Ready, Steady, Stoptober! Find out more and read your quitting stories
On the 8 September the Department of Health launched a new campaign – Stoptober, which aims to increase the number of smokers making a quit attempt across the country on the 1 October.
Stoptober will motivate and support quitters through the 28 days because evidence shows that if a smoker can quit for 28 days they are five times more likely to stay smokefree than people who abandon their quit attempts early.
Watch ITV Granada covering the launch of Stoptober in the North West
Read how local people have quit here with your Quit stories
The campaign is being supported all over the country by local NHS stop smoking services, local authorities, most pharmacies, retailers and some large employers. This support will be backed by a national TV, radio, press and online campaign running for 6 weeks. There will also be a number of face-to-face events running nationwide.
Smokers can order a free pack containing a number of quitting tools and support information. The campaign will encourage quitters to search Stoptober online and sign up for free support. By joining, smokers can:
- Sign up to a text service, which provides motivational messages offering daily support and encouragement
- Register for the 28 day app with helpful hints and tips for a successful quit attempt, available on smartphones and online
- Join the Smokefree Facebook page where smokers can share their Stoptober experience with others
North West local partners, employers and pharmacies have been provided with support tools to help amplify the Stoptober messages at local levels, within a wide range of community touch points. Each local area is holding their own special events, and there will be three special roadshows:
- 26 September – Huyton town centre
- 27 September – Bolton town centre (including the giant inflatable ‘Big Red Ball’)
- 28 September – Preston town centre
Everyone can help. Please promote Stoptober in your own newsletters / websites / intranets / emails including the activities of your own local stop smoking services.
Additional materials such as leaflets and posters are available to order or download and more information on the Stoptober campaign can be found in the campaign briefing sheet and the FAQ sheet.
- Stoptober resources (login needed)
- Digital resources – to put on your own communications
- Campaign briefing sheet
- Stoptober support FAQs
Missed opportunity to save North West children from smoking
Event: Inequality and child poverty: Why we can’t afford to ignore tobacco
