About Smoke Free South Yorkshire

What is Smoke Free South Yorkshire?

The Tobacco Alliance Scheme was set up by the Department of Health to work towards reducing tobacco use locally. There are now 42 such Alliance groups covering the whole country. The area covered by SFSY is Rotherham, Doncaster, Sheffield and Barnsley.

Who is involved?

The Alliance groups are partnerships between various organisations that have a role to play in tobacco control. These include health organisations, local authorities, customs and excise, trading standards, schools, fire and rescue services, police and voluntary organisations etc.

What do we do?

Our aim is to raise awareness of tobacco issues and work towards a tobacco free South Yorkshire. Our activities include:

• Supporting local and national campaigns such as National No Smoking Day
• Providing resources and advice to workplaces and schools to help them to develop smoking policies.
• Providing information about the ill effects of smoking, NHS Smoking Cessation Services and general advice about quitting
• Lobbying government on tobacco related issues (such as tobacco advertising and smoking in the workplace)
• Raising awareness of the dangers of both active and passive smoking

Also:

• Our members from Trading Standards are engaged in activities to prevent sales of cigarettes to children, such as the Responsible Retailer Scheme.
• Our members from Customs and Excise are working to combat the smuggling of cigarettes.
• Our members from Trading Standards and Environmental health are working to promote smoke free air, such as the good air award.

Our priorities

To promote smoke free as the norm across South Yorkshire.

To promote and Protect the health of the public, particularly in areas of deprivation in South Yorkshire, within the tobacco control field.

To devise evidence-based activities that provide added value to each of the local tobacco control networks in South Yorkshire. Disseminate examples of good practice locally, nationally and internationally.

Mission Statement

The group works towards meeting the following objectives:

• To support and promote the development of smoke-free environments, the main focus being challenging smoking in public and work places.
• To develop initiatives that are specific to the identified priority groups and that focus on reducing health inequalities.
• To lobby for change in tobacco legislation and encourage community involvement in lobbying activity.
• To respond to national initiatives that address tobacco control.
• To promote effective networking and share good practice.

Who is the site for?

• Anyone who is interested in tobacco issues
• Professionals working in health, education, smoking cessation
• Anyone in South Yorkshire who would like to stop smoking