Last updated at 12:23, Thursday, 09 August 2012

THE annual Breastfeeding Festival is back for a third year in Ulverston this weekend.

Free events raising awareness of the benefits of breastfeeding will be held in the Coronation Hall and the Coach House, Ford Park, from Saturday until August 17.

Throughout the week a range of free events are available for the public to get involved with.

From Saturday to August 17 the Coach House and Coronation Hall will be holding a host of events for both parents and parents-to-be.

On Saturday, talks, films and demonstrations will be running all day alongside the fair, where 19 stalls are offering a range from milk banking to hypnobirthing to crafts.

Organiser Jo Dawson says that due to responses from last year’s festival-goers, they have adapted the timetable so everybody can attend and enjoy the events.

Ms Dawson says they have this year concentrated events for parents-to-be on the Saturday. She said: “That is to make it more accessible to working parents as well.”

Every year the Breastfeeding Festival changes the “big event” aimed at bringing people together.

This year, on Sunday at 1pm, there will be singing with Pulsing Stars in the Coronation Hall.

Last year’s big event was a fashion show.

Ms Dawson said: “These events bring everyone together to do something enjoyable.”

This year the festival organisers are expecting around 300 people to attend the events across the week, although Ms Dawson says the breastfeeding festival is about much more than numbers.

Through the social and educational events, the festival is raising the profile of breastfeeding in the local community.

Ms Dawson says that in the first year the community was initially a bit shocked about the idea of a breastfeeding festival, though now there has been a positive response.

She says: “We've noticed a definite change in local attitudes since starting the festival.

“It seems to be have become an accepted part of the Ulverston festival programme. Therefore, breastfeeding itself seems to be more supported in the Ulverston community.”

For a full list of events and times visit www.breastfeedingfestival.org.uk.

First published at 16:25, Wednesday, 08 August 2012
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk