A group of passionate young people from Motherwell have taken the lead in promoting smoke-free environments in their local community to help protect children’s health and wellbeing.
Two Motherwell youth groups worked together to create a powerful and positive banner, now displayed at three child-focused locations: school gates, a play park, and the community hall.
The initiative began when a local primary school reached out to NHS Lanarkshire’s Health Improvement team for support to help prevent adults smoking at the school gates.
Having previously engaged with the school through delivering smoking prevention workshops for pupils, the Health Improvement team spotted an opportunity to further involve the wider community—especially young people.
Megan McNeil, Health Improvement Practitioner, Motherwell, reached out to the local youth group for support, and the response was overwhelmingly enthusiastic. Megan, said: “We know that children are more likely to smoke themselves if they are exposed to smoking. Because of this, we were really keen to support this project and the school.
“We held three workshops with two Motherwell youth groups. 16 young people explored the impact of smoking and vaping as we discussed second-hand smoke, environmental damage and how they felt about adults smoking in public.
“With guidance and encouragement, they worked together to craft designs to be used on a banner with a strong, positive message.”
The chosen slogan for the banner’s design was: “Protect young lungs! Thank you for keeping this space smoke and vape free. Do it for the weans!”
The final design featured powerful imagery showing how smoke-free spaces can benefit the entire community, from cleaner green spaces to healthier, happier lives.
Feedback from the young participants was overwhelmingly positive. They expressed pride in seeing their designs brought to life and a deeper understanding of the broader impact of smoking. One participant shared: “I learned that smoking not only damages the person who smokes, but those around them.” Another said: “I like the visual parts because you can see what happens to your body.”
Nathan Donnelly, Youth Group Leader, commented: “Involvement in the smoke-free environments project empowered the young people of North Motherwell Outdoors youth group to develop deeper community connection, pride in their collective impact, and a sense of responsibility. Through advocacy and teamwork, they gained confidence, developed leadership skills, and began making healthier lifestyle choices, inspired by the positive changes they helped promote within their communities.”
The Health Improvement team unveiled the banners, with attendees from North Lanarkshire Council Community Partnership team, pupils and staff from two local primary schools, Community Learning and Development (CLD) youth workers, The New Opportunities Project Walking Group and Active Families Group.
