by Alex Claridge

A national charity is the latest influential backer of the Kentish Gazette’s Make it Family Friendly campaign.

The Family and Parenting Institute joins new mothers, senior city councillors and business experts in supporting the Gazette’s drive to persuade shops in Canterbury to improve their breastfeeding and family facilities.

Based in north London, the FPI is an independent charity which works to make Britain a better place for families and children.

Its chief executive is Canterbury-born Dr Katherine Rake, who has advised the Prime Minister’s Policy Unit, the Treasury and other Government departments.

She told the Gazette: “I am delighted to see a campaign such as this in my home town. Canterbury has so much to offer – it just needs to do a little more to ensure the town centre is welcoming to families of all shapes and sizes. If it does, both family life and business will benefit.

“Families tell us that when it comes to making them feel welcome, the small things are very important.

“When out and about with small children, what’s needed are good toilets, good buggy access, and plenty of seating for older and younger family members to catch their breath.”

The Gazette’s Family Friendly campaign was sparked by new mum Louise Dancy who wrote to the city council to complain about the poor standard of breastfeeding facilities in Canterbury.

Afterwards, Kerry Nash and her 10-month-old baby visited six shops in the city and found only one of them to have adequate facilities for a mother and child.

The city council has also discussed a scheme to highlight those business which have good mother and baby facilities and name those which don’t.

Prime Minister David Cameron has also stated his intention to improve conditions for families. He is quoted as saying: “It’s our ambition to make the UK the most family friendly country in Europe.”