Ten year old Chloe Currans aiming to deliver the anti-smoking message with the help of Newcastle Eagles players Joe Chapman, left, and Reggie Jackson along with her fellow Larkspur School pupils.
Gateshead school-children are learning how to ‘break free’ from smoking in a most surprising way thanks to Gateshead Council.
167 youngsters at Larkspur Primary School in Gateshead will be treated to a demonstration by one of the UK’s leading escapologist’s Rob Roy Collins in an attempt to dissuade them from smoking. Rob Roy, who has performed at the Edinburgh Fringe and Covent Garden as well as venues worldwide, will show children the dangers of smoking by tying himself up in chains and ‘breaking free’ – the theme of this year’s ‘No Smoking’ day.
Players from Newcastle Eagles Basketball team will also be on hand to slam dunk the healthy living message home at the event on Wednesday 10th March at 3pm. The event is part of a unique project by Gateshead Council, in partnership with the Primary Care Trust, to get local communities behind the No Smoking message.
In Wrekenton, 43% of the local community smoke (national average: 22%), almost a third of young women aged between 14-15 are smokers (national average: 15%) and pre-mortality rates from cancer are the highest in Gateshead and twice the national average.
To address this issue, Gateshead Council is undertaking a unique pilot scheme which takes a non-judgemental approach to enlist the support of local Wrekenton people. Rather than simply trying to get local people to give up smoking, the project engages the local community in the ‘No Smoking’ message by involving them in finding local solutions.
So far almost 10% of the Wrekenton community has taken part the scheme either asking or answering surveys to establish why so many people in the area smoke and the reasons behind why some don’t despite the high local prevalence.
Councillor Mary Foy from Gateshead Council said: "We are constantly looking at innovative ways to get the No Smoking message across which won’t alienate people or come across as preaching. This event at Larkspur is a great example of this. It shows schoolchildren in a very visual and practical way why smoking isn’t necessarily the best option.
"The demonstration is very much in keeping with our pilot project in Wrekenton to engage people around smoking issues and to empower them to come up with the best solutions."
Depending upon the research uncovered, the next stage of the project will be to design appropriate solutions for individuals and the community.
To find out more about the Wrekenton project or to take part, please contact Craig Malcolm at Gateshead Council on (0191) 433 2042 or email craigmalcolm@gateshead.gov.uk