Families using the 24/7 National Breastfeeding Helpline receive consistently high-quality, trusted support from our trained peer supporters who are mums with their own experience of breastfeeding. The service -which is delivered by BfN and Association of Breastfeeding Mothers (ABM)- is highly valued by the families who use it: 98% of callers would recommend it, and 99% of those who wanted to continue breastfeeding felt more confident to do so after their contact. For callers from communities facing the highest levels of deprivation, this figure was 100%.
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has been running a procurement process to decide who will provide the service in future. Organisations have submitted written bids setting out how they would meet DHSC’s tender requirements. These written proposals are used to assess which bidder should deliver the service.
On 2nd July 2026, DHSC published the Contract Award Notice for the procurement, identifying BfN as the most advantageous tender. On 28th October 2026, DHSC withdrew that notice and replaced it with an updated notice stating that the procurement is currently being re-evaluated.
BfN and ABM are committed to providing families with a helpline that offers outstanding support, free of charge and independent of commercial interests, whatever their infant feeding journey. Families can also continue to expect trusted, high-quality and independent information and support across BfN’s services across the UK.
The National Breastfeeding Helpline offers infant feeding support 24/7 by phone on 0300 100 0212 and via social media messenger (Facebook & Instagram).
For more information about all of BfN’s services, visit: www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/drop-in-centres-map.