Project asks people to make smoking pledge

People in Monklands are being asked to pledge not to smoke around children as part of a new Lanarkshire project.

NHS Lanarkshire has launched its Positive Smoke-free Role Models project, in partnership with Voluntary Action North Lanarkshire (VANL).

The project is designed to support members of the community, whether they smoke or not, to take the pledge and become a positive smoke-free role model.

The project has a particular focus on children and families, and works towards: preventing children and young people from becoming the next generation of people who smoke; and protecting children, adults, and pets from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke.

Karen Mather from the health board told the Advertiser: “We’re really thrilled to have launched this new and exciting project with VANL.

“It will reduce children’s visibility to smoking, with the intention that they will grow up less likely to smoke, and will also protect them from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke.

“Whether it’s not smoking around children, making homes and cars smokefree, or positively influencing others to get involved and take the pledge, anyone in North Lanarkshire can be a positive smoke-free role model, and contribute to the vision of a smoke-free Lanarkshire.”

Gina Alexander, community solutions programme manager at VANL, added: “Positive Smoke-free Role Models is a great community-led project supporting the work to protect our children and young people from the harmful effects of smoking as well as second-hand smoking.

“We have been delighted to be able to work in partnership with colleagues in NHS Lanarkshire’s Tobacco Control Team to develop our grassroots approach involving the Community Solutions organisations who work in and with their communities.

“To date, we’ve had over 100 pledges and we are looking forward to receiving many more.”

Quit Your Way is a free NHS stop smoking service. To find out more information on stop smoking services, call the helpline service (Monday -tofriday, from 9am until 5pm) on 0800 84 84 84 or visit Quityourway.scot.

You can also visit your local community pharmacy for free stop smoking support.

Stub it out The Positive Smoke-free Role Models initiative is underway