Over the last few weeks, I have discovered that there are groups of Mums in Sheffield getting together on a regular basis with their babies and young children. There is nothing unusual in this, as a Mum of 3 boys I know that meeting up with other people when your children are very young can be a lifeline.  However, what I’m finding is that some Mothers are choosing places to get together, away from the mother & baby groups or children’s play areas.

Consequently, I had the pleasure recently of visiting The Greystones Pub on Greystones Road in Sheffield 11.  The Manager of the Greystones contacted me as he had been approached by a group of Mums in the area who use the pub as a meeting place during the daytime. Some of the Mums were breastfeeding and had heard about the Breastfeeding Friendly Award. The Greystones were more than happy to welcome the Mothers and babies and were proud to have been approached in this way. The Pub is bright and comfortable with plenty of room for prams and pushchairs and has lots of quiter corners for Mums wanting privacy.

Shortly after going to The Greystones, I was contacted by a lady who told me that another group of Mums use the Francis Newton Pub on Clarkehouse Road as their meeting place. Once again, the Manager there was more than happy to be listed as a ‘Breastfeeding Friendly’ venue and to welcome families and young children.

I would love to hear from anyone who has a favourite place for meeting up with other Mums and babies. Or from Sheffield venues that would like to support the Breastfeeding Award and welcome the local community to use their premises as a meeting place.

Meet at First Start Building, Firth park, Sheffield, S5 6HH at 11am.

For more information visit the Ramblers Website or download the Walk4Life Poster

Mums in Sheffield recently voted for their favourite places to breastfeed in a Breastfeeding Friendly venue competition. The competition was advertised on this website and in Children’s Centres and Breastfeeding Friendly venues.

John Lewis received the most votes for their breastfeeding room and the café – A Place to Eat. Well done to John Lewis for making Mums feel comfortable and relaxed.

Snap Deli on Ecclesall Road and Rivelin Park Café also received a large number of votes for providing a welcoming atmosphere and for the supportiveness of their staff. All three venues are now displaying their awards with pride.

The awards were handed out on 21^st June, during Breastfeeding Awareness Week. Sheffield City Council arranged a wonderful picnic in the morning at the Winter Garden which was attended by a huge number of Mums, babies and Breastfeeding Peer Support Workers. The Lord Mayor went along to give her support to the event and activities were provided by Sheffield Children’s Festivals. The picnic was followed by the Award ceremony which took place in the Millennium Galleries.

The ceremony was attended by representatives from Sheffield City Council, NHS Sheffield, Sheffield Wildlife Trust, who deliver the Breastfeeding Friendly Award and guests from the awarded venues. Some of the Mums who voted in the competition were also able to attend to receive prizes they’d won for voting in the competition.

Volunteer Doulas have the chance to gain OCN accreditation through a structured training programme to become a Volunteer Doula. Training will be undertaken in all aspects of care including the role of the Volunteer Doula, active birth, breastfeeding, safeguarding and confidentiality to allow the Volunteer Doula to give support to the women through their pregnancy, birth and beyond.

Up to 9 credits can be gained on completion of the Open College Network accredited training which can be used towards further studies in Healthcare, Midwifery or similar.

The Volunteer Doula will be expected to commit to being able to attend all training sessions over

an 8 week programme, made up of twelve sessions including homework which will then be followed by a short oral test. The expectation will be that qualified Doula’s will support at least 4 mum’s and have the flexibility to be available at any time of day or night to give support as needed to mum.

For an informal chat or for further information please call Donna Ellis on 0114 2813774 or email donna.ellis@sheffield.gov.uk.

Secondary schools are being encouraged to run their own fruit tuck shops to replace the free fruit that was given to Y7 pupils in 8 secondary schools last year.  Schools will be given s small amount to cover set up costs and the hope is that the tuckshop will be at least self-funding and at best be able to fund other projects in schools. 

There is also funding available  for primary schools to buy gardening equipment to help them to “get growing “.  Only the schools that did not receive funding in the last phase are eligible.  There have been some amazing results with growing projects and I hope to have some pictures to post from the up and coming harvests.  If you are ever in a school ask to see their garden or growing area-I’m sure you’ll be impressed.

