To mark ‘No Smoking Day’ today (Wednesday March 13th), the authority which runs Ruddington’s Country Park says it wants to raise awareness that all of its play parks are smoke-free.
Rushcliffe Borough Council (RBC) says this is to further protect the health of children and residents from the dangers of secondhand smoke. Signage is in place at Rushcliffe Country Park so that visitors are even more aware of the need to not smoke in places where children play.
It’s part of the RBC’s stated ‘tobacco control action plan’ of health initiatives to support a smoke-free Borough which include keeping all its play parks and community events in Rushcliffe smoke-free zones. The authority is also helping to raise awareness of the health benefits of giving up smoking and signposting residents to further support.
Quit Smoking – Better Health NHS
Better Health is a campaign from NHS which aims to encourage everyone to make healthy changes and empower adults and children to live healthier lives.
There are lots of free resources including quitting tips, health benefits and a free NHS Quit Smoking app. Visit www.nhs.uk/better-health/quit-smoking.
Your Health Notts
Your Health Notts is Nottinghamshire’s smoking cessation service that offer smoking cessation services tailored to meet your needs for anyone from the age of 12 years old.
The stop smoking service is free, friendly and can massively boost your chances of quitting for good. Visit https://yourhealthnotts.co.uk/quit-smoking.
Population Health Management
RBC has partnered with Rushcliffe Primary Care Network to create a Population Health Management Calendar and each month focuses on a health category and promotes services available to anyone. Visit www.rushcliffehealth.org
To further address the dangers of smoking, RBC signed the Nottinghamshire County and Nottingham City Declaration on Tobacco Control which encourages partners across public and private organisations to commit to taking action on smoking.
As part of the declaration RBC says it’s working to improve the health of its workforce and make a positive contribution to the local community which includes working with health partners to drive awareness, education and action for a healthier smoke-free community.
The Council’s declaration follows the Government’s ambition to make England smoke-free by 2030, tackle inequalities in smoking prevalence and protect future generations from the harms of smoking, which is one of the biggest causes of death and illness in the UK.
Rushcliffe Borough Council’s Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Wellbeing, ICT and Member Development Cllr Jonathan Wheeler says: “We’re keeping our play parks a smoke-free environment to help protect children and adults from the significant health risks from smoking and secondhand smoke. This No Smoking Day we want to help raise awareness of the benefits of quitting smoking and the free services and support available to help those looking to stop.”
He continues: “We all know that quitting smoking improves physical health, but it’s also proven to boost your mental health and wellbeing too. It can help to improve mood, help relieve stress, anxiety and depression. We’re pleased to have signed the local declaration which strengthens our commitment to help reduce smoking within our workforce and across the Borough.”
Cllr Wheeler adds: “We have a detailed action plan that we are regularly monitoring and we’re continuing to work closely with our health partners to raise awareness of the dangers of smoking and ensure residents and our workforce can be signposted to free smoke-free information and services.”
Whilst Ruddington Parish Council is unable to enforce similar restrictions in its own village play areas at Elms Park, Sellors’ Playing Field, Vicarage Lane Park and St Mary’s Community Park, it discourages smoking in these locations, too.
