Hi All,
"Spring Harvest" is a UK registered charity that runs huge eccumenical
Christian family conferences/holidays. There are usually several
sessions a year, taking over an entire holiday camp (usually around
Easter) with several thousands of people attending at each site for 5
days. I don't have figures, but at the one I went to one year, we had
about 2,500 people actually in residence at the site (not counting the
day-visitors) They pride themselves with being open to all, disabled
people, families, the elderly etc.
Which is why I was shocked to the core to read the following in a
pamplet sent to me by a friend (who had booked to go but has now
cancelled her booking). It is from the leaflet "Under Fives Parents
Information Sheet" (Ref:1/2/4) and relates to creche facilities. Under
"Who is the program for?" there is the following line:-
"Parents will be welcome to bring babies under the age of 3 months into
all main adult meetings. Out of consideration for other adult guests, we
respectfully ask that parents endeavour to refrain from breastfeeding
during main meetings and leave meetings quickly and quietly in the event
of a baby crying. Thank you."
As for their policy regarding over 3mo babies, particularly those who
are being breastfed on demand, I have grave reservations (they are
supposed to be placed in the creche for two out of three daily sessions
of an hour or two each, but no mention is made of how their needs are
met, save that any "bottles or dummies" etc should be provided). None of
thier literature has anything positive to say about breastfeeding or
even keeping mothers with their babies.
The whole enviroment is breastfeeding-hostile IMHO, and this is not good
enough for a supposedly Christian organisation.
Their address is:-
Spring Harvest
14 Horsted Square
Uckfield
East Sussex
TN22 1QL
Tel: 01825 769111
Mailto: [log in to unmask]
I would be happy to scan in the entire text of the document if people
are interested, although most of it is not directly relevent to this
issue. I would like to deluge this organisation with complaints -
breastfeeding rates in the UK are low enough as it is. I know *many*
Christian girls who believe that breastfeeding is "immodest" (not in my
own church, thank goodness - they wouldn't bat an eyelid). Such an
attitude has obvious implications.
--
Anna H. (Mummy to Emma, 17-1-95, Alice, 11-9-96, Samuel, 25-4-98)
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http://www.ratbag.demon.co.uk/anna/index.html
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