Smokefree Summer campaign helps protect children across Greater Manchester

Smokefree Summer

Smokefree Summer - a campaign that helped turn a series family-friendly events across Greater Manchester into smokefree zones this summer – has been heralded as a success by both the public and local health professionals.

Many events across Greater Manchester were smokefree to protect children including:

• Tree Of Life Centre - Summer Fun Day - Wythenshawe
• Playday - Bolton
• Playday - Stockport
• Theatre in Park - Tameside
• Ivy Street Picnic in the Park - Salford
• Dr Kershaws Duck Race and Fun Day – Oldham
• Rochdale Marathon - Rochdale

As well as promoting healthy behaviours to children and reducing exposure to adult’s smoking, the smokefree events will also help to reduce litter and reduce the chances of young children picking up and potentially eating cigarette butts that are toxic.

Demand for smokefree events and spaces with children present is high across Greater Manchester, with 83% of the public surveyed responding that they are supportive of smokefree outdoor events for children and families, with only 5% opposed.

Support at all of the Smokefree Summer events was high, with members of the public requesting more smokefree events for children and supportive of the campaign.

Bekki Finn, 31 Mother of Effie Pudney Finn, Partner Jon Pudney Finn from Rochdale who attended the Rochdale Half Marathon said: “I support smokefree summer events as I think it is positive for children not to be around smoking, I personally don’t like the smell, I don’t like anything about it. I would like to see smoke free spaces everywhere, all events especially children’s and sporting events. It’s better for our children, if they are not influenced by seeing others smoking. I would like to see smoke free spaces in parks for instance, it would work better if they had just designated smoking areas. It just sets a very bad example for children to see smoking all the time.”

Smokefree Summer was co-ordinated by local social enterprise Tobacco Free Futures which has worked together with the Greater Manchester Public Health Network and local authorities and event organisers across Greater Manchester.

Angela Hardman, Lead Director of Public Health for Children and Young People across Greater Manchester said: “We are committed to tackling the harms caused by tobacco in our communities across Greater Manchester, especially the impact it has on children. There is clearly a high demand for smokefree events which are aimed at children and families and we are always keen to look at new ways that help break the cycle of tobacco addiction which often gets passed on from generation to generation. Less smoking in front of children, and more healthy, community spaces that we can all enjoy together helps everyone.”

Andrea Crossfield, Chief Executive of Tobacco Free Futures said: “Smokefree summer was created to increase the amount of clean and healthy environments that children and families play in; helping children to understand that smoking isn’t a normal activity.

“I’m delighted that the campaign has been so well received which has promoted healthy behaviour to children throughout the summer. The more events that become smokefree in the future, the less likely children are to take up smoking – preventing them from entering into a deadly addiction that kills one in two long-term smokers.”

If you are thinking about quitting smoking you can contact your local stop smoking service for free help and support by visiting www.nhs.uk/smokefree