TWELVE Basingstoke venues are offering a warm welcome to mums and babies after they signed up to support a new breastfeeding-friendly scheme.

The Basingstoke Breastfeeding Welcome Scheme was launched at local restaurants, cafes and other venues during World Breastfeeding Week to promote breastfeeding for local mums in safe and friendly locations.

The scheme was set up by the local breastfeeding implementation group which includes representatives from Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, The Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust, National Childbirth Trust, Basingstoke Children’s Centres and Basingstoke hospital.

As part of the scheme, venues display a pledge to welcome breastfeeding in any public area of their venue, to not move or stop any breastfeeding mother, and to provide a private area for breastfeeding if needed.

In addition, they also pledge to make their staff aware of the scheme and to train staff in dealing with a complaint about breastfeeding from other customers.

The venues that have pledged to support the scheme are:

- BHS, in Festival Place.

- Cafe Nero, in Mayfair House, Basingstoke and in Waterstone’s, Festival Place.

- Costa, in the lower and upper levels in Festival Place and in The Malls.

- Debenhams, Festival Place.

- The P S Lounge in the Sports Centre, Festival Place.

- Starbucks, in Festival Place.

- The Kitschen Cafe, in Feathers Lane, Basingstoke.

- The Tea Bar, in London Street, Basingstoke.

- The Fox pub, in Andover Road, Newfound.

Councillor Cathy Osselton, Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council’s Cabinet member for partnerships and a former midwife, said: “Breastfeeding has a huge number of benefits for both baby and mum.

But in the past breastfeeding mums have worried that they will be unwelcome in many premises, including cafes and pubs.

“This scheme demonstrates the positive attitude of its members who have pledged to welcome breastfeeding at their venues and give support to the mums who use them.”