La Leche League's Mission

To help mothers to breastfeed through mother-to-mother support, encouragement, information and education, and to promote a better understanding, of breastfeeding as an important element in the healthy development of the baby and the mother

began with a wish - a dream, really - that all mothers who wanted to breastfeed their babies would be able to do so.

was founded by seven mothers, hoping to help their friends, who wanted to breastfeed their babies but found only frustration and failure when they tried. They invited pregnant friends to a meeting one October evening in 1956. What they offered to interested local mothers then - and what the 40,000 La Leche League Leaders who followed them, continued to provide - was information, encouragement, and support.

has grown into a world-wide organisation with 3,000 mother-to-mother support groups in over sixty countries plus many other outreach programmes. Wherever an LLL group blossoms the focus remains the same - to offer accurate breastfeeding information backed by warm, caring, mother-to-mother support so that new mothers (whatever their place or circumstance) can gain the confidence they need to breastfeed their babies.

stands today as the internationally recognised authority on breastfeeding, contacted by mothers, fathers, doctors, nurses, lactation consultants and other professionals throughout the world.

which has its International headquarters in Illinois, USA, serves as a Non-Governmental Organisation Consultant to UNICEF, an agency of the United Nations, and the World Health Organisation, and contributes its expertise to many other organisations, agencies and alliances around the world.

is one of six La Leche League, in-country organisations which stand in Affiliate status with La Leche League International (LLLI) - the others being in Canada, French Canada, Germany, New Zealand and Switzerland.

started as an LLLI Area in approx 1971, registered as a UK charity in 1981, and became an LLLI Affiliate in 1984.

has around 170 accredited Leaders, 75 local groups, and 150 LLLGB-trained Peer Counsellor Programmes spread throughout Great Britain.

has eight staff though much of the work of running the organisation is still carried out by the volunteer-Leaders, who also run local groups and work directly with mothers.

is governed by a Council of Directors (the trustees), elected mainly from amongst the body of volunteer-Leaders:

• Anna Burbidge - Publications (Magazines) Director
• Sue Cardus - General Director
• Sarah Dalston - General Director
• Helen Hannibal - General Director
• Chris Lewis - General Director
• Olga Nguyen - Finance Director
• Lisa Northover - General Director
• Linda Rowland - Leader Accreditation Department Director
• Helen Russ - Leader Department Director

More directors are being sought, both inside and outside the organisation, to bring a broad-skill base to the work of the trustees. If you would be interested in helping us to further our mission, please contact us

For further information about LLLGB, please read our Annual Review and Financial Statement. (Note: these links lead to PDF documents, which may take a little time to open)