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About us
Who we are
Oxfordshire Breastfeeding Support (OBS) is a small charity (a charitable incorporated organisation or CIO) providing free direct breastfeeding support to the families of Oxfordshire - via a mixture of virtual one to one appointments, in-person contacts, Zoom groups, a closed Facebook group, antenatal workshops and work targeted at groups that are under-represented. OBS has wider strategic goals outlined in our mission statement and is currently working on a three year strategy. OBS is well known and respected in the community, with strong and valuable relationships with other service providers in the NHS, Local Authority and voluntary sectors. OBS is committed to being an actively anti-racist organisation, with a focus on social justice, equality, diversity and inclusion.
Although founded as an independent charity in 2018, OBS' work is a continuation of 12 years of breastfeeding support under the Baby Cafe umbrella.
OBS' work is delivered by freelance facilitators, most of whom are internationally board certified lactation consultants (IBCLC, the highest level of lactation accreditation), and a team of trained and supervised peer supporters. The Board of Trustees has overseen an enormous strengthening of governance within the organisation since the transformation into an independent charity, along with significant growth. Fundraising is led by a facilitator and supported by a group of volunteers and trustees - the financial position is healthy with the ability to set an ambitious agenda for targeted growth to better serve the users.
Since becoming a CIO, OBS has received funding from trusts and foundations, regular donations from our service users and a small number of generous major donors. In 2019, we were awarded a five year grant from the National Lottery Community Fund to develop our core services, our reach, and to transform how we work with families who have traditionally felt less able to come to us – those from minority ethnic communities, parents with disabilities, LGBT families and more.
