New funding for local stop smoking services in Tameside

TAMESIDE has been granted new funding to expand the stop smoking provision in the borough, by finding new routes to reach and support residents who may be finding it harder to quit.

The council has been granted £413,000 for 2024/25, with further grant allocations each year until 2028/29, which will also fund community and neighbourhood schemes to make it easier for residents to get help to stop smoking closer to where they live and work.

Additionally, there will be new support available from the Tobacco-free Champions and a dedicated Stop Smoking Community Engagement Officer, to provide very brief advice training for front line staff across Tameside and ensure ongoing engagement with the communities at highest risk of smoking to support them to quit.

There is currently a wide range of stop smoking support available for smokers wanting to quit through Be Well Tameside, which can massively boost a smoker’s chances of quitting for good. Along with the support from the Be Well team smokers can access quit aids such as vapes and nicotine replacement therapy which together significantly increases your chance of a success quit.

People who live, work or have a GP in Tameside can access free, flexible, face to face or telephone support through Be Well Tameside, as well as getting six months free access to 24/7 stop smoking support through the Greater Manchester Smokefree App. Stop smoking support can also be accessed by speaking to your GP or local pharmacy.

A Tameside Council spokesperson said: “This funding will support our ambition to make smoking history within the borough.

“It will open up more options for those residents who are currently finding it difficult to quit, as well as, enabling us as a service to reach even more people in the community.”

To contact Be Well Tameside email bewelltameside@tameside.gov.uk or call 0161 342 5050, or click here to view the website.