What The Breastfeeding Network does

The Breastfeeding Network (BfN) is a UK-registered charity (SC027007) and Company Limited by Guarantee, founded in 1997 in Paisley, Scotland, that provides independent breastfeeding support, information, and training free of commercial infant-feeding influence. It operates the 24/7 National Breastfeeding Helpline jointly with the Association of Breastfeeding Mothers (Department of Health-funded since 2008, extended to overnight in March 2024), the Drugs in Breastmilk Information Service (70+ factsheets accessed by over 1 million people annually), face-to-face drop-in groups, online chat, and social-media-based peer support across Scotland, England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Service delivery is provided through a network of more than 900 trained volunteer peer supporters — each with personal breastfeeding experience and OCN London Level 2/3 training — supported by a small central staff team.

BfN's operational technology is conventional for a UK non-profit: Microsoft 365 for collaboration, Moodle hosted by RaidHost for volunteer training, Google Analytics 4 for web analytics, Sage for accounting and payroll, Eventbrite for event registration, and Meta and TikTok for community engagement. The organisation holds Cyber Essentials certification, completes the NHS Data Security and Protection Toolkit annually, and operates under UK GDPR.

BfN's revenue model blends donations, modest annual membership fees (£20 standard, £1 low-income/unwaged), and commissioned services from local NHS trusts and councils. It explicitly excludes funding from commercial companies linked to infant feeding (formula, bottles, teats). Primary customers are new and expectant parents (free users), NHS trusts and local authorities (commissioners), and healthcare professionals (information users).

Name

The Breastfeeding Network

Legal name

The Breastfeeding Network

Website

https://breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

The Breastfeeding Network is a UK-registered charity founded in 1997 that delivers independent breastfeeding support via a 24/7 national helpline, volunteer peer support groups, and the Drugs in Breastmilk Information Service, serving new parents, NHS commissioners, and healthcare professionals across the UK.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Maternal and Infant Health Support Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Social Assistance (624)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Lactation, Postpartum & Perinatal Support Services (HLAFAJAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Lactation & Infant Feeding Telehealth (lactation consulting, pumping support) (HLALAHAE), Feeding Support & Newborn Nutrition Care (NCS) (HSAAACAC)

Keywords

• Breastfeeding support services
• Peer support helpline
• Infant feeding information
• Volunteer-led health charity
• Medication safety factsheets

Headquarters

HQ city

Edinburgh

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Donations: The organization accepts donations from individuals and organizations to support operations. To ensure independence, BfN does not accept funding from commercial companies linked to infant feeding, including manufacturers of breastmilk substitutes, feeding bottles, teats, dummies, or companies profiting from breastfeeding products.
2. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees: £20 per year for standard members, £1 per year for low-income/unwaged members. Membership provides access to supervision, training, DBS/PVG checks, low-cost conference entry, and newsletter subscriptions.
3. Commissioned Services: Many local services are commissioned by local NHS trusts and councils, providing funding for peer support projects and training delivery in specific geographic areas.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Breastfeeding Network provides independent, evidence-based breastfeeding support and information across the UK. Its core services are a 24/7 National Breastfeeding Helpline (phone and online chat), the Drugs in Breastmilk information service with 70+ factsheets, and a network of trained volunteer peer supporters running local drop-in groups and NHS-commissioned peer support projects across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

Product overview

The Breastfeeding Network offers a suite of independent breastfeeding support services across the UK. The core offerings include the National Breastfeeding Helpline (24/7 telephone support), Online and Social Media Support (confidential chat), and the Drugs in Breastmilk Information Service (70+ evidence-based factsheets). Peer support is delivered through trained volunteer networks via local drop-in centres, hospital support, and community projects across Scotland, Wales, London, Midlands, and Southern England. Training programs include the OCN London-accredited Helper Course (Level 2) and Supporter Course (Level 3) for volunteer peer supporters. The organization also provides a Breastfeeding Welcome Scheme for businesses and a membership program for registered volunteers. All services are independent of commercial infant feeding interests.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• National Breastfeeding Helpline: 24/7 telephone helpline providing breastfeeding support, operated jointly with the Association of Breastfeeding Mothers
• Drugs in Breastmilk Information Service
• BfN Breastfeeding Friendly Scheme

