NHS Worcestershire stop smoking services competition for 12 - 16 year olds
NHS Worcestershire stop smoking services team are calling on all 12 – 16 year olds for their creativity. A competition has opened to find a great design idea for new stop smoking referral cards, as well as other relevant promotional material. The stop smoking referral cards will be used as a way to provide smokers with contact details of their local NHS stop smoking service.
The competition has been launched due to the risks associated with starting smoking at a young age. The earlier children become regular smokers, the greater their risk of developing life threatening conditions, such as lung cancer or heart disease. Those who start smoking before the age of 16 are twice as likely to continue to smoke as those who begin later in life, and are more likely to be heavier smokers.
We would like entrants to send in design ideas that will encourage young people to contact their local NHS Stop Smoking Service for help and support on giving up for good. The winning design will then be made into a referral card to fit in the smoker’s wallet so that they can easily find the information they need, when they need it.
Julia North, Health Improvement Specialist Coordinator for Stop Smoking Services, said: “Over 80 per cent of smokers start before the age of 18 and it is illegal to sell tobacco to anyone under the age of 18. Worcestershire NHS Stop Smoking Services are open to anyone from the age of 12, to support those who want to quit. There are five great reasons for smokers to quit with us:
1. Free expert advice from people who know what works
2. Stop smoking medicines to help beat your cravings
3. Weekly progress checks
4. Friendly support to suit you
5. 9 out of 10 smokers who have used us, would recommend us.”
The first one hundred entries will all receive a free pedometer, so get pens and paper to the ready!
Competition details
• You must be aged 12 – 16.
• Your design idea must be on an A4 piece of paper.
• Your design should encourage young people to stop smoking and to contact NHS Worcestershire’s Stop Smoking Service to help them to quit.
• Feel free to add a message that would encourage young people to stop smoking.
• Please include your name, age, address and contact telephone number.
• Competition entries must be received by 24th September 2010.
To get inspiration for your design look at www.smokfree.nhs.uk and www.stopsmokingworcestershire.nhs.uk .
Please send in your competition entry to:
Vicki Moulston
Public Health Department
Pavilion B Zero
County Hall
Spetchley Road
Worcester
WR5 2NP
The competition winner will be judged by NHS Worcestershire Public Health team. The decision on the winner will be down to the discretion of the Public Health team. The Public Health team may seek feedback on design ideas with external people. The judges’ decision as to the winner is final. Only the winner will be contacted and he/she will be notified by 4th October 2010. No entries will be returned back to sender.
If you would like to stop smoking please call Worcestershire’s Stop Smoking Service on 01905 733757 or text WOQUIT to 88020, or email stop.smoking@worcestershire.nhs.uk