DUMBARTON FC COMMENDED IN PARLIAMENT FOR BREASTFEEDING FRIENDLY CAMPAIGN
Martin Docherty-Hughes, MP for West Dunbartonshire, has tabled an Early Day Motion (EDM) in the House of Commons, congratulating Dumbarton Football Club for signing up as a Breastfeeding Friendly Football Ground.
Dumbarton FC recently declared their stadium beneath Dumbarton Rock as a breastfeeding friendly football ground, following a nationwide campaign by the SNP MP, Alison Thewliss. Almost 70% of football clubs in Scotland have now signed up to the campaign for breastfeeding friendly stadiums.
Speaking after tabling the motion of commendation in the House of Commons, Martin Docherty-Hughes MP said:
“I am delighted that Dumbarton FC have signed up to this excellent initiative. It’s very encouraging that so many folk are uniting to make Scottish football a breastfeeding friendly environment.
“The 2005 Breastfeeding Act specifically makes it an offence to stop a mother or child from breastfeeding in public and that is a hugely welcome protection. However, what gives further reassurance to breastfeeding mums is for as many places as possible to be pro-active and declare themselves ‘breastfeeding friendly’.
“Football crowds have changed a lot over the years and stadiums are becoming a much more family friendly environment, with Dumbarton FC leading the pack, having been a welcoming environment for fans young and old for many years now. The vast majority of clubs understand the need to build future generations of fans and bridge the gender gap.
“By making a positive declaration that stadiums are breastfeeding friendly, this will go a long way to letting people know that breastfeeding is normal and no-one should feel excluded from coming along to the football”.
ENDS
Note for Editors:
The EDM can be viewed online at http://www.parliament.uk/edm/2016-17/1044
It reads as follows:
“That this House warmly congratulates Dumbarton Football Club on declaring The Cheaper Insurance Direct Stadium as a breastfeeding friendly football ground; commends The Sons’ initiative as being a very positive and proactive step to making football grounds all across the country accessible to families, and women in particular; notes that almost 70 per cent of Scotland’s 42 professional football clubs have now signed up to the breastfeeding friendly scheme; and looks forward to many more clubs in the UK joining them in the very near future.”
