Welcome
Welcome to our summer The Newcastle Stop Smoking+ Service Newsletter, packed with lots of useful tips, service updates and success stories, as well as information on the new disposable vaping ban, our exciting new group sessions, and a healthy summer recipe to support you on your smokefree journey during the sunny months. Read all about Stephen’s success story as well!
Service update
We’re excited to share some important updates as we continue to evolve and enhance the support we offer to help people quit smoking across Newcastle.
Return to Face-to-Face Support
We’re transitioning back to face-to-face appointments and are working to establish accessible venues across the city. This move will allow us to provide more personal, hands-on support to those who prefer in-person interaction. These appointments will now include Carbon Monoxide (CO) readings, giving clients real-time feedback on their progress and an extra boost of motivation.
Introducing Group Work Sessions
To strengthen our community-based approach, we’re launching group work sessions. These sessions will offer peer support, shared experiences, and expert guidance to help individuals on their quit journey.
Continued Remote Support
We understand that not everyone can attend in person, so we’re maintaining our remote support offer. We’re also proud to be partnering with the Smokefree app to provide digital tools and motivation to support quitting anytime, anywhere.
Expanded Range of Stop Smoking Aids
Our service continues to offer a wide range of stop smoking aids, including Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) products and vapes. We’re also pleased to announce that Varenicline will soon be available to those accessing our service.
Welcoming New Team Members
We’re delighted to welcome new advisors to our team, bringing fresh energy and expertise. We welcome our Marketing Apprentice who will be leading our social media and community engagement efforts—so keep an eye out for updates and events! To accommodate our growing team, we’re moving to a larger office space—a positive step that reflects our expanding service and commitment to supporting more people across the city.
Thank You
A heartfelt thank you to our dedicated team, our incredible volunteers, our valued partners, and our commissioners. Your continued support and collaboration make all the difference in the lives of those we serve. Together, we’re making Newcastle a healthier, smokefree city.
Meet the team
Our team are here for you, we’re all passionate about helping our local community stop smoking and making you feel happier and healthier by achieving your quit goals.
So, let’s get to know the newest member of our team…Stop Smoking Advisor Simon
- What do you like to do to in your spare time?
I’m a whittler; there is nothing more relaxing than reshaping a piece of wood into a work of art. I’m still learning, so I currently have lots of wooden shapes, mostly thin sticks, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder they say.
- If you had to listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Today it would be “Sunday” by David Bowie - ”nothing has changed, everything has changed”
- What job did you want to do when you were younger?
I wanted to be a Lollipop man.
- What are three items you’d take with you to a deserted island?
- Fishing Rod
- Flint
- Bowie knife
- What’s your favourite food?
My Great Gran’s meat & potato pie.
- Why did you choose to work in smoking cessation?
Working with people is so rewarding, helping people is more so. I chose to work in smoking cessation because it makes me feel good.
- Do you have any pets, and what are their names?
We have a dog that would like to remain anonymous, at this time.
- If you could pick up a new skill or hobby in an instant, what would it be?
Yoga. If I could be instantly strong, flexible, balanced, mindful, focused and a master of breathwork without doing all that hard work…I’m in.
- What would be your idea of a dream holiday?
If the weather, the food, and the wine are all good, it could be anywhere…as long as I had my best friend by my side.
Success story
Stephen’s smokefree journey
I was probably around 17 when I started smoking, and I would smoke 20 a day, or sometimes 25. I have tried to quit in the past, with patches and hypnotherapy. I was sceptical of the hypnotist at first, but that quit attempt lasted 10 years - I had no cravings whatsoever.
Recently, my wife wanted to give up smoking, and I was motivated by her to quit with her. When I was having a cigarette in the morning, it made me feel sick and dizzy, and I just thought - why am I doing this? My voice box is also damaged, and I have a grandchild coming up, which motivated me. My son always used to say I stink of smoke too.
My wife’s doctors recommended the service, and quitting was easier than I thought it would be because of the support from the service and my wife. The vape from the service helps the habit of putting something to your mouth, and I think past quit attempts would have been easier with vapes.
It wasn’t just for the free vape though, my advisor Emma was motivating - she made me want to keep going - when people are there to help, you want to succeed. The patches also help, by working down the nicotine.
Now I am 7 weeks in, and I have saved so much money. I worked out I was spending £196 a week on cigarettes, which I worked out to be £10,190 a year - that is unbelievable!
That’s another holiday a year - or way more to spend on grandkids. I can also smell smoke now, which you don’t notice when you’re a smoker. I thought - did I really smell like that? I’m also smokefree now for the grandchild coming.
I would definitely recommend the service; I have people coming into my shop asking for the details. If I could say anything to someone who wants to quit, it would be that speaking about it to someone helps – take the first step, even by just going on the website.
Group sessions
We are thrilled to announce the success of our pilot Stop Smoking Support Group, which ran from January to April this year. Co-facilitated by our Specialist Stop Smoking Advisor, Emma, and Senior Administrator, Kay, the group was an integral part of our 12-week programme. Participants received both behavioural support and Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) products to help manage nicotine withdrawal and cravings.
