Group celebrates quarter century of support

Coping with a newborn can be one of the most challenging and stressful times in life, but thanks to the Deal Breastfeeding Support Group expert advice and peer support is available. This year the group celebrates a quarter of a century of service to families in need – and now has been nominated for a Kent Mental Wellbeing Award. Kaitlin Hughes from the awards team found out more.

 

The Deal Breastfeeding Support Group is dedicated to assisting families in achieving their breastfeeding goals. Some families reach out to the group for help with specific issues, such as managing life with a newborn, establishing breastfeeding, or addressing more complex challenges.

They have a booking system which allows families to schedule appointments with breastfeeding counsellors at a specific time, ensuring they receive the support they need when it’s most convenient. Additionally, families can choose to be seen by a counsellor with a particular level of experience, ensuring tailored support that meets their unique needs.

They also have a team consisting of breastfeeding counsellors and peer supporters trained by the Association of Breastfeeding Mothers, offering personalized guidance and evidence-based advice to help families navigate these challenges.

They provide a welcoming and inclusive environment where parents can share their experiences, ask questions, and receive the encouragement they need. Whether you’re facing common breastfeeding concerns or more intricate issues, our group is here to support you every step of the way.

They offer a breast pump hire scheme for families who want to try an electric pump or need one for a short period at a reasonable cost. Additionally, if a family is receiving support from the Healthy Start scheme run by Kent County Council (KCC), they can access the breast pump hire free of charge.

The Deal Breastfeeding Support Group, celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, has long been a vital source of community support for breastfeeding mothers.

Founded in 1998, the group has offered essential guidance, encouragement, and resources to families in the early stages of parenthood. Over time, they have broadened their services to encompass educational workshops, peer support meetings, and personalized lactation consultations.

A quote they have received from a very appreciative family, “When I first walked into the hall to go to this group, I was feeling kind of lost, and I had no idea what I was doing with breastfeeding, now 18 months later I am still happy to be nursing my child all thanks to the knowledgeable support from this group. A welcoming bunch of people who also linked me in with other support in the community.”

They are funded through grants and donations and are very appreciative of any support. Additionally, they are participating in the Dover lottery. People can play the lottery, select their organization as the beneficiary, and potentially win prizes while supporting their cause.

The Kent Mental Wellbeing awards is an annual event designed to showcase the people, organisations and initiatives that help us cope with life. The event’s three themes are: kindness and compassion; wellbeing; mental health.

Whether it is in school, business, community or family, so many of us have been lucky to have people and organisations with ideas, tips and tactics to help us cope. It is time to celebrate those mental health and well-being champions in our community and share this best practice.

The awards will be staged in October by the mental health charity Mind in Bexley and East Kent in collaboration with a range of wellbeing and mental health organisations.

Nominations can be linked to a simple act of kindness that lifted the spirits, a business that has improved staff wellbeing, through to a targeted initiative delivered by a charity or statutory organisation to support a mental health issue.

The event is sponsored by Kent County Council, Kent Community Foundation, ADM Computing, GrainLNG – National Grid, Medway Council, Optyma Security, Wave Community Bank, Cactus Graphics and CommunityAid.

Submit nominations at www.kentmentalwellbeingawards.org.uk  For awards news follow @KentMWAwards on Facebook and X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.