Over the last four years Best Beginnings has established itself as a small charity delivering big results.
Based on the evidence and supported by the clinical experts on our board Best Beginnings’ first strategic focus was to work to increase breastfeeding rates across the UK. Read on to find out about the success of the breastfeeding manifesto, our DVD 'From Bump to Breastfeeding', and the art show 'Get Britain Breastfeeding'.
From Bump to Breastfeeding
Our proudest achievement to date is the unprecedented success of the DVD, 'From Bump to Breastfeeding'.
- The DVD has gone out to more than 1.5 million women across the four nations of the UK.
- Evaluation has proven its effectiveness in increasing breastfeeding rates
- 99% of women who watched the DVD antenatally found it useful
- Midwives valued the DVD as a teaching resource.
- The DVD has been incorporated into the new best practice guidance outlined in the Breastfeeding Care Pathways launched by the Department of Health in November 2010 for mothers and health professionals.
Best Beginnings is committed to doing all it can to ensure that every pregnant women in the UK receives a free DVD from their healthcare professional. To find out more about From Bump to Breastfeeding click here.
Get Britain Breastfeeding 
Best Beginnings produced "Get Britain Breastfeeding", a prestigious art exhibition that showcases a collection of iconic images designed by students at Central Saint Martin’s College of Art and Design and postcards by D&AD students from all over the world. At its heart, the Get Britain Breastfeeding art exhibition is designed to inspire, celebrate, challenge and change public perceptions surrounding breastfeeding, so that the UK becomes a society where women are supported to breastfeed for as long as they choose.
To find out more about the art exhibition, click here.
The Breastfeeding Manifesto Coalition
In 2006 Best Beginnings founded the Breast Feeding Manifesto Coalition bringing together over 20 organisations to produce ‘The Breastfeeding Manifesto’. The Manifesto, launched in May 2007, used evidence from formal studies and a national consultation to establish key objectives for government to take forward. The Manifesto has rallied a powerful range of supporters. There are now 42 organisations in Coalition behind the campaign, over 9,600 individuals have expressed their support and more than 350 parliamentarians have signed the manifesto. Through the Coalition’s Lobbying a baby’s right to breastfeed in public has been protected in Law. In mid 2008 Best Beginnings stepped back from the day to day running of the coalition, with the National Childbirth Trust taking over the role Secretariat. We remain on the Steering Committee and Alison is a spokesperson for the coalition. To find out more, click here.