Events
Yorkshire and Humber Infant Feeding Awards
The Yorkshire and Humber Infant Feeding Awards aim to celebrate people and organisations that are contributing significantly to the infant feeding agenda.
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The Infant Feeding Awards serve as a mechanism for raising awareness and drawing stakeholders' attention to the infant feeding agenda.
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Children have the right to be fed, and parents need information and support to make informed decisions about feeding. Parents need to be supported in the decisions they have made which would have a significant impact on the child. Many people think infant feeding responsibilities fall on the mother and the health professionals only. Actually, many stakeholders and society at large have an impact on infant feeding.
Our vision is to create a world where every child can have a healthy growth and development through feeding. We envision a future where parents are empowered with knowledge and resources that support the physical and emotional wellbeing of children. Through collaboration we aim to inspire a culture of excellence in infant feeding by celebrating individuals and organisations that transcend barriers, promoting health equity for all families.
Infant Feeding Awards Vision Statement
Infant Feeding Awards 2027
Award ceremony
Saturday 27 February 2027, 6.00pm to 10.00pm
Mercure York Fairfield Manor Hotel, Shipton Road, Skelton, York, YO30 1XW
- Early bird tickets (available until 11.59am on Monday 30 November): £50
- Standard tickets: £60
Join us to celebrate individuals and organisations that have been exceptional in supporting women through the life critical stage of feeding their babies when they were born.
The event will feature inspiring speakers, prestigious awards, a delightful three-course meal, networking, and dancing with a DJ.
Ticket sales close at 11.59am on 3 February 2027.
Award Nominations open for 2027
Nominations should be submitted using the nomination form below:
Nominations for February 2027 consideration must be submitted by 31 October 2026 at Midnight.
Eligible nominees must:
- Leave or work In Yorkshire and Humber Region.
- Be 18 years or older at the date of nomination.
- Have evidence of work done.
Who can nominate?
- Nominations can be received by anyone, including friends, family, co-workers, etc.
- You can make more than one nomination on the same form.
- Self-nomination is allowed.
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Award categories
The award categories are:
Outstanding Peer Support Champion: Recognises a parent or volunteer who uses their own experience to support other families, offering guidance, reassurance, and practical help with infant feeding.
Father and Co-Parent Inclusion Award: Recognises people or services that make sure fathers and co-parents are actively included in infant feeding information, support, and decision-making.
Infant Feeding Hospital Exemplary Practice Award: Recognises hospitals that provide excellent, consistent, and whole-team support for infant feeding for all families.
Outstanding Volunteer Contribution to Infant Feeding Support: Recognises volunteers who give their time to support parents with feeding, offering emotional support, advice, and practical help in their communities.
Infant Feeding Lead of the Year Award: Recognises a person who leads or manages infant feeding services and has made a strong positive difference through leadership, planning, and improvement.
Long Service and Dedication to Infant Feeding Support Award: Recognises someone who has spent many years supporting infant feeding and has shown long-term commitment and dedication.
Lactation Consultant Excellence Award: Recognises a specialist healthcare professional (IBCLC or equivalent) who provides expert support to families with complex infant feeding needs.
Excellence in Infant Feeding Education: Recognises an individual or organisation that provides high-quality training or education to help staff or parents understand infant feeding better.
Breastfeeding Friendly Employer: Recognises employers that support breastfeeding employees through flexible working, supportive policies, and suitable spaces for expressing milk or feeding.
Infant Feeding Research Award: Recognises individuals or teams who carry out research that improves understanding and care in infant feeding, helping to improve future practice and policy.
Judging panel
Find out more about our judging panel in the drop-down menu below.
Doula and Founder of Black Mamas Village
Associate Director, SJP Law (Stamp Jackson Procter Limited)
Infant Feeding Practitioner
Previous awards
Find out more about our previous award winners in the drop-down menu below.
The Infant Feeding Awards 2025 took place on Wednesday 15 January 2025 at York St John University.
Winners and nominees
Excellence in Infant Feeding Education:
- Goodwin Doula and Breastfeeding Peer Support Project (BFPS)
- Anne Amott (Infant Feeding Team Leader, Barnsley 0-19 Public Health Nursing Service) and Sarah Beardsall (Infant Feeding Coordinator, Barnsley Hospital Maternity Services)
- Sara Balmforth - Winner
Most Sustainable Infant Feeding Local Council:
- East Riding of Yorkshire Council
- Sheffield City Council
- Hull City Council - Winner
Infant Feeding Friendly Public Place:
- White Rose Shopping Centre, Leeds
- Trinity Shopping Centre, Leeds
- St Stephens Shopping Centre, Hull - Winner
Excellence in Breastfeeding Support:
- Treasure Chest
- Hull 0-19 Service
- Robyn Clarke - Winner
Outstanding Breastfeeding Advocate:
- Goodwin Doula and BFPS project
- Natasha Day MBE - Winner
- Anne Hemsley
Breastfeeding Friendly Employer:
- Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council
- Leeds City Council - Winner
- Ministry of Defence
Breastfeeding Friendly University:
- University of Hull
- University of York
- York St John University - Winner
Community Breastfeeding Champion:
- Infant Feeding Team - Barnsley Council - Winner
- Leeds Bosom Buddies
- Goodwin Breastfeeding Peer Support Project
- Leeds Maternity Infant Feeding team
Breastfeeding in Adversity:
- Helena Ramsden - Winner
- Louise Prashad - Winner
- Beth Brennan - Winner
- Rochelle Millar - Winner
- Alice Thatcher - Winner
Infant Feeding Research Award:
- Barnsley Council's Children's Public Health Team and 0-19 Public Health - Winner
Judging panel
- Councillor Bob Webb
- Dr Tim Hughes
- Rebecca Beggan
- Lucy O'Farrell-Follos
Yorkshire and Humber Infant Feeding Awards 2026
Winners and nominees
Excellence in Breastfeeding Support:
In recognition of outstanding commitment to families and infant wellbeing.
