Not smoking around children is one of the best ways to help ensure they don’t smoke when they grow up.
The Positive Smoke-Free Role Models project has launched, in partnership with Voluntary Action North Lanarkshire (VANL), and is designed to support members of the community, whether they smoke or not, to become positive smoke-free role models.
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
- Protecting children, adults, and pets from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke
Whether it’s not smoking around children, making homes and cars smoke-free, or positively influencing others to get involved and take the pledge, anyone in North Lanarkshire can be a positive smoke-free role model for children and young people.
Karen Mather, Tobacco Control Team Leader, NHS Lanarkshire said: “We’re really thrilled to have launched this new and exciting project with VANL.
“Second-hand smoke is harmful to everyone’s health, even pets, but it’s especially harmful to babies, children and pregnant women. So much so that people exposed to second-hand smoke can face the same dangers as people who smoke themselves.
“By encouraging adults to become role models, this will reduce children’s visibility to smoking, with the intention that they will grow up less likely to smoke, and will protect them from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke.
“North Lanarkshire residents taking the pledge is contributing to the vision of a smoke-free Lanarkshire.”
Gina Alexander, Community Solutions Programme Manager, VANL said: “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 and 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 locality host/anchor 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.”
If you’re a North Lanarkshire resident, take the pledge to become a smoke-free role mode.
Positive Smoke-Free Role Models project is a partnership between NHS Lanarkshire, Voluntary Action North Lanarkshire and the Community Solutions locality hosts: The Health & Wellness Hub, Orbiston Neighbourhood Centre, Glenboig Development Trust, Cumbernauld Action for Care of the Elderly, North Lanarkshire Carers Together and Getting Better Together Shotts.