We are now working in partnership with the Sheffield United Initiative which will be delivering the NPower programme of physical activity to children aged 4-6 in 20 primary or nursery/infant schools.  I was lucky enough to see this programme in action a couple of weeks ago at Meersbrook Bank  Primary School and was impressed to see 30 6 year olds active for more than 45 minutes of the 55 minute session.  They were all very hot and sweaty and looking forward to their free fruit and a drink of water at breaktime.

We are also hoping to further develop the delivery of the Change4Life Together Programme for parents in the coming year.

If you would like any more information about any of the above please contact me.

Ever wanted to give it a try or not sure what it is?

The British Heart Foundation (BHF) are holding a massive Zumba fundraising party – the Sheffield Zumbathon at Don Valley Stadium,on Sunday 10 July.

Click here to see the Zumba Poster.

You, your family and your collegues can join newcomers and Zumba lovers, young and old, to support the  British Heart Foundation’s life-saving Mending Broken Hearts Appeal. It’s just £5 to register (children under 5 go free) and you’ll get a 50 minute Zumba class with qualifed instructors.

This is a sponsored event and all participants are asked to raise as much sponsorship as they can to help save lives with the launch of the Mending Broken Hearts Appeal. There’s also a prize for the top fundraiser of the day.  Help the BHF to celebrate their 50th Birthday by aiming
to raise £50 sponsorship by taking part in the Zumba for 50 minutes – FIFTY for FIFTY!

Amy Thompson, senior cardiac nurse at the British Heart Foundation, says “We all know we have to stay physically active to stay healthy but pounding it out at the gym is not everyone’s idea of fun. Alternative activities, such as zumba, that get your heart rate up but perhaps feel less like formal exercise, are great ways to help protect your heart.”

“We recommend adults do 30 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity at least five times a week, so a zumba class would definitely contribute towards reaching this goal.”

Please pre-register at bhf.org.uk/sheffieldzumbathon or at any SIV Leisure Centre or call 01623 624 558 to find out more.

There’s no doubt about it, walking is good for you. It’s good for your heart, it’s good for your lungs, and it’s good for your feeling of wellbeing!

Networking and walking combined to create our unique events to SCCI…. Mix business with fresh air and see the results!

This particular walk will be around the Wyming Brook Nature Reserve, and led by Hannah Wittram of The Wildlife Trust for Sheffield & Rotherham

Cloaking the hillside with a rich mix of sweet-smelling pines, moss-clad crags and babbling streams, Wyming Brook Nature Reserve has a feeling of wilderness, just a stone’s throw away from Sheffield, on the edge of the Peak District National Park. Wyming Brook is a 60 hectare nature reserve which straddles two landscapes characteristic of Sheffield – the high open moorlands of the Peak and the wooded river valleys of the city. Its a popular reserve for a wide variety of walkers, cyclists, horse riders and nature enthusiasts.

From above, the reserve’s mature woodlands provide a dramatic border to the moorland edge. Wyming Brook is a Special Site of Scientific interest due to its breeding bird assemblage, upland vegetation, lower plants, invertebrates and geological feature.

It’s often hard to go from the office environment straight into networking where you force your mind to engage and focus when all it wants to do is rest. This event aims to enable you to refresh your mind and reflect upon your business whilst networking and gaining new business leads and contacts.

Meet at 4.30pm, begin the walk at 4.45pm. The walk will last for around an hour. A reasonable level of fitness is required – all welcome. Following the walk, everyone is welcome to join us at a local pub to continue networking, where food and drinks may be purchased.

We hope that you can join us for networking with a difference!  To book click here.

Full details of how to get to Wyming Brook will be forwarded once your booking has been confirmed.

Green Space for Health

Parks and Countryside Service

I’d like to invite you to a series of 6 workshops in Parson Cross Pavilion.

This is your chance to learn some of the skills you’ll need for the coming growing season.  You’ll also meet other people who are having a plot in the new garden.  The workshops will be informal, fun and FREE.

Alll the materials you’ll need will be provided.

You can learn about;

• Organic growing techniques
• Planning your plot
• Improving your soil and making compost
• Sowing seeds, thinning them out and potting them on
• Planting plants
• Caring for your plants
• Managing pests and weeds

The workshops will start at 9:30 – 11:30

They will be on Friday morning starting 6^th May

For more information or to book your place, phone me, Fay Middleton, on 07969554893 or email me at fay.middleton@sheffield.gov.uk