• New campaign sharing residents’ recipes to successfully quit smoking
• Earn rewards of up to £50 by quitting smoking this Stoptober with BetterPoints
• Residents offered free vape starter kits under the Swap to Stop Scheme
We are working with Quit Well Newham to launch a new campaign this Stoptober encouraging residents to share their ‘recipes for success’ and help more people to quit smoking.
Expert advisors from Quit Well Newham will be holding drop-in sessions and outreach events in locations, such as pubs and bars, throughout October, to raise awareness of the campaign and the support available. Residents can also earn up to £50 in BetterPoints by joining Quit Well Newham, and extra points whilst getting active too, by downloading the app.
Councillor Neil Wilson, Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care said:
“The thought of giving up smoking can put residents off entirely but it doesn’t have to be a difficult journey. My recipe for quitting smoking is commitment, determination and perseverance – as well as the fantastic support provided by the Quit Well Newham service. With these elements, the process can be liberating and many of those who give up immediately feel the benefits to their finances, physical health and emotional wellbeing.
“We want all smokers to join our Quit Well Newham service. Residents will be offered free advice and support from a trained practitioner to quit smoking for up to 12 weeks.
“If you are a smoker, why not give it a go? There is plenty of support available. Stoptober is the perfect opportunity.”
By joining Quit Well Newham, smokers are five times more likely to quit smoking than if they were to try on their own. Quit Well Newham offers 12 weeks of expert advice and support for smokers and smokeless tobacco users intending to quit. The service offers free vape starter kits as part of the Swap to Stop scheme and nicotine replacement therapy like patches and gums. Support is available in English, Bengali, Urdu, Gujarati, Lithuanian and British Sign Language.
It’s never too late to quit smoking. Among the success stories is Judith’s experience. The Newham resident decided to give up smoking the day before her 60th birthday, after starting at the age of 14. She said:
“When [Quit Well Newham] came along with lots of different goodies, that was a real push.
“They gave me a vape with no nicotine which really did help because you sort of realise you don’t really need the nicotine, it’s the habit, so that helped cut that one out. So, with the combination of trying all the bits and seeing you don’t actually need it, that’s too strong. Why do you actually need to smoke? That helped me just stop.
“The good thing is I haven’t even felt like smoking, so that’s even better.”
Community pharmacies across Newham also offer quit smoking support with personalised advice and tailored treatment plans, including setting a quit date.
Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death and disease. Around 10 per cent of adults in Newham smoke, which is similar to the London average. Smoking is falling in Newham, but there are still many residents who could benefit from support to quit. Smoking damages health in many ways, causing diseases such as cancer, heart disease, stroke, respiratory disease, dementia, and more. It also makes illnesses worse for people who already have them, so it’s never too late to quit.
The campaign is part of delivering our health and wellbeing strategy, 50 Steps to a Healthier Newham (2024-2027), which aims to improve the health of all Newham residents and reduce health inequalities.
Residents can download the BetterPoints app from the Apple Store or Play Store, using their smartphone to sign up and begin collecting rewards.
For more information on Quit Well Newham, BetterPoints or community pharmacy support, please visit www.wellnewham.org.uk/stoptober.
