Stoptober is a national campaign that runs annually encouraging smokers to give up for the whole of October. Smoking was identified by Kingston Council as a key area of focus in the 2023 Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) and Kick It was commissioned to work with those communities where smoking is more prevalent.
These include people in routine and manual work, those living in areas of deprivation or with mental health conditions and people going through substance abuse. The good news is that smokers are more than four times more likely to quit with support from a smoking cessation service.
For the eleventh annual Stoptober, the Kick It team has been working hard to set up a range of activities for this year’s campaign. They have been engaging with local people face to face, including at Kingston Hospital and E-cigarette and vape shops in Kingston Market Square.
As well as in person conversations they have organised telephone sessions calling previous clients, worked with local GP surgeries and pharmacies to share materials and posted regularly on social media advertising the benefits of stopping smoking.
My advisor picked me up when I was at my lowest after she realised I felt my life was not in my control. She reminded me that I still had one thing I could control and that was to give up smoking. By giving up smoking I have now gained control of my life again. I feel healthy and happier.”
A Kick it client
Kick It works year-round to encourage local people to give up smoking. The team works closely with local partners including Connected Kingston, Kingston Voluntary Association, Refugee Action Kingston and Kingston Churches Action on Homelessness, who are already connected to the communities they are trying to reach.
Kick It ensures partners can have informed conversations with their service users who smoke and provide them with the tools to encourage giving up.
Find out more about Kick It services