Products and services

• National Breastfeeding Helpline A 24/7 telephone helpline providing breastfeeding support from trained volunteer peer supporters who are mothers who have breastfed, available 365 days a year.
• Online and Social Media Support Confidential one-to-one secure chat service and assistance via social media messaging (Facebook and Instagram) for those who prefer not to access support via phone or drop-in groups.
• Drugs in Breastmilk Information Service Provides evidence-based information on medications, treatments and procedures whilst breastfeeding through 70+ factsheets covering common drugs and conditions, available every day of the year.
• Peer Support Projects (commissioned/local) Trained volunteer peer supporters providing face-to-face, telephone, social media, and online support through local drop-in groups across Scotland, Wales, the Midlands, London and Southern England; many commissioned by NHS trusts and councils.
• BfN Helper Course (Peer Supporter Training) First-level volunteer training course providing the knowledge to support mothers with breastfeeding; free training of 12 two-hour sessions combining face-to-face and online delivery, achieving OCN London Level 2 accreditation (equivalent to GCSEs).
• BfN Supporter Course Second-level training for Registered Helpers to develop skills to work more independently and offer phone support on the National Breastfeeding Helpline; OCNL Level 3 accreditation, equivalent to GCE A levels.
• BfN Membership Program Annual membership programme for volunteers at £20 (or £1 low-income/unwaged) providing access to supervision, mandatory training, DBS/PVG checks, low-cost conference entry, and newsletter subscription.
• Breastfeeding Welcome Scheme Accreditation scheme for venues that welcome breastfeeding mothers, indicated by a logo displayed at participating locations to help parents identify supportive spaces.

Quantifiable outcome

• National Breastfeeding Helpline provides support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration10 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Home-Start HOSTcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Home-Start HOST to provide collaborative support for families in the UK.
• NHS Best Start in LifecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with NHS Best Start in Life initiative supporting infant feeding across the UK.
• Association of Breastfeeding MotherscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint operation of the National Breastfeeding Helpline with the Association of Breastfeeding Mothers. The Department of Health granted funding in 2008 for BfN to run the NBH working jointly with ABM.
• Down Syndrome UKminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration to provide breastfeeding support resources specifically for families with babies with Down syndrome.
• For Baby's SakeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorking together to create resources helping volunteers identify and support callers experiencing domestic abuse, aligned with 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence initiative.
• NHS Trusts and CouncilscoreOthersMany local services are commissioned by local NHS trusts and councils, providing funded peer support projects across various UK regions.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative: Program accrediting maternity, health visiting, and neonatal services to support infant feeding and parent-infant relationships. Comparable public-health agenda around breastfeeding, though BfN delivers direct peer support while BFI accredits providers.
• National Childbirth Trust (NCT): UK's largest charity for new parents, offering breastfeeding counselling among broader antenatal and postnatal services. Overlaps on infant feeding support but operates a much broader mandate and significantly larger footprint.
• Midwives Information & Resource Service (MIDIRS): UK information service supporting maternity care professionals with evidence-based resources, including breastfeeding. Comparable evidence-content role aimed at healthcare professionals, much like BfN's Drugs in Breastmilk service.

Others

• Twins Trust: UK charity supporting families with multiples, with significant breastfeeding support content due to the unique feeding challenges of multiples. Adjacent in early-years, parent-support, and peer-led information delivery.

Direct peers

• Association of Breastfeeding Mothers: UK charity providing mother-to-mother breastfeeding support and the co-operator of the National Breastfeeding Helpline alongside BfN. Directly comparable in mission, training model, and volunteer-led delivery.
• Home-Start UK: UK family support charity using trained volunteers to help families with young children, including infant feeding. BfN has a formal partnership with Home-Start HOST; both rely on volunteer-led, peer-support delivery in the early-years space.
• Best Beginnings: UK charity producing digital resources (Baby Buddy app) and support materials for the perinatal period, including breastfeeding. Overlaps with BfN's information and support mission through digital channels.
• La Leche League Great Britain: UK arm of the global La Leche League movement, offering volunteer-led breastfeeding support meetings and helpline services. Closely comparable mission and community-led delivery model.

Emerging players

• LatchAid / Anya: Tech-enabled breastfeeding support app combining AI-guided 3D animations, peer communities, and lactation consultant access. Comparable end-user offering to BfN's helpline/chat but delivered through a digital, venture-backed model.

Regional players

• Healthier Together (NHS): NHS-backed digital resource providing clinically validated health advice for parents, including infant feeding. Comparable information-delivery role but funded and distributed through NHS regional footprints rather than charity status.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/BfN_UK
• Facebookfacebook.com/TheBreastfeedingNetworkUK
• Instagraminstagram.com/thebreastfeedingnetworkuk
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/breastfeeding-network

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Breastfeeding Network