Each week, participants had the opportunity to share their successes and challenges, explore tools to maintain their motivation, and make the necessary changes to lead a healthier, smoke-free life. You can read about the successful journey of a group participant.
Building on the positive outcomes from the pilot, our next Stop Smoking Support Group began on Thursday, June 12th, and will run for 12 weeks. This group aims to support participants in their quit attempts and provide a space for them to share their successes with each other.
If you are interested in quitting smoking with the support of a group, please contact us to secure a space in the future. We look forward to helping you on your journey to a smoke-free life!
Disposable vaping ban and what it all means
From the 1st of June, the UK government has banned disposable (single-use) vapes. These are the vapes you throw away after they run out. The ban is part of a plan to protect young people and the environment.
Why is the ban happening?
To stop more children and teens from starting to vape.
Disposable vapes are very often targeted to young people, with bright, colourful packaging and sweet flavours. Disposable vapes are also easier for young people to use and get hold of.
We only recommend using a vape for adults who are trying to give up smoking, to support them to do this and to stay quit. If you do not smoke, don’t vape.
To reduce plastic waste and protect the environment.
I am sure you’ve seen a lot of litter around Newcastle that comes from disposable vapes, like stickers, packaging, or the vapes themselves. Disposable vapes create a lot of plastic waste – which harms the environment. They also include batteries which can be dangerous to the environment when they are not disposed of properly.
To help people choose safer, long-term ways to stop smoking.
Reusable vapes are a better alternative to disposable vapes for those who want to stop smoking. They are cheaper in the long term, better regulated and last longer. They will also allow you to control the level of nicotine that you use, in order to reduce this down when you feel that you’re ready to stop vaping too.
What does this mean for you?
Research by Public Health England and others indicates that vapes are at least 95% less harmful to your health than smoking tobacco, and vaping is medically proven to be one of the most effective tools for quitting smoking.
So, if you’re using a vape to stop smoking, make sure you switch to a refillable device. Reusable vapes are not banned. We still offer refillable vapes to help you stop smoking safely. These vapes contain clean nicotine - not all the harmful chemicals found in illicit vapes.
We still offer support and safe products. Our vapes are regulated by the government and are legal – and they are a lot safer for you than smoking.
For more information about vapes, how to dispose of them safety or even how to quit vaping altogether visit our vaping support pages.
If you’re worried about young people and vaping you can find out more on our young people pages too.
Recipe
Staying healthy and smokefree means more than just stopping smoking. Eating a healthy, balanced diet is an important part of maintaining good health and can help you feel at your best too.
In the summer there’s lots of fresh and healthy options to choose from, and our Stop Smoking Advisor Emma has a wonderful recipe to share.
This is a healthy recipe you could use courtesy of @emthenutritionist on Instagram. I mean, who doesn't want cake for breakfast?
Lemon & Blueberry Oat Breakfast Muffins
- 300g full fat cottage cheese
- 80g maple syrup or honey
- 50ml skimmed milk
- 50g ground almonds
- 1 tsp baking powder & 1 scant tsp bicarb
- 150g jumbo oats
- 100g wholewheat flour (or use plain)
- 2 large eggs
- 100g fresh blueberries
- Zest & juice of one lemon
- Blend the cottage cheese and maple syrup together until smooth.
- In a mixing bowl, add the ground almonds, oats, flour, lemon zest, pinch of salt, baking powder and bicarbonate.
- Mix in the wet ingredients: the cottage cheese blend, eggs, juice of 1 lemon and milk.
- Fold together until combined but don't over mix. Fold in the blueberries.
- Divide the mix between 12 muffin trays. Bake at 170c fan for 30 mins until risen and golden brown.
- Allow to cool for 15 minutes. Sweeten with an extra drizzle of maple syrup or honey, a dollop of yoghurt and some frozen berries, or take a couple on the go. Warm up in the microwave and store in an airtight container.
Pride
It’s Northern Pride on Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th July with lots of stalls, celebrity acts, and other charities and organizations involved.
There’s the curious arts stage, where you can watch many queer-themed performances such as cabaret or circus acts, as well as many stalls including a market section where you can browse local products! The march will once again be a highlight for Newcastle’s pride – we hope to see you there!
We want to show our support and celebration for the LGBTQ community, as we appreciate and acknowledge the rich history of LGBTQ presence in our communities and wider services. We also know many tobacco companies advertise to and target the LGBTQ community and queer spaces more – we want to be a pillar of support for those who are thinking about quitting.
We will be there on Saturday 19th July - come to our stall and say hi! We can offer advice on smoking or vaping, or just a friendly conversation. We also have some limited pride wristbands if you’re a collector, as well as some yummy sugar free lollipops.
You can find out more here and how to get tickets: https://www.northern-pride.com/2025
Get in touch
We’d love to hear from you!
The service is continuously adapting and developing, to make sure we’re providing the best service possible.
Your opinion matters to us, so please complete the survey to let us know how we’re doing!