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National survey of tobacco-related work with young people

6. Scope of activity among nationally based organisations

This section gives insight into the range of activities undertaken by nationally based organisations with an interest in tobacco-related work with young people. These included national and UK tobacco-related agencies (ASH Scotland and No Smoking Day), agencies focused on cancer and asthma issues (4), national organisations concerned with the well-being of young people (8), such as Childline, and 'uniformed' organisations (4). Four other national agencies with a broader health and well-being remit also responded. The relative extent of involvement in key activities is addressed in the previous sections and details of the 'main activities' described by respondents are presented in a separate Appendix.

As with other agencies, the nationally based organisations' tobacco-related work with young people was most likely to include prevention/education activities (50%), followed by cessation (32%) and enforcement (23%). Around one-fifth provided training and materials. In addition, a relatively large proportion in this agency type indicated they were involved in campaigning and lobbying activities although with a small number seeing these activities as their highest priority (3 and 2 respectively). Figure 6.1 summarises the numbers involved in each activity area.

Figure 6.1 National organisations: overview (n)

When asked to describe their main activities in detail, only a few mentioned approaches which had a national spread, apart from the No Smoking Day organisation. For example, only one organisation highlighted lobbying and campaigning activities. Other 'national' activities included counselling callers to Childline (estimated 125 callers per annum for preventive/educational reasons and 150 seeking cessation advice) and two organisations reported web-site development covering prevention/education and cessation designed for young people but accessible to all. Some organisations offer training and education addressing prevention and cessation issues. This is either aimed at young people and youth workers across the wider population or targeted at youth members of their organisations, the latter often incorporating broader healthy lifestyles and development training or drugs misuse issues. Finally, one organisation described a research initiative exploring young people's smoking cessation needs across Scotland (Fast Forward).

In general, however, localised activities were more commonly reported. For example, ASH Scotland reported funding small grants for three preventive projects and one cessation project in different areas of Scotland. Two of the preventive projects incorporated young people undertaking a mix of investigations and workshops leading respectively to video documentaries and a drama production, which were disseminated across the local community and schools and youth groups. A third preventive intervention was linked with sports activities. An innovative cessation intervention piloted support sessions prior to potentially joining routine quitting services. Another example is a cancer charity which has promoted interventions primarily in the West of Scotland. These include funding a Smoking Prevention and Young People Co-ordinator who attends schools and youth groups addressing tobacco awareness, and establishing several school-based smoking cessation groups for older children.

Remaining activities described included development of targeted materials including one organisation supporting a young person in the development of a peer education initiative in schools, undertaking local surveys and developing databases in relation to smoke free areas. Finally, local youth leader training events were identified.