Rugby Breastfeeding Cafe 2010 Calendar

The breastfeeding calendar idea came about as a fundraising initiative so we could purchase peer support training for Mums who had expressed an interest. I loved the professional look and feel of the photographs produced by the Be A Star campaign on the Little Angels website, and the idea of a breastfeeding calendar which I had seen on the UNICEF website. I was learning about how breastfeeding fitted into the lives of the families who were coming to our breastfeeding cafe, so I thought it would be wonderful to celebrate their breastfeeding relationships, their choices, successes and differences in a similar way.

Services for the breastfeeding calendar including hair, makeup and photography were all either donated or provided at minimal cost by members of our local community. Big thanks go out to Denise Burrows our first female photographer, who encouraged me to think that this might actually work, and Lisa Scott who took over the role halfway through the project without hesitation. Without your creative talent and generosity this project could not have happened.

Local Design Company, funkyARTIST designed the calendars overall look and feel, and have produced our website, all for free. You can order and pay for your calendars via the website as well as leave feedback about the images and the project. You can read the breastfeeding stories of the families who took part, why they wanted to be involved, and what it was like to be photographed, on our webpage. All funds raised by the calendar will directly benefit the parents using the group by providing money for refreshments, information resources, and training. We will also be using the images as a photo book for antenatal teaching purposes and discussion.

Thanks go to.....

Sally, for being there from day one. Sally, Bev and Simone for running the cafe when I have to go to work, my truly amazing husband for doing such a great job of the graphic design and website and seeing this project through to completion, my NCT tutor group for their support and feedback, Jules Jones for just pinking believing in me, all the Mums, Dads and kiddies who join us at the cafe, everybody at Claremont Childrens Centre (especially Val), everyone at Bell Green breastfeeding cafe, Rugby Library and all our generous sponsors. Wendy Allen for consistently supporting the group and being the main link between the cafe and the local Health Visiting team. NCT Rugby Branch, especially Corinne, Moira and Kirsten for hosting homebirths groups, and to my friends in what started as the homebirth group.

Denise Burrows and Lisa Scott for their creativity and vision. Amanda Blanchard, Sarah Collins, Louise Matir, Marie Cutler for hair and make-up. Libby and Linzi for bringing a sense of fun as well as top class hair and make-up. Gill Orton for donating Hot Milk lingerie for the calendar shoots and Nell McAndrew, for her generosity and honesty.

To all the breastfeeding mothers and their partners who took part and gave the project dignity. To all my friends who supported us when it wasnt so easy. Sallyann, for teaching us about ourselves and helping us to achieve the birth we wanted this inevitably enabled us to establish a strong breastfeeding relationship from the start. My parents, for your unfaltering support. My Mum Rachael for lending me her house for the final photo shoot when we photographed eight women in one day, and for being my rock...

and of course, Amelie....for just being you.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• rugby
• breastfeeding
• cafe
• breast
• milk
• feeding

[Preciousmisty]

Hi guys!

Well done! Lovely idea.