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New funding from government aims to boost stop smoking quit rates across the county

Published: 11 April 2024

We are set to receive more than £5 million in funding over the next 5 years to help reduce smoking rates across the county.


The money comes from the central government Stopping the Start fund, that aims to see the number of people who quit smoking double over the next 5 years.

In turn this will support the government to achieve its aim that England will be smoke free by 2030.

Smoking is the single most entirely preventable cause of ill health, disability, and death in the UK.

Smoking increases your risk of developing more than 50 serious health conditions including cancer, heart attacks and strokes.

Latest figures show that in Derbyshire 14% of people aged 18 and over are smokers, and the highest prevalence rates are in Erewash (18.9%), Bolsover (17.3%) and High Peak (15.9%).

Cabinet Member for Health and Communities Councillor Carol Hart said:

“Nationally, smoking is responsible for around 80,000 deaths a year and no other legally available consumer product will kill up to two-thirds of its users.

“That is why we are committed to driving down smoking rates in Derbyshire and we are delighted to receive this funding to help us achieve that.”

Live Life Better Derbyshire’s stop smoking service manager Alex Carlow added: “This additional funding is great news for our service as it will provide more resource which allows us to reach out and support more people to stop smoking.”

Funding will go towards expanding our inhouse stop smoking service as well as increasing demand for services, providing training to partners and working with hard-to-reach audiences.

Our inhouse lifestyle support programme - Live Life Better Derbyshire - offers a free, 12-week stop smoking service that includes:

  • telephone support sessions
  • one-to-one support
  • access to free nicotine replacement therapy including patches, mouth spray, gum, inhalators and lozenges
  • access to free vape starter kits and a 12-week supply of e-liquid (vapes are only available to adults aged 18+ and are not currently available for pregnant clients)
  • advice on stop smoking medications

Find out more on the Live Life Better Derbyshire website or tel: 0800 085 2299.