Accessing local support services can make all the difference to your feeding journey. Use the map below to find local groups and services.
Groups are offered by different organisations including the NCT, LLL East Kent and LLL West Kent, Kent Baby Matters, Deal Breastfeeding group, Sheppey Bump, Baby & Beyond and Baby Umbrella. If you are pregnant or your baby is under two weeks old, you can also access information from East Kent, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells, or Dartford and Gravesham Hospitals.
Visit Kent Baby for more information and support for parents and carers of under-fives. Parents in Medway can visit Beside You Medway for local support.
Nearest First
Ashford North Family Hub
Ashford North Family Hub, Mabledon Avenue, Ashford TN23 8BJLLL Margate at Little Fish Cafe
Little Fish Cafe 9 Lombard Street Margate KentLLL Canterbury at Stag Coffee & Kitchen
Unit 10-11, Marlowe Arcade, Canterbury, Kent,Sherwood Family Hub
0300 790 0243 Temple Grove Academy, Friars Way, Tunbridge Wells, TN2 3UASouthborough Family Hub
Southborough Family Hub, Stagshaw Close, Maidstone, ME15 6TLDeal Breastfeeding Group at St Georges Church
St Georges Church, St Georges Road, Deal, CT14 6BABaby Umbrella at Otford Village Memorial Hall
Otford Village Memorial Hall, High Street, Otford, TN14 5PQDartford Valley Community Rugby Club (Kent Baby Matters)
Dartford valley community rugby club, Cotton Ln, Stone, Greenhithe DA2 6PDLong Mead Family Hub
0300 1233017 Long Mead Family Hub , Waveney Rd, Tonbridge TN10 3JUKnockhall Family Hub
Knockhall Family Hub, Abbey Road Greenhithe, Kent, DA9 9HDKings Farm Family Hub
Kings Farm Family Hub, Cedar Ave, Gravesend DA12 5JTRiverside Family Hub
Riverside Family Hub, Dickens Road, Gravesend, DA12 2JYSeashells Family Hub
Seashells Children Centre, Rose Street, Sheerness, ME12 1AWHerne Bay Family Hub
Herne Bay Family Hub, Memorial Park, Kings Road, Herne Bay, CT6 5RGParkwood Family Hub
Parkwood Family Hub, Furfield Close, Parkwood, ME15 9JRBump, Baby and Beyond at Castle Connections
Castle Connections, Well Road, Queenborough, ME11 5AYBaby Umbrella at Tonbridge Baptist Church
Tonbridge Baptist Church, Darenth Avenue, Tonbridge, TN10 3HZOther ways to get support
Virtual drop-ins
NCT offers online sessions with trained counsellors every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 12.30 to 2pm. Register online at the NCT website.
Telephone support
- The National Breastfeeding Helpline is available 24/7 on 0300 100 0212 with non-judgemental, evidence-based advice. They also offer webchat support from 9.30 am to 9.30 pm. Support also in Welsh and Polish (press 1 for Welsh, 2 for Polish) Visit their Facebook or Instagram accounts to message one of their volunteers who will get back to you as soon as possible (from 9.30am to 9.30pm)
- National Childbirth Trust (NCT): 0300 330 0700. The line is open every day from 8am to midnight, including bank holidays.
Support via text
Text the Health Visiting Team on 07312 263368 for quick advice. Find other ways to contact Health Visiting at Kent Baby.
Before baby arrives
Join an NHS Ready for Baby course to learn about responsive feeding, skin-to-skin, and baby cues.
Sessions are based on UNICEF Baby Friendly guidance and led by NHS staff and volunteers. Visit Kent Baby for all dates and to book your place in a virtual group or in-person session.
The Infant Feeding Team in Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells offers a monthly online antenatal session.
Bump, Birth and Beyond is packed with friendly and helpful advice for parents-to-be in Kent and Medway on pregnancy, birth and the first days of parenting.
Local breast pump hire
You may be eligible for a free hand pump or electric pump loan if:
- You receive Healthy Start.
- Your baby arrived early or has been unwell
- Visit the Family Hub website for details.
Shari and baby Hannah, from Gravesend
"They never tell you how hard it actually is - that you and baby need to learn how to do this thing that is supposed to be so natural. We visited breastfeeding support groups run by the health visiting team and La Leche League, read the books, watched the YouTube videos... and we made it through."