Kick Ash - young people proud to be smoke free

Kick Ash - is a new schools programme led by young people helping to reduce smoking in the under 16s

A smoking reduction programme taking place in 10 schools throughout Cambridgeshire over a three year period will have its official launch at Bottisham Village College on 25 June 2010.

The programme, entitled Kick Ash, a name chosen by the students, aims to encourage young people throughout Cambridgeshire become proud to be smoke free.

Its their project

The programme is not reliant on traditional smoking cessation campaign methods, which have been shown to have little impact on young people.

Instead, the project will take a young person centred approach, which has students deciding on the direction of the project.

Based on ground breaking projects in the U.S and on Merseyside, this approach helps students take ownership of the project and challenge the myths around smoking

Over 30 students have been recruited and have organised themselves into work groups, including communications, tobacco enforcement and smoking cessation advisors.

They are working with the NHS Public Health CAMQUIT team and Cambridgeshire County Council’s Communications, Trading Standards  and Personal, Social, Health and Education Team. 

The project is funded by Cambridgeshire Together’s Local Public Sector Agreement reward grant.

Further infomation

For more information, email Di Fenner, Manager - Education and Health Partnerships – diane.fenner@cambridgeshire.gov.uk