New free service to help Islington smokers break the habit and Breathe easier

Smokers in Islington are being offered a new free service to help them kick a habit that causes hundreds of early deaths locally every year.

Breathe launches with an event on Friday 29 September from 11am-5pm at Nag’s Head Shopping Centre, which includes entertainment such as children’s face painting as well as stop smoking support and advice.

Smoking claims up to 332 lives in Islington each year per 100,000 residents. Evidence suggests people are four times more likely to give up smoking with specialist support. Breathe, which launches just ahead of Stoptober and has been jointly commissioned by Islington and Camden, offers:

· Out-of-hours support for people who work

· Accessible clinics in local community settings, including community centres, leisure centres and GP surgeries

· Smokers have the option of confidential support via the Breathe online platform; or personalised one-to-one sessions with a specialist stop smoking advisor.

Smokers will be able to try different types of support until they find the support that works for them and enables them to be free of smoking for good.

Cllr Janet Burgess, deputy leader and executive member for health and social care, said: “We’re committed to helping local people live healthy and fulfilling lives, and stopping smoking is a huge part of that.

"Smoking is an addiction that kills far too many people in our borough every year. Smoking rates have fallen in the past few years and we will continue to prioritise stop smoking services to help save lives.

"We know people have very busy lives, and every smoker is different. Breathe offers very flexible support with a huge range of ways to help people stop – there has never been a better time to give up than now.”

For more information on the Breathe stop smoking service or to sign up, call 020 3633 2609 or text QUIT to 66777. Visit www.breathestopsmoking.org for more information.

For further information please contact:
Chris Roe, Media Manager
Tel: 020 7527 8751
Alternative contact - Media team: 020 7527 2307
Out of hours: 07769 163303
Email: chris.roe@islington.gov.uk
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