SUPPORTING FAMILIES

Supporting Families Service

Supporting parents and carers in East Dunbartonshire.
As a parent/carer you are the most important person in your child’s life. You know your child best. The Supporting Families Service provides advice and
support that is tailored to the individual needs of the family.
The support can be delivered in a community setting, online or by telephone.

The strategies and advice are evidenced and researched based and designed to support and build your confidence as a parent, promoting positive relationships with your children.

Can we help you?

We support parents of children up to age 12 (Primary 7) through:
Bespoke one-to-one intervention in person or online.
Group work – small groups delivered over six weeks in person and online.
Short interactive discussion sessions on common parenting challenges.
All our group workshops are delivered daytime and early evening throughout
the school academic year.

To find out more please email: parenting@eastdunbarton.gov.uk
Please include your name, age of your child and postcode.

Alternatively, your child’s Early Years Centre or Primary School can support and complete a Request for Assistance to the service.

Supporting Families Flyer

February 2, 2024

Early Years Career Opportunities

An Early Years Careers Event is being held to promote the benefits of working in early years and the current opportunities and employment support available.

If you think you may be interested in a rewarding career in early learning and childcare and are enthusiastic and passionate about making a difference to children and families’ lives, then come along to our careers event to learn more.

You can attend our drop-in session at Kirkintilloch Learning Campus, 50 Southbank Road, G66 1NH, on Thursday 8^th February from 5pm until 7pm or alternatively, join us online on Tuesday 13^th February from 6pm until 7pm. Please email us on ELC1140@eastdunbarton.gov.uk to receive a link to join the online event.

You will find out about all our current and upcoming vacancies and how to apply for positions including modern apprentices, support workers and early years practitioners including supply posts. Learn about our Parental Employability Programme and supports available to help you back into employment.

August 2, 2023

Breastfeeding Support & Information

Useful Links to Support, Promote and Protect Breastfeeding

Legislation

The Breastfeeding (Scotland) Act 2005

Breastfeeding etc. (Scotland) Act 2005 (legislation.gov.uk)

This act makes it an offence to prevent or stop a child under the age of two who is permitted to be in a public place or licensed premises from being fed milk in that place or on those premises.

The Equality Act, 2010

Equality Act 2010 (legislation.gov.uk)

This act confers protection for children over the age of two to be breastfed in public spaces.

Publications for ELC Settings

Setting the Table

Setting the table (healthscotland.com)

Setting the Table – nutritional guidance and food standards for early years childcare providers in Scotland is a guidance publication for food provision in early years childcare provision.

The aim is to ensure that children aged 0–5 in childcare settings across Scotland are offered healthy and nutritious meals, snacks and drinks.

The section on Breastfeeding provides information on the benefits of breastfeeding, safety guidance for storing and giving expressed breast milk and providing a supportive environment.

Care Inspectorate Food Matters

Food matters | Care Inspectorate Hub

Food Matters is a resource that highlights examples of good practice from across the ELC sector and is intended to a practical, inspirational and support improvement. It complements and should be used alongside, NHS Health Scotland’s Setting the Table, the nutritional guidance and food standards for the ELC sector.

This document provides an example of becoming breastfeeding friendly and encourages the ELC sector to think about how they can provide an environment that welcomes and promotes breastfeeding.

Information Websites

FeedGood \| Parent Club	This Scottish Government site contains a wealth of information on breastfeeding and caring for infants.
Breastfeeding Videos \| Best Beginnings	This site has a series of short videos covering many aspects of breastfeeding.
Breastfeeding \| Ready Steady Baby! (nhsinform.scot)	This site includes information about breastfeeding, pregnancy, labour and meeting your new baby.
Support for parents – Baby Friendly Initiative (unicef.org.uk)	This site has a range of useful resources for parents on infant feeding and relationship building.
First Steps Nutrition Trust	This site is an independent public health nutrition charity that provides information and resources to support eating well from pre-conception to five years.
Early Years – NHSGGC	This NHSGGC site has information on starting solids, Vitamin D and Breast and Formula Feeding.

Publications for Families

Off to a good start: all you need to know about breastfeeding – Publications – Public Health Scotland	This booklet aims to help pregnant women, new mums and their families make decisions about how they will feed their baby.

Breastfeeding Support

Pregnancy | Evidenced-based information on Pregnancy | NCT

The National Childbirth Trust (NCT) provide evidence-based information, signposting and access to support and services. NCT have a range of trained peer support programmes support women and families facing specific challenges, such as social isolation, feeding difficulties or poor mental health.

The line is open every day from 8am to midnight, including bank holidays. 0333 251 7459

Glasgow Breastfeeding Buddies – Provide free, Friendly and welcoming breastfeeding support.

Hillhead Community Centre 169 Meiklehill Road, G66 2JT. Mondays 10am – 11.30 am

National Breastfeeding Helpline – Helpline

This advice line offers friendly, non-judgemental, independent, evidence based breastfeeding support and information to anyone in the UK who needs it. The helpline is provided by the Breastfeeding Network and the Association of Breastfeeding Mothers

This advice line operates from 09:30am – 09:30pm every day of the year. 0300 100 0212

La Leche League GB – Friendly breastfeeding support from pregnancy onwards

Breastfeeding counsellors and peer supports offer friendly breastfeeding support from pregnancy onwards, runs support groups and offers telephone, online and written support.