New pilot scheme targets Glasgow youngsters
Youngsters in some of Glasgow’s most deprived areas are being targeted in a new scheme run by UK stop smoking charity QUIT®.
In Scotland, 18% of 15 year old girls and 12% of 15 year old boys smoke regularly, with the Glasgow City Council area having the highest smoking rate of any council area in Scotland at 34%. It is QUIT’s aim to help young people of all ages make informed choices about tobacco use through its innovative youth service Quit Because.
QUIT Because presentations are lively and interactive, and include a fun ‘ingredients’ show, demonstrating some of the 4,000 chemicals found in a cigarette. The Youth Presenters also offer support and advice to young people wanting to give up smoking.
The presentations – which will take place in primary and secondary schools in Shettleston, Springburn, Maryhill, Baillieston and Pollok - will be delivered by freelance BBC presenter Ravi Sagoo, who has been employed by QUIT as its first dedicated Youth Presenter in Scotland.
Ravi, who is a freelance presenter across areas of music, sport, arts & culture and documentaries with BBC Radio Scotland and has previously presented for The BBC Asian Network and MTV UK, said: “The Quit Because programme launching in Glasgow is great for the City and its youngsters as it will give them the real hardened facts about the dangers of smoking in a lively and interactive fashion, which in turn will give them personal ownership on the issue for them to go on to make an informed decision.
“I’m really excited about kicking off the project in my home city and being a true ‘Weegie’ myself I’m really looking forward to connecting and engaging with Glasgow’s ‘young team’ its ‘patter’ which will make the project lots of fun and rewarding for everyone that gets involved”.
Schools are welcome to book Ravi to deliver presentations to their pupils before the end of term – contact him on r.sagoo@quit.org.uk for more information.
QUIT is the UK independent charity that has helped over 2 million smokers. More details about QUIT are available on www.quit.org.uk. To date, presenters for QUIT Because have reached more than 1 million 8-18 year olds. Quit Because desperately need more youth presenters across the UK, and donations will help our vital youth programme to reach even more young people.
Photographs available on request.
Ravi is available for interview and journalists are welcome to attend one of his schools presentations. For more information or to arrange an interview or schools presentation visit, contact Nicola Orchard at QUIT on 020 7469 0414 or email n.orchard@quit.org.uk
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