
The Walsall Healthcare’s Infant Feeding Team is collaborating with Midwives, Health Visitors, Walsall Council through its Family Hubs, and Maternity and Neonatal colleagues to highlight available services and support. Jo Wright, Walsall Healthcare’s Director of Midwifery, Gynaecology and Sexual Health, stated that the trust is proud to work with partners to strengthen proven strategies protecting breastfeeding in workplaces, healthcare facilities, and local communities.
Support for breastfeeding mums is vital, both in hospital and once they are home, and creating a community network to encourage and help them every step of the way is so important,
Wright said, adding that the trust is committed to helping families give babies the best nutritional start while protecting them from infection.
Schedule of Community and Hospital Events
A variety of events and information sessions have been organised throughout the week:
- Monday, August 3: A tea and cake trolley education tour across Walsall Manor Hospital’s Maternity Services and Neonatal Unit, featuring a coffee morning for inpatient mothers on Ward 25 from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM.
- Tuesday, August 4: A BabyFest event at Walsall New Art Gallery in Gallery Square from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Visitors can meet a Community Midwife, access service information, enjoy baby sensory sessions, arts and crafts, and baby massage. Attendees can also connect with the Infant Feeding team, Midwives, whg breastfeeding peer supporters, speech and language therapists, child car seat safety advisers, and representatives from the Murray Hall counselling service. Families can book free places online via the Walsall Family Hubs website or attend on the day.
- Wednesday, August 5: The launch of a new Infant Feeding Room at the Saddlers Centre from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM.
- Thursday, August 6: An Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust stall in the Antenatal Clinic atrium from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM, featuring a cake sale, information resources, a raffle, and a lucky dip. Proceeds will benefit the Walsall Healthcare’s Well Wishers charity, which raises funds to improve Maternity Services.
- Friday, August 7: A Cake and a Chat event at the North Family Hub located at 275 Blakenall Lane, featuring the Walsall Breastfeeding Peer Support Group from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM.
Broader Campaign Context and Child Friendly Ambitions
The global campaign for Business Wales runs annually from August 1 to August 7 to raise awareness and promote action on breastfeeding themes. For employers, the week offers an opportunity to promote workplace breastfeeding awareness, share resources, and encourage workplace conversations.
According to the World Health Organization, skilled Infant and Young Child Feeding counseling and education significantly increase exclusive breastfeeding rates. A systematic review pooling estimates across 16 studies demonstrated that delivering interventions through health facilities, communities, and households increases exclusive breastfeeding rates by 58%.
Locally, Walsall borough’s broader ambition is to become a Child Friendly Borough, as outlined in the We Are Walsall 2040 framework, aligning with the national focus of giving every child the best start in life.
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