First Cumbria and Lancashire Smoke Free Places Conference hosted by the Collaborative

Thanks to colleagues across Cumbria and Lancashire who attended the Cumbria and Lancashire Public Health Collaborative’s first Smoke Free Places Conference on Tuesday 10^th September 2024 at Lancaster University. The conference was jointly organised by the Public Health Collaborative and the Lancashire and South Cumbria ICB Population Health Team.

The conference, opened by Abdul Razaq, Director of Public Health for Blackburn with Darwen and Chair of the Public Health Collaborative, aimed to bring together activity across place-based Smoke Free Alliances and the system and share best practice and learning.

In the morning, delegates heard from excellent guest speakers about the history of smoking and the latest national direction of travel. Key speakers included: Clare Wells, Policy Officer, ASH, Jim Pattinson, Policy and Public Affairs Officer, ASH, Paul Campbell, Health and Wellbeing Support Manager – Tobacco Control, OHID and Joanna Feeney, Stop Smoking Systems Strategic Manager, Fresh and Balance.

In the afternoon, delegates attended engaging workshops on the Fire Service and Trading Standards, Maternity and Children and Smoke Free Places.

We were able to celebrate and promote what we have done and are doing across our system but recognised that we need to do it more!

Excellent feedback was received from attendees, who described the day as well organised, engaging and thought-provoking.

The Collaborative Team are writing up next steps/ actions from the Conference- watch this space!