Scottish Book Tour

Celebrating the launch of The Art of Breastfeeding in Scotland

This autumn, LLL in Scotland made the most of two exciting opportunities—the launch of The Art of Breastfeeding and the Breastfeeding Grant from the Scottish Government. We got to run two amazing programs that really brought the LLL mission to life.

First up, Melissa from LLL Collective in Edinburgh had a brilliant idea: why not share The Art of Breastfeeding with libraries across Scotland? She reached out to all 33 library systems, and wow, the response was incredible. Libraries were all in, asking for 164 copies of the book—95% of library systems participated, including every major city! This not only tied in beautifully with Scotland’s “Breastfeeding Friendly Scotland” initiative but also gave communities across the country access to some fantastic breastfeeding resources.

But that wasn’t all! Melissa and Justice, another LLL Collective Leader, based in Glasgow, decided to take things further with a multi-city book tour to celebrate the new edition. The tour wasn’t just about showcasing the book, co-authored by LLLGB Leader Jayne Joyce, but also about creating a space to connect breastfeeding organisations, professionals, and parents.

The plan started with events in Edinburgh and Glasgow, but then Aberdeen jumped into the mix thanks to a connection with the children’s library manager there. Even though Aberdeen doesn’t have a local LLL group, the manager was super enthusiastic about hosting, and just like that, our three-city tour was born!

Here’s how it all played out:

Friday, 29 November – Glasgow Women’s Library
Jayne kicked things off with a panel featuring Sarah Edwards from the Breastfeeding Network and Alison Thewliss, a former MP who’s been a big advocate for infant feeding policies. It was an amazing morning with nearly 60 people registered, including local parents and breastfeeding supporters. Conversations focused on inclusivity in The Art of Breastfeeding, Scotland’s breastfeeding success stories, and policies making a difference. We also donated a copy of the book to Glasgow Women’s Library, the UK’s only accredited museum dedicated to women’s lives and achievements—how cool is that?

Saturday, 30 November – Aberdeen Central Library
The vibe in Aberdeen was more intimate and conversational, with Jayne joined by Emma Williams, a public health practitioner, and Gillian Swinscoe, a midwife and IBCLC. Attendees included NHS professionals and local parents, and the discussion was a warm, insightful deep dive into the practicalities of breastfeeding support—what’s working, what needs more attention, and how language and funding play such crucial roles.

Sunday, 1 December – University of Edinburgh
The tour wrapped up with a thought-provoking event in Edinburgh, where Jayne teamed up with Reem Al Soufi, an NHS doctor and founder of the Gaza Infant Nutrition Alliance (GINA). Facilitated by Melissa, the conversation ranged from supporting mothers in crisis situations like war zones to staying resilient as volunteers helping families facing challenges, big or small. It was a moving, eye-opening session attended by over 20 people, thanks in part to the University of Edinburgh’s Community Access Programme, which let us use their space for free.

We’re so grateful for the funding from the Scottish Government’s Breastfeeding Grant, which made all of this possible, including bringing in LLLGB’s PR team member Catriana McKie to boost our social media presence and help sell books.

Overall, this tour sparked some incredible conversations about collaboration, inclusivity, and how we can better support families on their breastfeeding journeys. Huge thanks to Jayne, our fantastic panellists, and everyone who attended for making these events such a success. We can’t wait to keep building on this momentum!