Choose it, Own it, Share it!

We recently secured funding, from NHS Lothian’s Health Promotion Department, to build on the findings of the Tobacco Prevention Research: Care Experienced Young People and Young People Affected by Homelessness conducted by The Lines Between, which was informed earlier this year. We will continue the initial work around tobacco prevention education by engaging with children and young people who have experience of being looked after and/or homelessness, through our CHOOSE IT, OWN IT, SHARE IT Project, across the 4 Lothian Local Authority areas – see overview of project below:

CHOOSE IT – will see young people engaging in 5 risk taking behaviour sessions which will cover various tobacco themes such as: Tobacco, E-cigarettes, Cannabis, Smoking & Mental Health and Cessation. These session will draw on their lived experience unpacking strategies in their own efforts with smoking prevention/cessation developing peer education/inspirational resources. By taking ownership of the project producing the resources, a small grant of £125.00 (maximum) will be available to support the young people with this task.  

OWN IT ­ – using a peer education model to support young people to create inspiration digital resources based on their experience; essential to develop an online games which allows young people to experience the consequences of choice.

This will enabling other young people to discuss, explore and anticipate the potentially negative impacts of risk-taking behaviours, in a safe, supported environment.

This resource will explore risk-taking behaviours around tobacco use and will support and encourage young people to develop their ability to make informed choices.

SHARE IT (Good Conversations About Tobacco) – Engaging with parents/carers to explore barriers to positive communication about smoking and tobacco use by identify strategies to help people deal with these difficult conversations – we will draw on voices of young people to develop these resources i.e. ‘this is how I would like you to speak to me.’

The resources created in this co-produced way will help people to talk about topics they perceive as difficult, stressful or embarrassing including techniques around having meaningful conversations, in addition to tobacco cessation and prevention information.

We will also be facilitate quarterly meetings for practitioners to build capacity and maximise opportunities to share learning in relation to tobacco prevention approaches.

What’s Next?

If you interested in being involved in CHOOSE IT, OWN IT, SHARE IT or looking for further information, please contact Laura Sharp at Fast Forward direct to discuss this further via email:  lauras@fastforward.org.uk