School Gates Are The Target For Smoke Free Areas In Swansea

School gates are the next target for Swansea Council in its campaign to develop smoke-free places across the city. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

In November, the council and its partners are set to roll out the ‘Smoke-free gates’ campaign which seeks to discourage parents from lighting up directly outside schools at the beginning and end of the school day. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The healthy campaign follows on from a previous campaign which has seen signage erected at 77 local play areas in the city calling on adults not to smoke. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The launch of the latest ‘smoke-free’ campaign will take place a Seaview Primary School in November and will result in colourful signs being put up at the entrance to every primary school in the city. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Latest research shows that 10 children start smoking each day in Wales. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Mark Child Cabinet Member for Well Being and Healthy City, said: “Creating smoke-free places is essential if we are to set positive examples to children which emphasise that the best way to stop smoking is never to start. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Let’s try and make sure none of the 10 children that start smoking in Wales each day, come from Swansea.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Earlier in 2016, the council launched its first ‘smoke-free’ beach at Caswell Bay and latest reports have shown it has been a success. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Child added: “We’ve had a very positive response to the smoke free beach trial. Local businesses at the beach and beach goers have noticed a difference, particularly with the reduction in the amount of cigarette litter left on the beach.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Catrin Ford, Healthy Schools Practitioner at Public Health Wales, said: “We’re very excited about the launch of smoke free school gates initiative. The normalisation of healthy behaviours is key in helping to ensure the best possible outcomes for our children and young people. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Smoke free school gates will not only be beneficial to the health of the school population but will also positively impact on the environment. We are delighted to have worked in collaboration with Swansea Council on this exciting public health campaign.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The campaign is also supported by Ash Wales Cymru and Stop Smoking Wales. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The launch of the Smoke Free Gates campaign will take place at Seaview Primary School on 3 November at 9.15 am. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​