- Katrina Hall-Evans and Kelly Roberts - Winner
- Louise Shafei - Commended
Excellence In Infant Feeding Education:
For exceptional commitment to advancing infant feeding knowledge.
- Sheffield Family Hubs Infant feeding team - Winner
- Goodwin Doulas and Breastfeeding Peer Support Service, Hull - commended
Outstanding Breastfeeding Advocate:
For inspiring confidence, empowerment, and positive change.
- Caroline Scuffam - winner
- Debbie Jackson - Commended
Breastfeeding Friendly Employer:
For leadership in promoting and protecting breastfeeding in the workplace
- Wakefield Council - Winner
Most Sustainable Infant Feeding Local Council:
In recognition of outstanding commitment to sustainable, community-centred infant feeding support
- City of York Council - Commended
- Barnsley Council - Commended
- Hull City Council - Winner
Community Breastfeeding Champion:
For uplifting, empowering, and advocating for breastfeeding families
- Louise Hutchinson - Winner
Infant Feeding Friendly Public Place:
In recognition of creating a welcoming, inclusive space for all feeding families
- Hull & East Riding/Streetlife Museum - Winner
Infant Feeding Research Award:
In recognition of outstanding contributions to advancing infant feeding research
- The "Caring for Everyone" team (Jules Holroyd, Matthew Cull and Fiona Woollard) - Winner
Breastfeeding Friendly University:
In recognition of exemplary commitment to supporting breastfeeding students and staff
- Hull University - Winner
Breastfeeding in Adversity:
Honouring strength, determination, and hope in challenging circumstances
- Tia Machen
- Erin Millar
- Kate Harper
- Adepemi Ibiyemi
- Adaobi Obi
Participant
Amazing event, really well organised, real passion behind it and some fantastic and inspirational speakers.
Participant
I really enjoyed attending the event and the information about how to get there and the maps were so useful. I really hope there is an event like this again as it really helps to showcase and connect Infant feeding across the Yorkshire and Humber Region.
Participant
Congratulations to Dr Ernestine and her co-host. It was a pleasure to attend.
Participant
I think the dress code could have been posted a little earlier, apart from that is was such an amazing evening! Can't wait for next year!
Our sponsors
Thank you to all our sponsors:
- York Business School
- Institute for Health and Care Improvement
Sponsorship of the Infant Feeding Awards is welcomed from businesses, the NHS, councils, universities and other organisations.
Sponsorship Opportunity
We are delighted to invite organisations to support the 2027 Yorkshire and Humber Infant Feeding Awards, a regional event celebrating outstanding practice, leadership, and innovation in infant feeding support across health, community, education, research, and workplace settings.
These awards recognise the individuals and organisations making a real difference to families during pregnancy, birth, and early parenthood, and they promote excellence, inclusion, and equity in infant feeding support.
Table Sponsorship – £1,000 (Table of 10)
We are pleased to offer a Table Sponsorship package for £1,000, which includes a reserved table for up to 10 guests at the awards ceremony.
What’s included:
- A reserved table for 10 guests at the awards ceremony
- Recognition as a table sponsor in the official event programme
- Your organisation’s name listed in event materials and digital communications
- Public acknowledgment during the awards ceremony
- Networking opportunities with leaders in maternity care, public health, research, and community support
- The opportunity to celebrate excellence in infant feeding alongside colleagues and partners
Social Impact Commitment
A key feature of this initiative is its direct contribution to improving infant feeding support in the community.
A portion of all sponsorship income will be invested into a breast pump loan scheme, which provides mothers with timely access to breast pumps when needed. This service supports families who may be experiencing feeding challenges, helping them to continue breastfeeding for as long as they choose.
By sponsoring this event, your organisation is not only celebrating excellence but also contributing directly to practical, community-based breastfeeding support for mothers and babies.
Why support the awards?
Sponsoring the Infant Feeding Excellence Awards enables your organisation to:
- Champion high-quality infant feeding support across services and communities
- Support equitable access to breastfeeding resources through the pump loan scheme
- Demonstrate commitment to maternal and child health and family wellbeing
- Engage with key stakeholders across maternity, public health, academia, and the voluntary sector
- Be visibly associated with excellence and innovation in infant feeding
Get involved
We would be delighted to welcome your organisation as a sponsor.
To reserve a table or request further information, please contact: Dr Ernestine Gheyoh Ndzi at e.gheyohndzi@yorksj.ac.uk
