Young mum praises stop smoking team as referrals double and new online group support launched

A young mum who started smoking aged 12 has told how City of York Council's Health Trainers helped her quit smoking for good so she can stay healthier and live longer.

Mum-of-two Alex, from York, has told her story on No Smoking Day (Wednesday 12 March) as the Health Trainer service expands its successful Swap2Stop programme further with new online support group sessions.

Referrals for stop smoking support have doubled since the launch of Swap2Stop in October, with 120 people successfully quitting with the service between October and December.

Alex quit with one-to-one support from health trainer Beth Reid with support sessions taking place at Hob Moor Children’s Centre.

She said: “I never let my kids see me smoke, I never smoked inside. I did all that routine afterwards; mouthwash, washing hands, spraying everything, trying to stay away from them so they didn’t smell anything."

Alex said she decided to give up when she hit 30, so she could look and feel healthier in later life.

“I’m looking ahead at lots of women in my family; my mum who’s 60 and really beautiful, and my nanny who’s 82 and still looking vibrant and beautiful, and I guess I felt already I wasn’t looking as healthy as they were," she said.

“Stopping smoking was relatively easy compared to what I thought it was going to be. Everything about the service was bang on. From the way the sessions were delivered, to how regular they were, to the way you felt supported."

The Swap2Stop programme already offers York residents:

• A free ten-week programme of one-to-one support, either face-to-face or online, plus free nicotine replacement therapy products to anyone aged over 12, including vapes to those aged over 18
• Or a free four-week e-cigarette starter pack through the post to over 18s, with support from online videos and printed information.

Now, following feedback from customers, the team are also offering evening online sessions, every Thursday, from 6-7pm, for those who work 9-5 or who prefer a group setting, along with free nicotine therapy products, including e-cigarettes.

Each session focuses on one of six different topics, such as “changing routines and overcoming obstacles” and “keeping motivation high”, with clients encouraged to share stories and talk openly about their challenges and successes.

Meanwhile the Health Trainers continue to offer support to teenagers to stop both smoking and vaping, with the clear message being “if you don’t smoke, don’t vape!”

Over the last two weeks around 1,000 Year 8 and 9 pupils at six York secondary schools have watched a new theatre production by Performance in Education called ‘Hooked’ looking at the harms of smoking and vaping in children, funded by the Health Trainer service (schools included: All Saints’ RC, Fulford, Joseph Rowntree, Manor CE Academy, Vale of York and York High,).

Glyn Newberry, Health Trainer Team Manager at City of York Council, said: “I’m incredibly proud of the team and delighted that we have helped so many York residents like Alex to quit smoking with our Swap2Stop programme. I hope our new online group sessions will help even more people and would encourage anyone wanting to quit smoking  to get in touch today!”

Councillor Lucy Steels-Walshaw, Executive Member for Health, Wellbeing and Adult Social Care, said: “On this national No Smoking Day it’s important to remember that smoking is the single biggest preventable cause of death in this country. It causes one in four of all cancer deaths in England.

“Stopping smoking is the best thing you can do for your health and will help save the average smoker £48 a week.

“I’m delighted we have such an excellent stop smoking service here in York who are working hard towards creating a smokefree future for us all.”

Get support:

Self-refer at www.york.gov.uk/CYCHealthTrainers for any of the Swap2Stop options or phone 01904 553377

Drop-in and chat to one of our health trainers at

• York Explore: Mondays 9.30am-12pm
• Acomb Explore Library Café: Thursdays 9.30am-12.30pm 
• Tang Hall Explore: Thursdays 9.30am-12pm