Between 1 and 7 August every year, to raise awareness of the benefits of breastfeeding and the need for global support, the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action organises World Breastfeeding Week.

World Breastfeeding Week, 1-7 August, is celebrated in 120 countries and marks the signing of the World Health Organisation and UNICEF document Innocenti Declaration, which lists the benefits of breastfeeding, plus global and governmental goals. UNICEF is the United Nations Children’s Fund, a worldwide children’s charity that address the needs of children around the world.

To mark this occasion, thousands of breastfeeding women and their babies and children across the world will gather in their own communities to take part in the Global Big Latch On, a synchronised breastfeeding event in multiple locations.

There are several taking place in Merseyside. Sefton’s local Big Latch On will take place at Lakeside Christian Centre, Fairway, Southport, PR9 0LA, on Friday, 4 August at 10.30am and there is also one at Knowsley Safari on the same day at the same time.

The Sefton event is hosted by Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust, and the Knowsley event is hosted by North West Boroughs Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, in partnership with the Merseyside Breastfeeding Consortium. Directions can be found at www.knowsleysafariexperience.co.uk or by putting L34 3AN into your Sat Nav.

Julia Kemp, Infant Feeding Coordinator at North West Boroughs Healthcare, said: “We are delighted to be hosting this event with our consortium partners. This event highlights the amazing work our services provide to support mothers and babies. We love to celebrate the achievements of our breastfeeding families and we hope all our past and present breastfeeding families, no matter what age, will join us to take part in this worldwide event.”

Richard Smith, Head of Visitor Services at Knowsley Safari, said: “We are delighted to support this event and welcome families to stay at the park for as long as they wish. There will be free access for participants and their family to our foot safari to see our animal displays and enjoy many of our attractions including giraffe, meerkat and wolf country. The park opens at 9am and all cars arriving before 10.15am will be offered a discount of £15 per car to enter the full safari tour.”

For more information about the Knowsley event contact the Knowsley Breastfeeding Peer Support Service on 0151 244 3269.

For more information about the Sefton event, contact Breastfeeding Support Sefton via the Feelgood Factory in Netherton 0151 291 8010 or on 07752 661408.