University Collegiate School mark No Smoking Day with Hits Radio

Smokers are urged to use today to quit smoking, even if it is just for 24 hours, and at University Collegiate School, pupils were busy designing an advertisement highlighting the devastating health implications of smoking cigarettes.

The young people teamed up with the NHS and Hits Radio this morning as Years 10 and 12 pupils took part in a workshop discussing the harmful effect of tobacco and to have their say on bringing about a smoke free future.

Year 10 pupil, Maison Lock, 14, said he felt the event was “very beneficial” to discourage young people from taking up the habit.

He said: “I think it’s important for people to stop smoking because it has so many bad effects and can influence other students because of peer pressure.

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“With smoking, lung cancer can be really bad, and it could make a lot of people really ill.

“I hope that people learn how bad it is and how it can affect others around them.”

The students created two different adverts including one aimed at young people, to ‘stop the start’ of smoking and tackle youth vaping.

@theboltonnews These young people teamed up with the #NHS and Hits Radio yesterday morning as Years 10 and 12 pupils took part in a workshop discussing the harmful effect of tobacco. Read the full story here: shorturl.at/ktzG9 #bolton #nosmokingday ♬ original sound - The Bolton News

The second targeted the long-term entrenched smokers, supporting them in attempting to stub out the habit.

Jane Coyne for NHS Greater Manchester first became inspired to get involved in the stop smoking campaign ‘What Will You Miss’ during her time as a midwife when she saw the effects of babies being born too early or not born, as a result of smoking.

From left to right: Headteacher James Inman, Suzanne Gilman, Mayor of Bolton Cllr Mohammed Ayub, Jane Coyne, and Head of Stop smoking Matthew Lewis (Image: Newsquest)She said: “We know that two in three smokers are going to die early from the effects of smoking.

“So ideally, what we want to do is use these workshops to engage our youth of today and try and prevent them smoking, but also encourage anyone who’s smoking to quit.

“If we can stop our youth of today smoking, then they’re not going to be hindered with years of medical problems or illnesses due to smoking, which is related to 15 cancers, and that’s something we don’t want in their lives.

“We want them living healthy lives and getting out there and reaching their full potential.”

It comes as the Government reinforces its commitment to create a smokefree generation, with plans for new legislation to ensure that anyone born after January 1, 2009, will not ever be legally sold tobacco, along with tighter regulations on vaping.

Head teacher James Inman says that whilst most children at the school are “responsible” and they do make the right choices, there has been a small issue with vaping.

He says that pupils are likely to share what they have learnt today at home.

He said: “I have not seen any issues with smoking in the school, but there is a small issue with vaping, so we do discourage this.

“But it’s that journey from school to their home that is hard, although when they get home the school standards for a large majority will be the same.”

Assistant Director of Public Health for Bolton, Suzanna Gilman said: “We recognise that rates of vaping are increasing amongst children and young people, and that’s a concern because we don’t have the full information about the long-term risks around e-cigarettes and vaping.

“We do welcome some of the Government measures to make vapes less appealing to children and young people through things like plain packaging, less flavours on the market, and working close with regulatory services to stop illicit trade to children and young people.

“But I think we need to balance that going forward with recognising that vapes are a useful quit aid to adult smokers who have perhaps been smoking for some time.

“And we know that vaping is a less risky option than smoking going forward and can be very successful in supporting people to become smoke free.”

As part of the campaign, NHS Greater Manchester will deliver a range of community engagement activities, including four workshops, across different localities in Greater Manchester, working with young people to talk to them about the harms of smoking.

For more information on Your Health ABL Bolton, visit their official website (www.yhbolton.co.uk) or call them on  01204 20 50 90.

There is also a free twelve week programme for available that provides free nicotine replacement therapy (for those who needs it.

For free, personalised support to stop smoking in Greater Manchester visit www.MakeSmokingHistory.co.uk or call the NHS Stop Smoking Helpline on 0300 123 1044. 

If you live in Greater Manchester, you can also get six months’ free access to all features on the Smoke Free app, including a free vape starter kit (T&Cs apply). Find out more at: www.smokefreeapp.com/GM  

The school have asked for any businesses or organisations that want to collaborate to get in touch with them.

If you have a story and something you would like to highlight in the community, please email me at jasmine.jackson@newsquest.co.uk or DM me on X @JournoJasmine.