Heart Town Croydon is joining the Stoptober campaign – the national stop smoking challenge to encourage people to quit smoking – which runs for four weeks from 1 October 1st.
Workplaces who would like to support their staff in taking part are invited to get in touch with the council’s public health team ahead of the launch date.
They will be provided with free campaign posters, leaflets and access to specialist stop smoking advisers along with free nicotine replacement therapy products for those wishing to quit.
GPs practices and pharmacies throughout the borough as well as Croydon University Hospital will be celebrating Stoptober and offering support to people who want to make the smoke free pledge. Council gyms are also getting on board with the campaign.
Croydon is welcoming the chance to help people quit smoking after it was launched as a Heart Town in July. The British Heart Foundation initiative sees the council and BHF working together to offer residents and businesses support in campaigns in schools and the workplace to encourage people to take responsibility for their health and well being.
Cllr Margaret Mead, cabinet member for adult services and health, said: “This is a great opportunity to help those who want to quit smoking and encourage others to do the same.
“But we don’t want people to stop for just 28 days, we want to help them quit for good. “Croydon as a Heart Town is delighted to support the Stoptober campaign and improve the health of our residents.”
Workplaces who would like to take part in Stoptober should contact Melissa Vick (Public Health Croydon) on 020 8726 1907 or email [email protected]
Notes to editors
Notes to editors
Stats show that smokers who stop for 28 days are five times more likely to quit for good.
Last year’s Stoptober saw 160,000 people kick the habit in the nation’s biggest stop smoking challenge ever.
How individuals can take part:
Lots of smokers are making this October their Stoptober. For more information and to get free support materials people can visit smokefree.nhs.uk/Stoptober and get ready for the 28-day smokefree challenge.
Lots of smokers are making this October their Stoptober. For more information and to get free support materials people can visit smokefree.nhs.uk/Stoptober and get ready for the 28-day smokefree challenge.
As soon as smokers join Stoptober, they’ll start receiving as much (or as little) support as they want to keep them on track. All Stoptober support is free and includes:
Stoptober pack full of information and resources to help you quit
A 28-day mobile phone app and a text message service that both provide motivational pick-me-ups
Detailed tools and tips for coping, as well as the encouragement and support from thousands of people going through the same thing via social media (Source: Croydon council press release)
Stoptober pack full of information and resources to help you quit
A 28-day mobile phone app and a text message service that both provide motivational pick-me-ups
Detailed tools and tips for coping, as well as the encouragement and support from thousands of people going through the same thing via social media (Source: Croydon council press release)
______________________________
FIREWORKS FOR TRADER WHO FLOUTED STORAGE AND SALES LAWS
The dangerous storage of fireworks, and sales to an under-age shopper, have left a trader facing a court penalty of more than £4,000 following a cross-borough trading standards investigation.
Croydon magistrates heard the owner of a flooring business with branches in South Croydon and Sutton, plead guilty to 16 charges relating to the sale and storage of fireworks.
Last November, Croydon trading standards officers carried out a test purchase exercise. During the test, a 15-year-old volunteer was sold a £20 box of fireworks by a member of staff at The Floor Store, in Brighton Road, South Croydon, before handing them over to officers.
Asked about the sale, the owner said he did not know who the seller was and that he was covering at the shop following a theft. As officers were questioning him, they noticed open boxes of live fireworks leaning against the wall.
Other visits to the man’s shops in Limpsfield Road, Sanderstead, and one in Sutton, revealed more fireworks stored unsafely in breach of the law, putting at risk customers, staff and local residents.
In court on Tuesday September 3rd, he admitted 16 offences – eight as a company, and eight as the company’s director. Both he and the company were fined £100 for each offence, totalling £1,600, and he was personally ordered to pay costs of £2,500 and a £120 victim surcharge. The court ordered the destruction of all the seized fireworks.
Cllr Simon Hoar, cabinet member for community safety, said: “It’s the duty of fireworks traders to check the age of anybody trying to make a purchase who they think may be under age.
“It’s worrying that, in this case, a 15-year-old was able to purchase fireworks without question. “The safe storage of fireworks is a priority for officers, both to protect staff and customers from the risk of explosion and fire. “Visits are made to all registered sellers to ensure correct and safe storage.
“This case was a good example of boroughs working together to ensure public safety. “Our trading standards teams will always ensure that the law is abided by, and that anybody who blatantly ignores the rules and puts the public at risk is prosecuted.”
In the UK it is illegal to sell adult fireworks to anybody under the age of 18. (Source: Croydon council press release)
