THORNHILL PLUS YOU GOES THE EXTRA MILE TO ENSURE RESIDENTS ARE READY FOR A SMOKE FREE COMMUNITY

A special awareness week, taking place between 4th - 9th June, has been organised by the Thornhill Health and Wellbeing Project, Thornhill Plus You and Southampton PCT City Quitters, to inform residents of the new ‘Smoke Free England' legislation being introduced on 1st July.

The Thornhill Health and Wellbeing Project, a project jointly funded by Thornhill Plus You and Southampton City Council, have been working hard to ensure Thornhill is ready to go ‘smoke free' and that health initiatives are in place for those that wish to obtain smoking cessation advice before smoking in public places is banned.

The project has provided an opportunity for five residents to train for a PCT, Level Two, Smoking Cessation qualification. This qualifies them to offer one-to-one specialist advice to fellow residents who wish to quit smoking. Gwyneth Baker, the Community Health Development Officer for THAWP commented: “THAWP have been working very hard to ensure that Thornhill is ready to go smoke free on July 1st . In the first week of June we will be visiting local businesses and meeting with residents, to inform them of changes to public spaces and offer them smoking cessation advice.”

The Thornhill Health and Wellbeing team will be at various locations across Thornhill throughout the week and will conclude their awareness week with the ‘Healthier Thornhill Day' on Saturday 9th June where residents will have the opportunity to find out about the services available to them. For more information about the Thornhill Health and Wellbeing smoking awareness week or the Healthier Thornhill Day please contact Gwyneth Baker on 023 8068 5282.

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For more information on this news release please contact:

Lucy Huitson, Communications Assistant, Thornhill Plus You, 023 8091 5405, lhuitson@thornhillplusyou.co.uk

Notes to Editors:

1. Thornhill Health and Wellbeing Project (THAWP) is a group that seeks to establish Thornhill as a healthy neighbourhood through a number of community-based workshops, help groups and advisory sessions.
2. The have been working with Thornhill Plus You (TPY) projects, Southampton Primary Care Trust (PCT) and other agencies to ensure that Thornhill is ready for July 1st , when all public spaces become smoke free.
3. The Healthier Thornhill Day will be taking place on Saturday 9 th June at St Christopher's Church, Pepys Avenue , Thornhill. Over thirty five health related organisations will be present at the event, with taster sessions, games and sporting demonstrations. For more information about this event please contact Lucy Huitson on 023 8091 5405 or email lhuitson@thornhillplusyou.co.uk .