The Quit Because programme has received excellent feedback from students and schools and we are cemented into Healthy Schools and PSHE programmes, as schools book us year after year. Since 1994 we have worked with over one million young people, between the ages of 8 – 18 years, and we have helped more than 30 PCTs across the UK.
The aim of our programme is to enable young people to make informed choices about their smoking behaviour and de-normalise tobacco use.
The Quit Because team of Youth Presenters, stationed around the UK, are very experienced in engaging young people in interactive and fun programmes that are based on evidence of effective practice. We have a history of very effective partnership with schools and also offer a variety of ways for young people to access information through social media.
Objectives:
1. To contribute to a reduction in the uptake of smoking in young people
2. To support parents and young people who wish to quit
3. To reinforce the benefits of clean air spaces
Services:
Presentations: Presentations are lively and interactive to capture young people’s attention. The sessions are usually done at schools and can run up to an hour, with the information tailored to suit the age group. Topics discussed include myths and facts about smoking, ingredients of a cigarette, the tobacco industry, and effects on health and appearance.
Follow-up sessions: Follow-up sessions provide the young people the chance to ask more questions and receive in-depth information on a more personalized basis. In primary schools, activities could include pass the parcel, body-mapping and quizzes. In secondary schools, an advice and information stall can be provided, where young people can get more information about quitting, and referrals to local stop-smoking services.
Events: 3 hour events can coincide with any event happening at the schools or within the community. Sometimes these are done after our presentations so that the students who were affected by the presentation can then receive 1 to 1 support.
Stop Smoking Groups: Stop smoking groups run in schools, youth clubs, and any other youth setting to support young people who wish to stop smoking. The courses run for up to 9 weeks and are intense interventions with groups of students – we can accommodate up to 12. Usually done during lunch breaks, the course covers a number of topics and support elements such as how to quit, preparation, support after quit date, Nicotine Replacement Therapy, how to avoid relapse and much more. We later conduct 4 week and 6-month follow-ups, and quitters can count towards NHS targets.
Workshops: QUIT has previously run parent workshops, sometimes in conjunction with an obesity program, which has been successful in terms of both education and the knowledge they will in turn pass onto their children. Parent workshops could be run by QUIT and/or in partnership with the stop smoking service. Other workshops include teenage pregnancy and young families.
Drop Ins: More recently QUIT has been involved in piloting a drop in service through Connexions Well Being Suite. This service provides a regular drop in schedule for young people to receive stop smoking information and support – in both 1 to 1 and group environments. Signposting and referral to local stop smoking services is important and the drop ins can cover carbon-monoxide readings, NRT advice and support. NHS forms can be used to record quitters.
The Quit Because team, who are stationed around England, are committed to working in collaboration with key partners. We have strong relationships with PCTs, school nurses, healthy schools, tobacco alliance groups, county councils, and substance misuse teams.
Our programme is extremely flexible and can adapt to your area’s strategic direction, need and/or gap. We have different models in many areas throughout England, so the information provided above is simply a ‘shell’ of which we can adopt for your needs.
Contact
To find out what Quit Because services are available in your area, please contact QUIT’s Head of Youth Services:
Mohammed Walji on 020 7539 1704 or email m.walji@quit.org.uk