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First published on www.facebook.com/breastfeedingtogether to mark the start of volunteers week 2019, celebrating our 2 most recent ‘Volunteer of the Year’ winners.

Amy’s Story

After having great support with my 1st child from the day after he was born until he was a toddler and regularly attending my local breastfeeding groups and seeing the need for support and information I decided to train as a peer supporter. I already volunteer in the community and as most people knew I breastfed they asked for information and Iwanted to be able to give the correct information and help them further when needed.
I enjoyed the training and met lots of new friends. I have tried lots of the different volunteer roles, antenatal classes, baby boxes, the hospital maternity ward, live chat and breastfeeding support groups and they are all interesting and rewarding. It’s great to help mums make an informed choice and achieve their feeding goals. Having now fed two children and come up against a few difficulties myself this gives me empathy and understanding of the mums and I’m proud to be part of a service that are there as a listening ear when mums need us. 

Sue’s Story

I’m Sue and am honoured to be awarded ‘Volunteer of the Year 2018’.
I have volunteered in all areas of the service across the last 2 and half years.
I’ve made calls and texts to mums from the office, I’ve been to antenatal clinics and go to groups during the holidays. You might also have meet me at the Baby Box events at Atherton.
I run one of the breastfeeding workshops at Platt Bridge every month and enjoy giving Mum’s and Dad’s lots of hints and tips to get breastfeeding off to a great start and answer any questions they might have.
I also volunteer on the maternity ward at Wigan Hospital and see parents from the workshop put these tips and hints into action, as well as offering practical information now that baby has arrived.
I volunteer on live chat too and am sometimes just here to listen as well as offer helpful information if there is question to be asked.
Most recently I’ve been volunteering at a local high school with pupils completing their GCSE in Child Development and getting breastfeeding information into the school curriculum as well as helping them with their coursework on breastfeeding.
I feel very privileged to be given the ‘Volunteer of the Year’ award and it sits pride of place in my house where I can look at it everyday.
The service helped me so much when my daughter was younger and I am so grateful to be given the opportunity to train and now support mum’s and dad’s as a volunteer.

Hello, my name is Sarah. I have 3 boys, a 5 year old, Oliver and 2.5 year old twins- Henry and Toby. My breastfeeding journey on both occasions was very different! With my eldest everything went to plan, and I had a relatively straight forward feeding journey. With Henry and Toby things couldn’t have been any different. I was supported in the community by Breastfeeding Together, my peer supporter was a crucial source of support for me. It was this vital support which made me want to complete my level 2 peer support training to support other families and give something back.
I have been volunteering for Breastfeeding together for almost 2 years now, delivering antenatal workshops (most recently our breastfeeding multiples workshop!), supporting mums on the maternity ward, at groups across the borough and live chat sessions. I have also been a community supporter for 18 months, visiting mums in their homes postnatally. I feel so lucky to be able to give women support and information with their feeding choices at such an emotional and special part in their lives.