Webinar: How can councils make the most of the new smoking cessation funding?

This ASH webinar explained how local authorities can maximise the impact of the additional funding for stop smoking services. This funding has been confirmed for the next 3 years, creating an unprecedented opportunity for services to think creatively about how they can build high-impact, sustainable tobacco control strategies.  

The webinar included an overview of the current state of play in local tobacco control, a summary of the evidence on the most effective ways to boost quits, and case studies from areas using innovative approaches to drive down smoking and reduce inequalities
 

Speakers and presentations included:

• Welcome and opening remarks 
  Cllr Chris Kennedy, Cabinet Member for Health, Adult Social Care, Voluntary Sector and Culture, London Borough of Hackney
• Breaking new ground: findings from the 2025 ASH survey of local tobacco control 
  John Waldron, Policy and Public Affairs Manager, ASH
• Update on the new smoking cessation funding setup 
  Gemma Kane, Head of Smoking Cessation, DHSC
• Using the new funding for smoking cessation 
  Hazel Cheeseman, Chief Executive, ASH
• Evidence update: How can local services boost quit attempts and success? 
  Dr Loren Kock, Senior Research Fellow, UCL
• Taking an evidence-led approach in the North East
  Ailsa Rutter, Director, Fresh & Balance
• Launching a new regional programme in the South West 
  Matt Lenny, DPH, North Somerset Council
• Building a system-wide approach in Cheshire and Merseyside 
  Dr Sarah McNulty, Assistant Executive Director (Public Health), Knowsley Council
• Q&A

Resources:

• Slides: Breaking new ground: findings from the 2025 ASH survey of local tobacco control
• Slides: Update on the new smoking cessation funding setup 
• Slides: Using the new funding for smoking cessation 
• Slides: Evidence update: How can local services boost quit attempts and success? 
• Slides: Taking an evidence-led approach in the North East
• Slides: Launching a new regional programme in the South West 
• Slides: Building a system-wide approach in Cheshire and Merseyside 
• Breaking new ground: Local authority stop smoking services and wider tobacco control in England, 2025.