Disappointed :-(

appletree · #1 (**permalink**) 04-Oct-2008, 18:42

Hi all

I have had planned to start a course with the BfN in January, the lady who I was speaking to had guaranteed me a place then, and I was really looking forward to it and thought it would be great on my ps too.

But today I had an email from her saying that she cannot guarantee me a place any more as I am not local enough! This is a bit annoying as she knew this from the word go! I live about 20 miles away so its not too far for me to travel, but she said that the group that are providing funding want to only train local women.

I am so disappointed, as I don't think there is another BfN lady nearer to me. Everyone I spoke to gave me the impression that 20 miles was not a problem at all. I have been waiting and waiting and waiting to start this and so fed up about it now!

Any ideas what I can do? Her suggestion was to approach my local childrens centre (I have no idea what she means!) and ask for funding to train a dozen breast feeding supporters, but I doubt there are a dozen people that want to do it! And how can I approach these people, if they exist, and convince them of a scheme I know nothing about????

She said it may be that I am not in a "Breastfeeding Aware" area and so it might be difficult, surely then an area like that needs help, and here I am jumping up and down to help, and no one is listening!!!

I don't know whether to get cross or cry!

Sorry for such a long post!!

x x x

coffeebean · #2 (**permalink**) 04-Oct-2008, 18:47

Be calm Appletree. She is only warning you that she may not have a place not saying you definatley won't! Children's Centres are all trying to have some sort of breast feeding support programme and the difficulty for them is funding. It is starting to go to all Children's Centres but may take some time as they need to train facilitators. I was trained thrrough one of these programmes.

Simply being a volunteer at a Children's Centre will look very good on a personal statement.

Hang in there and I hope that you get the chance to do the training but if not volunteering will look just as good.

appletree · #3 (**permalink**) 04-Oct-2008, 18:50

Thanks for replying Coffeebean!
I think she is saying no in a gentle way though!
What are Childrens Centres? Do they have different names as not come across anything called this in my search for volunteering! Do all towns have them? I live in a fairly smallish town, well about 20,000 peeps so not too small!
x x x

coffeebean · #4 (**permalink**) 04-Oct-2008, 18:55

Originally Posted by appletree

Thanks for replying Coffeebean!
I think she is saying no in a gentle way though!
What are Childrens Centres? Do they have different names as not come across anything called this in my search for volunteering! Do all towns have them? I live in a fairly smallish town, well about 20,000 peeps so not too small!
x x x

Funding for Breastfeeeding Supporters is so expensive because it is usually done through La Leche. In order to get funding organisations usually have to fill the spaces with local people. This happened to me and I had a phonecall 3 days before the start of a training programme cos they couldn't fill the spaces. I am hoping that she is trying to prepare you for not getting a place because she has been told to find local people but that you could have a place if there any left.

Children's Centres replace what were Sure Start and they are normally set up in deprived area's. If you look on your council website it should have the Centre's listed.

appletree · #5 (**permalink**) 04-Oct-2008, 18:59

Yes that sounds right Coffeebean. I am so tired today that I think I may be over reacting so forgive me if I sound a bit dramatic!! Just been so excited about it! I have found some info on Sure start on the internet and there is one near me after all! Should I drop the lady on there an email? Do you think she will be the right person to approach?
Many thanks!
x x x

coffeebean · #6 (**permalink**) 04-Oct-2008, 19:39

Yes why not!!! Nothing lost and if you don't ask you don't get!! If they don't do breast feeding training yet you could always volunteer with them . You have nothing to lose and lots to gain from making contact with them.

Let us know how you get on.