AN AYRSHIRE MSP is calling on more local businesses to sign up to the Breastfeeding Friendly Scotland (BFS) scheme.

Carol Mochan MSP visited Café Jaac in Drongan recently with local councillor Elaine Stewart to meet the team, who provide a vital service to new mums.

BFS is a Scottish Government initiative which is implemented locally by NHS boards.

The purpose of the scheme is to help businesses and mothers understand their rights and responsibilities in respect of breastfeeding.

Breastfeeding has been permitted in public places under the Breastfeeding etc (Scotland) Act 2005, and establishments that the public have general access to, which do not allow women to breastfeed, may commit an offence by preventing a mother from feeding a child.

Today I visited Cafe Jaac in Drongan with Cllr Elaine Stewart who has been working with local families and the cafe to...

Posted by Carol Mochan MSP for South Scotland on Friday, 26 January 2024

Ms Mochan has sent a letter to local businesses, calling on them to join the scheme.

Soeaking about her Drongan visit, Ms Mochan said: “So many of our local businesses, like Café Jaac, offer such great service to the community and provide a welcoming space for new mothers to meet friends and look after their children.

"I want all customer-facing businesses and services to have a similar atmosphere, but sometimes owners and operators do not know the rules as well as they should.

"It is imperative we make our area a haven for young families to help build up the community and I am delighted so many businesses are doing precisely that by signing up to the Breastfeeding Friendly Scotland Scheme.”

Find out more about the Breastfeeding Friendly Scotland scheme, and how it works in Ayrshire, at breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk.