Walsall Family Hubs gain ‘Baby Friendly’ UNICEF UK certificate

Wednesday, 3 April 2024 17:29

Walsall Council’s Family Hubs have been awarded a Certificate of Commitment, in their first step towards gaining recognition from the UK Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF UK) Baby Friendly Initiative.

The Baby Friendly Initiative is a global programme which aims to transform healthcare for babies, their mothers, and families as part of a wider global partnership between UNICEF and the World Health Organisation (WHO).

In the UK, the Baby Friendly Initiative works with public services to better support families with feeding and developing close, loving relationships in order to ensure that all babies get the best possible start in life.

The Certificate of Commitment recognises that a health care facility is dedicated to implementing recognised best practice standards.

Isabel Vanderheeren, Director for Early Help, Walsall Right for Children and Partnerships at Walsall Council said, “This certificate reflects our ongoing commitment to be a child-friendly borough and provide children with the best start in life.

“The Family Hubs have been set up to help families in the borough, and we host breastfeeding peer support groups to help mothers and babies form a close and loving relationship, irrespective of their chosen feeding method.

"I’m really proud of the team who have worked hard to achieve the Certificate of Commitment, and we will continue to progress towards our Family Hubs becoming UNICEF UK accredited Baby Friendly facilities.”

Baby Friendly Initiative Deputy Programme Director, Anne Woods, said, “Our work to support breastfeeding is based on extensive and resounding evidence that breastfeeding saves lives, improves health and cuts costs in every country worldwide, rich and poor alike. Mothers in Walsall have the satisfaction of knowing that their midwives/health visitors are aiming to provide the highest standard of care.”

More from Local News

Freeze! Can you help catch Walsall’s fridge fly-tipper?

Walsall Council is asking residents for help in identifying a fly-tipper who dumped several fridges on a cul-de-sac off Bloxwich Road.
Council leaders joined by 200 young people at Walsall youth debate

Two of Walsall Council’s Cabinet members took part in a youth debate last week, which was attended by 200 young people from across the borough.
Grit Happens: Walsall Council Ready to Tackle Winter Roads

Walsall Council’s gritters are geared up and ready to keep the borough’s roads safe this winter.
Persistent street drinker banned from Walsall town centre

A persistent street drinker in Walsall has been successfully prosecuted following a string of anti-social behaviour offences.
Wolverhampton Art Gallery presents Oliver Frank Chanarin’s first UK solo project, A Perfect Sentence

Oliver Frank Chanarin’s new exhibition A Perfect Sentence combines analogue photography and a state-of-the-art robotic system. At the centre of the installation are two machines, made by the artist in collaboration with Tom Cecil and Ruairi Glynn, which select photographs from an archive of over 150 framed works. They function according to an impenetrable logic, continuously identifying, hanging, rehanging and stacking the photographs for the duration of the exhibition.
2025/26 budget consultation now underway - have your say

Walsall residents are being urged to have their say on Walsall Council’s budget proposals for next year. A six-week consultation on the draft budget, including proposed savings, investments and increases in council tax, is now open until midnight on Friday 29 November 2024.
Charity Trade Event to Celebrate Brewers Decorator Centres Wolverhampton’s 2nd Birthday

Free Event to Raise Funds for The Alzheimer's Society
Local charity invites you to ‘Walk for Compton’

Specialist palliative and bereavement support provider, Compton Care, is inviting the public to ‘Walk for Compton’ to celebrate and remember their loved ones.