A LOTTERY grant of more than £5,000 has been secured to set up a new group for breastfeeding mothers in Upton.

Breastfeeding counsellor Frances Thurlow was thrilled to receive £5,452 of funding from the Big Lottery Fund’s Awards for All programme to set up a new Baby Latte group at the Riverboats Children’s Centre, in School Lane.

Mrs Thurlow and her fellow NCT (National Childbirth Trust) member Mair Sherliker have run a very popular Baby Latte group in Malvern for several years, and when the children’s centre got in touch they were keen to start up another in Upton.

Mrs Thurlow said she was delighted to receive the lottery grant on behalf of Malvern Hills NCT.

“As well as providing good information and support for breastfeeding, the group will also offer a vital social support network for mothers as they adjust to life with a baby,” said Mrs Thurlow. “A recent UK survey revealed that of 81 per cent of mothers who start breastfeeding, only 44.9 per cent are still breastfeeding six weeks later. By empowering mothers to breastfeed with confidence, the group aims to enable more mothers to breastfeed and to do so for longer.”

The group will meet on Wednesdays between 10.30am-12.30pm, starting from January 18, with an official launch celebration being planned for February.

Pregnant women, small children and fathers will also be welcome to attend and anyone who would like more information should call Mrs Thurlow on 01684 561485.