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New Generation of Smokebusters Stamp Out Smoking
By Derval Keenan, 11/7/2005 4:07:19 PM
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The Ulster Cancer Foundation (UCF) is calling all Key Stage 2 schoolteachers to enrol their classes in Smokebusters, an exclusive club for young people who have chosen to reject smoking and promote health in their day-to-day lives. Membership is FREE and is open to all schools throughout Northern Ireland.
UCF would also like to congratulate over 26,500 Primary 6 and Primary 7 pupils who have helped create smokefree environments in their schools, homes and wider community throughout the last academic year. Teachers are reminded that classes need to be enrolled on an annual basis so please get in touch with UCF today if you wish to remain in this special smoking prevention programme.
There are Smokebusters all over the world but the campaign is organised locally by UCF. Research into the Northern Ireland Smokebusters programme shows that ex-Smokebusters who had been members of the club knew more about smoking, had a less positive attitude to smoking and are less likely to start smoking.
Judith West, Cancer Prevention Officer, UCF said, UCFs Smokebusters Club aims to intervene when young people are at a vulnerable age, approaching the transition between Primary and Secondary school. It aims to arm its members with facts about smoking from a wide variety of perspectives supplying them with information, attitudes and skills to resist pressures to experiment with tobacco use.
Membership applications for Smokebusters Club 2005/06 are now being accepted. We would be especially pleased to register classes from schools which have not previously joined the club, as well as any whose teachers faithfully enrol their nine to eleven year olds, every year. We strive to provide the best possible resources for both pupils and teachers. The teachers pack is a practical way to help teachers find the time and an appropriate means of delivering information about smoking to our target age group, which will ultimately improve the health of young people in Northern Ireland. It is a shame that some classes miss out after all, there is no charge.
UCF are inviting teachers to enrol Key Stage 2 classes in the exclusive club where membership is free and runs from now to June. Club activity packs are supplied in three stages over the course of the academic year, including newsletters, stickers, classroom display materials and background notes for teachers. To give schools that extra incentive to join, they should be aware that by becoming members they will have the opportunity to enter Smokebusters competitions and participate in
special events.
For further information about the Smokebusters Club and other cancer prevention initiatives please contact Judith West at UCF on 028 9049 2007,
e-mail: judithwest@ulstercancer.org or alternatively log onto
ulstercancer.org/aboutucf/smokebusters.html
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For further information please contact Derval Keenan, PR and Events Officer on 028 9049 2007 or dervalkeenan@ulstercancer.org
Notes to Editor:
The Ulster Cancer Foundations Smokebusters pack for primary six and seven teachers, won a Scope Communication Award in 2004 from the Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action - the only awards in Northern Ireland to recognise communication skills in the voluntary and
community sector.
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